BEREA — There’s another world where Browns linebacker coach Jason Tarver and rookie second-round pick Carson Schwesinger would have crossed paths. It would’ve had absolutely nothing to do with football.
Tarver graduated from UCLA in 1997 with a degree in biochemistry, then spent 1998-2000 pursuing his master’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology. Twice, in 1998 and 2000, he was awarded the UCLA chemistry department Prize for Distinguished Teaching in biochemistry.
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That was two decades before Schwesinger arrived at UCLA as a student and walk-on football player in 2021. His major? Bioengineering.
“There was a chance when I was at UCLA that I would’ve taught some of his classes when I was in graduate school, which is really crazy,” Tarver said during Browns minicamp June 12.
Instead, the two paths crossed, not in a classroom on UCLA’s Westwood campus, but in the Browns’ Berea training facility. While they may share a similar academic interest, their athletic interests are very much aligned as well.
Tarver’s initial introduction to Schwesinger, at least from a distance, came courtesy of another connection to his own UCLA days.
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“My [college] roommate is a UCLA season ticket holder,” Tarver said. “He was like, ‘You got to watch this kid, you got to watch this kid.’ Right away, when he started playing his first couple games, when he made a tackle to save the game against Hawaii to get the ball out, and so I’m like, ‘OK, cool.’ And then I start watching him. I’m like, ‘Oh, he’s pretty good.’ And then I look up, I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh.'”
Despite Schwesinger not becoming a full-time starter at linebacker for the Bruins until his senior season, the Browns made him the first pick of the second round (No. 33 overall) in April’s draft. That came after a season in which he earned All-America honors and led the Big Ten in tackles.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) chats with linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold during rookie minicamp May 9, 2025, in Berea, Ohio.
One of the first connections Schwesinger made with the Browns, even before they selected him, was his new linebackers coach.
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“Yeah, talking with coach has been amazing,” Schwesinger said on draft night April 25. “Even just the talks throughout the whole process. We’re both UCLA guys, so we’re bringing some of that over, California guys. Just the level of detail he has in his coaching and all the answers he has is something that I know is going to be super beneficial and super exciting to be able to get to work with him and hopefully I’d assume it’s vice versa, but I’m just really excited.”
That mutual admiration society has only grown since Schwesinger has arrived in Northeast Ohio and gotten to work. He made some early impressions in May’s rookie minicamp, and has continued to build off that into the offseason program and minicamp as the Browns look for him to progress fast with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah sidelined for at least the entire 2025 season while he continues to recover from a neck injury.
Part of that progression has been Schwesinger’s refusal to dwell on what’s happened before. Not surprising for a player who’s garnered praise from both his college and NFL coaches for his intelligence is the fact that each rep has become a lesson to learn from for the next one.
“Carson really does a really good job of being able to focus on each play and making the next play his best play,” Tarver said. “It’s one of the things that I’ve said before, but that’s usually where a rookie will struggle, where he is worried about what he just did or hangs onto it. He figures it out, ask great questions, runs to the ball.”
Cleveland Browns linebackers coach Jason Tarver, left, works the sideline during practice at Browns minicamp June 10, 2025, in Berea, Ohio.
There’s something else that Schwesinger shares in common with Tarver — an incredibly high motor.
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Anyone who’s ever met Tarver comes away impressed with how much energy he brings at all times. That kind of energy is what Tarver has also found in Schwesinger based on what he’s doing on the field.
“He’s led us in running to the ball, led us in scoops in the spring, which is good,” Tarver said. “We need to do that. We need to set the tempo, but the rookies should, they’re younger. And really impressed with how he goes to the next play and how conscious he is within the play.
“So, having said that, that’s the learning curve that can really help a young man play fast in this league.”
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: UCLA roots, biochemistry bond Carson Schwesinger, Browns assistant