Cole Mazza, a high school snapper from California, has already received a full scholarship offer from UCLA and Washington State despite being only a junior. Mazza has been a student of long snapping instructor Chris Rubio and was a finalist for the first annual Herbalife Chris Rubio Award given to the top high school snapper. Mazza earned a 5 star rating from Rubio last year during his National Snapping Event in Las Vegas.
The NFL free agent market has been open for awhile but it took some time for it to impact the snapping position. Free agent snappers rarely change teams and that trend has continued so far this year, as unrestricted free agent snappers Don Muhlbach (Lions), Joe Zelenka (Falcons) and, most recently, Mike Leach (Cardinals) have all re-signed with their teams. Leach was the only snapper to sign a deal for more than one season, as his new deal is for three years. The remaining unrestricted free agent snappers are Ken Amato (Titans), Matt Katula (Vikings) and Chris Massey (Bears).
Former NFL special teams coach Gary Zauner recently concluded his third annual Senior Specialist’s Combine in Arizona. The goal of Zauner’s Combine is to give senior kickers, punters and snappers that were not invited to the NFL Combine exposure. Zauner will conduct a Free Agent Specialist’s Combine on March 20th for approximately 60 players that have previously been qualified by him, with pro personnel directors and special teams coaches in attendance.
A total of 64 specialists attended this year’s Zauner Senior Specialist’s Combine and, from that group, Zauner concluded that 21 of them have NFL potential, including nine long snappers. The snappers are Beau Brinkley (Missouri), Matt Camilli (UTEP), Casey Casper (Wisconsin-Whitewater), Tom DeTemple (Cincinnati), Caleb Johnson (Baker), Cameron Kastl (Arizona State), Chris Pousson (USC), Jesse Smitherman (Texas Tech) and Travis Tripucka (University of Massachusetts).
Veteran long snapper David Binn, who spent 17 years with the Chargers and snapped in the Broncos’ divisional playoff game this past season, was mentioned in the March 19th issue of ESPN The Magazine. In one of the stories in the “Choke Issue” that focuses primarily on Ravens’ kicker Billy Cundiff, Binn is mentioned for his work with Dr. Michael Lardon, who helps a number of professional athletes deal with stress.
Dr. Lardon noted that Binn handles stress very well and is “unflappable.” Binn agrees that his years of snapping success prevents him from being nervous before key games and he uses stress as a tool to prevent mistakes.
With NFL Free Agency starting next week, two snappers have signed new deals as exclusive rights players. Teams have the exclusive negotiating rights to players during their first three seasons and the Texans used that right to negotiate a new deal with Jonathan Weeks that extends his contract until 2015. The Saints have signed its exclusive rights snapper, Justin Drescher, to a one-year deal.
There are two remaining exclusive rights free agents (Morgan Cox of the Ravens and Mike Windt of the Chargers) and one restricted free agent (Clark Harris of the Bengals). Unrestricted free agents, who can sign with any club, are Ken Amato (Titans), Matt Katula (Vikings), Mike Leach (Cardinals), Chris Massey (Bears), Don Muhlbach (Lions) and Joe Zelenka (Falcons).
The remaining special teams coaching vacancy has also been addressed, as the Bucs have hired Bob Ligashesky.
Just prior to the start of the NFL Combine, the 49ers announced they had signed veteran snapper Ryan Pontbriand to a contract for the 2012 season. Pontbriand, who was released by the Browns after having some snapping issues this past season, is reunited with special teams coach Brad Seely, who coached Pontbriand in Cleveland.
Pontbriand will compete with veteran Brian Jennings and Kyle Nelson, who was also added to the roster by the Niners after the 2011 season.
The NFL Combine begins this week and turns the focus of the NFL on the upcoming Draft class. Josh Harris of Auburn is the only snapper that was selected to the Combine and he is also the top-ranked snapper according to most published rankings.
Pro Football Weekly recently updated its snapper rankings and, after Harris, had Braedyn Eagle (Portland State), Matt Camilli (UTEP), Kyle Wojta (Wisconsin), Nick Guess (Tennessee) and Bryce Davis (Central Oklahoma). NFL Draft Scout has Harris, Wojta, Guess, Charley Hughlett (Central Florida), Tyson Gale (Marshall), Alex Russian (LSU), James Winchester (Oklahoma) and Camilli for its top eight snappers. ESPN lists Harris, Guess, Wojta, Aaron Brewer (San Diego State) and Ray Wegrzynek (Kean) in its top five.
