 Adolph George " Germany " Schulz ( April 19 , 1883 – April 14 , 1951 ) was an All @-@ American American football center for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1904 to 1905 and from 1907 to 1908 . While playing at Michigan , Schulz is credited with having invented the spiral snap and with developing the practice of standing behind the defensive line . As the first lineman to play in back of the line on defense , he is credited as football 's first linebacker . 
