Snapping Cuts, Signings and Tryouts

Posted on May 5, 2017 by longsnap

It has been an active week at the long snapping position in the NFL.  After Colin Holba was the only snapper to be selected in the NFL Draft, three other snappers signed free agent contracts.  Other snappers were invited to rookie mini-camps that start this week for 12 teams and next weekend for the other 20 teams.  These developments also led some teams to remove snappers from their rosters, including veteran Matt Overton, who was released by the Colts.

Below is the latest summary of moves as of this morning.  Note that tryouts are typically not made public and are often confused and reported as signings.  If there are any snappers missing from this list, please let me know by emailed me at kevingold@longsnap.com.

DRAFTED

Colin Holba (Lousiville/Steelers)

SIGNED

Anthony Kukwa (Lake Erie/Raiders)

Thomas Hennessy (Duke/Colts)

Chase Dominguez (Utah/Saints)

TRYOUT

Nolan Dowling (Western Kentucky/Chiefs)

Drew Williams (South Carolina/Bucs)

Ryan Navarro (Oregon State/Raiders)

Jake Hurrell (Missouri/Ravens)

Jeremy Salmon (Maine/Saints-originally the Bills)

Cole Mazza (Alabama/Jets)

Darrell Travis (Louisiana Tech/Bengals)

Greg Hohenstein (Bowling Green/Chargers)

Scott Daly (Notre Dame/Bears)

Michael Martin (Illinois/Patriots)

Ty Yazujian (Penn State/Lions)

Josh Appel (Indiana State/Giants)

Paul Rucci (Rowan/Cardinals)

Bradley Northnagel (California/49ers and Colts)

WAIVED/RELEASED

Matt Overton (Colts)

Joe Fortunato (Colts)

Andrew East (Rams)

Jeff Overbaugh (Broncos)

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Holba Drafted by Steelers; Post-Draft Snapper Developments

Posted on April 30, 2017 by longsnap

For the second consecutive season, a long snapper was drafted in the Sixth Round of the NFL Draft.  Colin Holba of Louisville was drafted by the Steelers and will compete with veteran Greg Warren.  Last year, client Jimmy Landes was a Sixth Round pick of the Lions.

After the Draft, a number of snappers were either signed to free agents contracts or, in the majority of cases, given the opportunity to tryout at upcoming rookie mini-camps.  Below are some names of the snappers connected with teams at this time.

This list will be updated as more names are added and it becomes clear which are signings or tryouts.  Unsigned snappers from prior Draft classes may also be invited to tryout.  For example, former Cardinals snapper Danny Dillon has been invited to the Panthers mini-camp.

Any missing snapper signings or tryouts can be emailed to kevingold@longsnap.com.

Anthony Kukwa (Lake Erie/Raiders)

Thomas Hennessy (Duke/Colts)

Nolan Dowling (Western Kentucky/Chiefs)

Chase Dominguez (Utah/Saints)

Drew Williams (South Carolina/Bucs)

Ryan Navarro (Oregon State/Raiders)

Jake Hurrell (Missouri/Ravens)

Jeremy Salmon (Maine/Bills)

Cole Mazza (Alabama/Jets)

Darrell Travis (Louisiana Tech/Bengals)

Greg Hohenstein (Bowling Green/Chargers)

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Top Ranked Snappers for the NFL Draft

Posted on April 6, 2017 by longsnap

With the NFL Draft at the end of the month, this is the time when various publications for the event are released.  Two of the better guides, Dane Brugler’s 2017 NFL Draft Guide and Nolan Narwocki’s NFL Draft 2017 Preview, include their rankings of the top snappers.

Brugler has Cole Mazza (Alabama) as the top snapper, followed by Colin Holba (Louisville), Bradley Northnagel (California), Anthony Kukwa (Lake Erie) and Scott Daly (Notre Dame).  Narwocki has Holba, Northnagel, Nolan Dowling (Western Kentucky), Mazza, Mark Amann (San Jose State) and Billy Shipman (Cal Poly State).

Posted in NFL, NFL Draft | Comments Off on Top Ranked Snappers for the NFL Draft

Two 2015 Draft Class Snappers Sign First NFL Contracts

Posted on April 1, 2017 by longsnap

With the NFL Draft approaching at the end of the month, teams are continuing to tinker with their rosters.  Two snappers from the 2015 Draft class, Joe Fortunato from Delaware and client Derek Hart from James Madison, each signed their first NFL contracts.

Fortunato signed with the Colts and Hart signed with the Packers.  Both performed well in free agent specialist camps the past few months.  Both attended the Zauner Free Agent Specialist’s Combine in Arizona and Hart also attended the Husted Kicking Pro Camp in Alabama.

Posted in NFL, Transactions, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Two 2015 Draft Class Snappers Sign First NFL Contracts

NFL Bans the Leaping the Snapper Play

Posted on March 28, 2017 by longsnap

As expected, the NFL approved a new rule that prohibits a player from crossing the line of scrimmage in an attempt to block an extra point or field goal attempt.  Under the amended rule, a player can run forward and leap as long as he does not cross the line of scrimmage or land on players.

Another rule proposal that would protect snappers for at least one second after a snap did not obtain approval.

Posted in NFL, Snapping in the Media | Comments Off on NFL Bans the Leaping the Snapper Play

NFL Considers Two New Rules to Protect Long Snappers

Posted on March 27, 2017 by longsnap

This week, the NFL will consider a number of proposed playing rule changes, two of which implicate long snappers.  The first proposal would provide additional protection for the snapper on kick plays.  Specifically, the rule would prevent a defensive player from initiating contact with the snapper until one second after the snap.

The second proposal would address a common issue last season when teams would time snaps to leap over the snapper to block a field goal or extra point.  The current rule makes leaping over the snapper illegal only when the defender lands on a player.  The proposal would ban the play entirely.

It is expected that the second rule proposal will pass and eliminate the leaping over the snapper play.

Posted in NFL, Snapping in the Media | Comments Off on NFL Considers Two New Rules to Protect Long Snappers

Latest Snapper Signings in Free Agency

Posted on March 21, 2017 by longsnap

As free agency enters a second week there have been some more long snapper signings.  Veteran Jon Condo has resigned with the Raiders, while Garrison Sanborn did not remain unemployed long. The Bucs signed the veteran snapper who had been with Buffalo but was not resigned.  Andrew East was also signed by the Rams.

Thomas Gafford, Brett Goode, Justin Drescher and Andrew DePaola are the remaining unsigned veteran free agents.

Posted in NFL, Transactions | Comments Off on Latest Snapper Signings in Free Agency

Excellent Feature Story on Former Bears Snapper Patrick Mannelly

Posted on March 16, 2017 by longsnap

Patrick Mannelly remains of the best long snappers in NFL history and Windy City Gridiron recently published an excellent and comprehensive interview with Mannelly.

Entitled “The Life of the Long Snapper” the story by Jack M. Silverstein does an excellent job reviewing some of the well-known and not so well-known aspects of Mannelly’s 16 year career with the Bears.

 

 

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Latest Snapper Signings in Free Agency

Posted on March 14, 2017 by longsnap

There have been a few more long snapper signings this past week as veteran free agency is nearly a week old.  As usual, snappers tend to stay with their clubs.  So, it is no surprise that unrestricted free agents Mike Windt (Chargers), John Denney (Dolphins) and Tanner Purdum (Jets) have all rejoined their teams. Windt signed a four-year deal, while Denney and Purdum inked one-year contracts.

Remaining unrestricted free agents are Thomas Gafford, Brett Goode, Justin Drescher, Jon Condo and Andrew DePaola.  DePaola was a restricted free agent but became an unrestricted free agent after Tampa Bay did not tender him a contract to retain his rights.

 

 

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Updated Look at Snappers in Free Agency

Posted on March 8, 2017 by longsnap

Veteran free agency officially starts tomorrow in the NFL. However, there have been some moves in advance of that date.  The Lions have brought back veteran Don Muhlbach on a one-year deal, while the Bills released Garrison Sanborn.

There are two exclusive rights free agents, for which their existing teams own their rights if they offer a one-year deal.  Both Patrick Scales (Bears) and Casey Kreiter (Broncos) will be returning to their teams next season.  Andrew DePaola (Buccaneers) is the only restricted free agent and it is unclear at this time if the Bucs will seek to retain his rights in light of his injury late last season.

The remaining unrestricted free agent snappers are Thomas Gafford, Brett Goode, John Denney, Justin Drescher, Tanner Purdum, Jon Condo and Mike Windt.

Posted in NFL, Transactions | Comments Off on Updated Look at Snappers in Free Agency