Week Eighteen in Review

Posted on January 9, 2024 by longsnap

The NFL regular season ended Sunday night and concluded an exciting season. Heading into the final week of the season, the Bears added Matt Overton to its practice squad in case client Patrick Scales could not snap due to a foot injury. However, Scales was able to snap Sunday. The Rams also released Alex Matheson from its practice squad prior to Week Eighteen.

Andrew DePaola (Vikings) and Ross Matiscik (Jaguars) are the Pro Bowl snappers this year. This will be DePaola’s second appearance and the first for Matiscik. Matiscik also had the most tackles by any snapper this year in punt coverage, totaling eight solo tackles, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.

Over the next few weeks, Longsnap.com will be reporting any long snapper signings for next season, special teams coaching changes, the impact of free agency on the snapping position, top prospects for the NFL Draft and other key matters impacting the snapping position.

Six snappers recorded tackles during the final week of the regular season. Tyler Ott (Ravens) had two solo stops, while DePaola (Vikings), Mitchell Fraboni (Broncos), and Tyler Addington (Commanders) each had a solo tackle. Client Liam McCullough (Falcons) and Rick Lovato (Eagles) added assisted tackles.

The Final 2023 NFL Long Snappers Chart is below.

2023 FinalDownload
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Week Seventeen in Review

Posted on January 1, 2024 by longsnap

A very happy new year to all, as the NFL regular season is down to its final week.

In Week Seventeen, the Rams added Alex Matheson to the practice squad after his tryout last week. However, Carson Tinker handled all snaps Sunday.

Three snappers recorded tackles in punt coverage, with Rick Lovato (Eagles) adding a solo tackle, while Jon Weeks (Texans) and Mitchell Fraboni (Broncos) each recorded assisted tackles.

The NFL Long Snappers Chart after Week Seventeen is below.

2023 Week SeventeenDownload
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Week Sixteen In Review

Posted on December 26, 2023 by longsnap

Just two weeks remain in the NFL regular season and this week brought the third snapping change of the season. 

The Commanders waived 2021 NFL Draft selection Camaron Cheeseman after a rough season. It is becoming increasingly rare for snappers to be replaced due to performance, as injury is typically the reasons that forces a change. The prior two changes of this season in Detroit and with the Rams were both injury-related.

Tucker Addington, who has prior game experience last season with the Patriots, was added to the Commanders practice squad and will be elevated each week to finish the season.

Two snappers had workouts for NFL teams, as the Giants brought in Cameron Lyons with some punters and the Rams had a tryout with Alex Matheson. Neither snapper was signed.

Pro Bowl voting ends soon and Reid Ferguson (Bills) leads all snappers in fan votes in the AFC while Taybor Pepper (Niners) is the top snapper on the NFC side.

Five snappers recorded tackles in punt coverage this week. Rick Lovato (Eagles) had a solo tackle and forced fumble. Zach Triner (Buccaneers) and Jacob Bobenmoyer (Raiders) also had solo stops, while Reid Ferguson (Bills) and Charley Hughlett (Browns) chipped in assisted tackles.

The NFL Long Snappers Chart after Week Sixteen is below.

2023 Week SixteenDownload

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Another Option for Snappers Looking to Play Professionally

Posted on December 20, 2023 by longsnap

In a recent post about senior snappers selected for college all-star games to date, I mentioned two upcoming showcases for snappers looking to play at the next level.

Dates have now been finalized for another excellent option for aspiring snappers with Kohl’s Professional Camps. For over 20 years, the Kohl’s camps have been an excellent options for all specialists and snappers in particular.

Kohl’s has two professional pro training camp options in January and February to help snappers get critical exposure and training. The camps are led by Casey Casper, a snapper I represented early in my NFL agent career. Links to both upcoming camps can be found here:

.https://www.kohlskicking.com/camps/pro-college-training-camp-2

https://www.kohlskicking.com/camps/pro-college-training-camp-3-2

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Week Fifteen in Review

Posted on December 19, 2023 by longsnap

Week Fifteen brought a rare snapping change and another one will happen this coming week.

Alex Ward of the Rams suffered an injury in his Week Fourteen game agains the Ravens and the team quickly signed veteran Carson Tinker to replace him. It also appeared that Buccaneers snapper Zach Triner might miss this week’s game with an elbow injury but he was able to play. Tampa Bay added Evan Deckers just in case after a workout that also featured Tucker Addington and Matt Overton.

In action this week, Commanders snapper Camaron Cheeseman continued to struggle with multiple bad punt and short snaps. As a result, the Commanders waived Cheeseman yesterday and are expected to add his replacement in the next few days.

Five snappers recorded tackles in punt coverage this week, with Thomas Hennessy (Jets), Casey Kreiter (Giants) and Morgan Cox (Titans) each tallying solo stops, while Josh Harris (Chargers) had two assisted tackles and Tyler Ott (Ravens) adding an assisted tackle.

The NFL Long Snappers Chart after Week Fifteen is below.

2023 Week FifteenDownload
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Options for Snappers Looking to Play Professionally

Posted on December 15, 2023 by longsnap

With the NFL in its final weeks and college teams about to start bowl season, attention will soon turn to the NFL Draft. For snappers eligible for the Draft in April, all-star games and camps are a great way to attract the attention of scouts.

The top all-star game opportunities for snappers eligible for the NFL Draft are the Senior Bowl, East-West Shrine Bowl, Hula Bowl and CGS. Snappers are starting to fill these rosters, with Peter Bowden (Wisconsin) and William Mote (Georgia) committed to the Senior Bowl, while Patrick Mannelly Award winner Joe Shimko (NC State) will play in the East-West Shrine game. Bowden, Randen Plattner (Kansas State) and Marco Ortiz (Nebraska) are slated to play in the Hula Bowl in January.

For those snappers not selected to an all-star game, or if you have been out of school for at least a year and now a free agent, there are some camps that can help you get the critical exposure to get to the next level.

They include the Special Teams U Pro Prep Camp from January 4-6 in Tampa, Florida. More information can be found here: https://specialteamsu.com/product/proprepcamp/.

Former NFL Special Teams Coach Gary Zauner offers a combine for seniors eligible for the Draft and for those who are free agents. Information on the college combine can be found here: https://coachzaunerslockerroom.com/combines/college-senior-football-kicking-specialists-combine while the free agent combine information is here: https://coachzaunerslockerroom.com/combines/free-agent-football-kicking-specialists-combine.

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Week Fourteen in Review

Posted on December 12, 2023 by longsnap

Week Fourteen of the NFL season is complete and featured a controversial long snapper penalty late in Thursday’s Steelers game against the Patriots.

Steelers’ snapper Christian Kuntz was flagged for a false start penalty with about five minutes left in the game and his team trailing by three. Kuntz thought the Patriots jumped offsides, a penalty that would have given the team a first down.

However, Kunttz was called for a penalty for an apparent “abrupt” movement of his head. JJ Watt even weighed in on social media, noting that “[t]hat is how every single long snapper in the NFL moves their head.”

Jon Weeks of the Texans was nominated as the team’s candidate for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for his on and off the field activities.

Pro Bowl voting continues and current fan vote leaders for long snappers are Blake Ferguson of the Dolphins in the AFC and Andrew DePaola of the Vikings in the NFC.

Four snappers recorded tackles in punt coverage this week. Ross Matiscik (Jaguars) had two solo tackles, giving him the lead among all snappers with eight, all of which are solo tackles. A trio of snappers, Charley Hughlett (Browns), JJ Jansen (Panthers) and DePaola (Vikings) each added an assisted tackle.

The NFL Long Snappers Chart after Week Fourteen is below.

2023 Week FourteenDownload
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Shimko Wins Fifth Annual Patrick Mannelly Award

Posted on December 11, 2023 by longsnap

Joe Shimko of NC State became the fifth winner of the Patrick Mannelly Award on Saturday at a ceremony outside of Chicago. Shimko was voted best FBS long snapper by a close margin over Peter Bowden (Wisconsin) and Marco Ortiz (Nebraska).

The Award continue to grow in popularity and notoriety. As one of the Founders, we are seeking admission as an associate member of the National College Football Awards Association to provide an even greater platform for this tremendous Award.

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Week Thirteen in Review

Posted on December 5, 2023 by longsnap

Week Thirteen of the NFL season is complete and brought a rare special teams coaching change during the season.

The Titans had a rough day on special teams in an overtime loss to the Colts. They had blocked punts, a fumbled punt and a missed extra point. The Titans punter was injured on one of the punt mishaps and, as a result, the Titans fired Craig Ackerman yesterday. Tom Quinn will replace him in that role.

The Patriots had a large special teams workout last week that included snappers Carson Tinker and Dalton Godfrey.

Just two snappers recorded tackles in punt coverage this week. Ross Matiscik of the Jaguars continued his tremendous coverage season by adding two solo tackles, giving him six on the season, and Jack McQuaide added an assisted tackle for the Lions.

The NFL Long Snappers Chart after Week Thirteen is below.

2023 Week ThirteenDownload
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Week Twelve in Review

Posted on November 28, 2023 by longsnap

Week Twelve of the NFL season is complete and next week will bring another special teams coach in the head coaching role, at least temporarily. The Panthers fired Frank Reich yesterday and Chris Tabor will serve as interim head coach. Tabor previously served as interim head coach for the Bears.

This weekend there was a rare snapper tryout in Denver after Mitch Fraboni appeared on the injury report. Veteran snapper Matt Overton and Tucker Addington were brought in, but neither was signed and Fraboni was able to play Sunday.

Morgan Cox of the Titans was named his team’s Art Rooney Award nominee. The Award is given annually for on-field sportsmanship. A panel will narrow the list to eight finalists and the winner is voted on by current NFL players and announced during the NFL Honors program.

There was a rare accomplishment in Saturday’s college football action as SMU snapper Will Benton scored what has been called the most unlikely touchdown of the season against Navy. Following a muffed punt by the Navy returner, the ball rolled in the end zone where Benton recovered it for a touchdown.

Three snappers recorded tackles in punt coverage this week. Casey Kreiter (Giants) had a solo stop, while Trent Sieg (Cowboys) and Mitch Fraboni (Broncos) added assisted tackles.

The NFL Long Snappers Chart following Week Twelve is below.

2023 Week TwelveDownload
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