Northnagel Joins Holba to Snap at NFL Scouting Combine

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For the first time in almost a decade, the NFL Scouting Combine will feature two long snappers.  It was announced a few weeks ago that Colin Holba of Louisville would snap at the Combine.  It was assumed that Holba would be the only snapper invite, as the past seven Combines have included just one snapper.

However, with the official list now released, snapper Bradley Northnagel of Cal has also been invited to the event that starts at the end of this month.  Hopefully, this will reverse the trend of inviting one snapper.

In 2006, when the Combine first added long snappers, three were invited.  Three were also invited in 2007 and then the number went down to two for 2008 and 2009 before eventually going to one where it has stayed until this year.

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Dellenbach Signs with the Bucs

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Another snapper has benefited from a strong workout at the Husted Kicking combine and turned it into a contract.  Dax Dellenbach has signed with the Bucs after a long snapper workout yesterday that included Kameron Canaday and client Derek Hart.

Dellenbach, who was with Tampa Bay in rookie mini-camp last year, joins Jesse Schmitt (Packers) and Josh Latham (Jets) as snappers who earned contracts after working out for pro teams at the Husted Kicking combine during the Senior Bowl week.  Dellenbach is also the eighth snapper to sign a contract for next season.

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Holba Invited to Combine

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Colin Holba of Louisville has been honored with the two post-season invitations every college prospect covets.  Holba, who has already snapped in the Senior Bowl, will next perform at the NFL Scouting Combine in early March.

It is believed that Holba is the only long snapper invited to compete at the Combine in Indianapolis.

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Latest Snapping and Coaching Moves

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There were a few developments this past week involving snappers and special teams coaches.  The Steelers have re-signed veteran Greg Warren for another season, while the Jets added Josh Latham, who previously snapped at Sacramento State.  Latham is the second snapper to be signed from the Husted Kicking workout in Mobile, Alabama and the seventh snapper to sign a contract for next season.

A former snapper, Brad Banta, who had been an assistant special teams coach in Washington, is now the special teams coach of the Saints, while the 49ers have filled their vacancy with former Bears assistant special teams coach Richard Hightower.

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NFL Special Teams Coaching Update

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There will be at least five teams with new special teams coaches next season in the NFL.  To date, Joe DeCamillis has moved from the Broncos to the Jaguars, while former Kansas City assistant special teams coach Brock Olivo takes over in Denver.  George Stewart will coach special teams for the Chargers.

Both the Saints and Niners have the only remaining special teams coaching vacancies that will likely be filled soon.

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Packers Add Pepper

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Another team added a snapper for next season, as the Packers have signed former Michigan State snapper Taylor Pepper to the roster for next season.  Pepper worked out for the Packers in late December.  Pepper is the sixth snapper to be signed to a future deal with an NFL club.

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Saints Sign Jesse Schmitt

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The Saints have signed long snapper Jesse Schmitt to a two-year contract.  Schmitt, who played at Purdue and was in training camp with the Packers last season, performed well at a free agent combine for punters, kickers and snappers run by Husted Kicking earlier this week.

I  am frequently asked about the best way for snappers to get exposure to NFL teams after the Draft has passed and they did not get an opportunity or if they were cut and want another chance.  Schmitt’s signing is yet another example of how free agent combines can help a player get in front of the key decision-makers.

 

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Super Bowl Long Snappers; Sundberg and Winchester Sign New Deals; Wood Signs Future Deal

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Josh Harris of the Falcons and Joe Cardona of the Patriots will handle the snapping duties in the Super Bowl on February 5th.  This will be the first Super Bowl appearance for each snapper.  Heading in to the Super Bowl, no snapper has recorded a tackle in punt coverage during the playoffs.

Two snappers, Nick Sundberg of the Redskins and James Winchester of the Chiefs, signed new contracts today.  Sundberg would have been an unrestricted free agent in March.

There has also been a fourth snapper signed to a future deal for next season as the Cowboys recently added Zach Wood, who was with them in training camp.

 

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Cox and McQuaide Named Pro Bowl Snappers

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The AFC and NFC Pro Bowl teams will each have dedicated snappers again this year.  Morgan Cox of the Ravens will make his second straight Pro Bowl appearance for the AFC squad, while Jake McQuaide of the Rams will snap for the NFC and make his Pro Bowl debut.  The game will take place next Sunday.

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Mannelly Acknowledges the “Original Snappers”

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Former Bears long snapper Patrick Mannelly runs his own excellent snapping website at longsnapper.com.  The other day, Mannelly posted on his blog a nice story acknowledging some of the snappers who helped developed the position when it became more specialized in the 90’s.

Mannelly wrote the post after training some snappers for this year’s NFL Draft and realizing they did not recognize the names of the influential  snappers.

Below are the snappers that Mannelly named that deserve recognition for helping to make the position what it is today.  Mannelly should also be recognized for his valuable contributions as well.

Mike Bartrum                 93-06 TE 171 Games Played

David Binn                      94-10 LS 256 Games Played

Blair Bush                       78-94 C  246 Games Played

Rob Davis                       96-07 LS 183 Games Played

Steve DeOssie                84-95 LB 175 Games Played

Kendall Gammon          92-06 OL/TE 234 Games Played

Dale Hellastrae              85-01 OL 205 Games Played

Trey Junkin                    83-02 TE 281 Games Played

Brian Kinchen                88-03 TE 193 Games Played

Randy Kirk                     87-99 LB 157 Games Played

Dave Moore                   92-06 TE 220 Games Played

Mike Morris                   87-99 C  188 Games Played

Ed Perry                          97-05 TE 109 Games Played

Mark Rodenhouser       87-99 OL 168 Games Played

Adam Schreiber             84-99 OL 202 Games Played

Dan Turk                         85-99 OL 218 Games Played

 

 

 

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