2015 Division One Long Snappers

Posted on September 21, 2015 by longsnap

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Longsnap.com’s exclusive long snapper chart covering each Division One football team is now complete and available for the 2015 season.  The starting punt snapper for each team is listed by conference, along with the snapper’s uniform number, height, weight and class year.

The attached chart was prepared over the last few weeks, so there may have already been some changes due to injuries or performance.  Special thanks again to my son, Henry, who spent many hours with me preparing this list.

You can also click on the D1 Long Snappers page for the charts from the 2010 season to the present.

2015 Division One Long Snappers

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Week One in Review

Posted on September 15, 2015 by longsnap

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Week One of the NFL season is complete and there is some news at the snapping position.  Just days after the Texans gave Jon Weeks a contract extension, the Jaguars did the same with Carson Tinker, who, like Weeks, is now under contract until the end of the 2019 season.

In game action, three snappers made their NFL regular season debuts, with rookie Joe Cardona in New England and first-year players Charley Hughlett in Cleveland and James Winchester in Kansas City.  Three snappers recorded tackles in punt coverage this week with Jon Condo (Raiders) tallying two solo tackles, while Andrew DePaola (Buccaneers) and Josh Harris (Falcons) each had solo stops.  With the new longer extra point attempt rules in place, kickers went 71/75 in extra point attempts during Week One.

Finally, following final cuts and with the season now underway, many NFL teams are fine-tuning their “emergency” or “ready” lists in case a need arises at the snapping position.  Among the snappers that have received workouts in recent weeks are Andrew East (Seattle), Tyler Ott (Tampa Bay), Chris Highland and Rick Lovato (Miami) and Patrick Scales (Washington).

The NFL Long Snappers Chart following Week One is below and is updated to include the two contract extensions and more accurate height and weight information for each snapper.

Week One NFL Long Snappers Chart

 

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Snapping in the National Media

Posted on September 11, 2015 by longsnap

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Long snappers always make for a good story and this week is no different as AP writer Dennis Waszak Jr. published a story today entitled “Oh Snap! Life of an NFL Long Snapper a Pressure-Packed Gig.” The story features interviews with current NFL snappers, including Tanner Purdum, Beau Brinkley, Zak DeOssie and John Denney, to highlight their unique job.

Long snappers were also a component of an interesting article on special teams coaches, or the lack thereof, in the college game.  Jon Solomon of CBSSports.com examined how, at most top programs, kickers, punters and snappers are largely on their own for guidance and instruction.  Solomon’s article, called “Why don’t college football staffs have kicking, punting coaches?” is worth a read to get a sense how coaching limits impact the kicking game in college.

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Texans Sign Weeks to Extension

Posted on September 7, 2015 by longsnap

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While Saturday’s 53 man roster deadline was quiet for the snapping position, there was some news over the weekend for a potential unrestricted free agent snapper.

Jon Weeks, who would have been a free agent after this season, signed a new four-year deal with the Texans that puts him under contract until the end of the 2019 season.  Weeks is entering his sixth season in the NFL.

 

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Ott Waived by Rams; All Second Snappers Gone

Posted on September 2, 2015 by longsnap

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Tyler Ott was released by the Rams yesterday.  With that move, each NFL team is left with a single snapper on their roster.  The final roster cuts must be made Sunday to get to the 53 man roster limit.  For now, it appears that there will not be any further moves at the snapping position before the start of the regular season.

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Snapping Moves at the First Mandatory Cut

Posted on August 31, 2015 by longsnap

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Although NFL teams must be down to 75 players by tomorrow, most have already made substantial cuts.  Not surprisingly, the snapping position was heavily impacted.

Snappers that have been waived in the last day or two include Patrick Scales (Ravens), Rick Lovato (Bears), Casey Kreiter (Cowboys), Andrew East (Chiefs) and Brandon Hartson (Buccaneers), who signed a few days earlier.

With these transactions, only the Rams have two snappers in camp.  Unless there are other changes, rookie Joe Cardona (Patriots) and street free agent James Winchester (Chiefs) will make their NFL debuts during the first week of the NFL season.

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Loeffler Released by Vikings

Posted on August 24, 2015 by longsnap

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There was some big snapping news today as it was announced that the Vikings have released their longest-tenured player, Cullen Loeffler.  Loeffler has been the snapper in Minnesota since 2004, but lost the job to Kevin McDermott in a tightly contested training camp battle.  Loeffler made the Vikings as a rookie free agent in 2004.

With Loeffler’s release, and the Seahawks decision to waive rookie Nate Boyer last week, the only snapping competitions remaining are in Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City and St. Louis.

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Analysis of the New PAT Rule

Posted on August 19, 2015 by longsnap

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The new 33-yard extra point is now in effect in the NFL. For those looking for an in-depth analysis of how this will impact NFL games and the various scenarios the rule creates, look no further than an exhaustive evaluation  by Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com.

Seifert’s article, entitled “Everything you want to know (and then some) about NFL’s new PAT rule” covers nearly every conceivable aspect of the new rule and is worth a read.

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NFL Snapping Update

Posted on August 17, 2015 by longsnap

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With the first week of the NFL preseason complete, there have been two recent snapping transactions.  The Saints waived rookie Chris Highland, who handled all of the snaps in their first preseason game.  The move likely means Justin Drescher, who has been sidelined by an injury, is ready to return.  The Buccaneers also waived rookie Courtland Clavette.

With these two moves, seven NFL teams (Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Minnesota, Seattle and St. Louis) are carrying two snappers heading into the second week of preseason games.

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Big Week for College Trick Shot Videos

Posted on August 14, 2015 by longsnap

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Although NFL preseason games have begun, it was two trick shot videos from college snappers that got major attention this week.  It started with Buffalo’s Corbin Grassman and was followed closely by Nolan Dowling of Western Kentucky.

Sports Illustrated did a nice summary of both snappers exploits  along with the embedded videos which can be seen here.

Posted in College, Snapping in the Media | Comments Off on Big Week for College Trick Shot Videos