Long snapper

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Diagram of a punt formation, the long snapper or deep snapper is indicated by the blue "DS"

In the punt formation, the long snapper or deep snapper is the center of the interior line (#58 in blue)

In American football and Canadian football, the term long snapper refers to a player who is a specialized center during punts, field goals, and extra point attempts. His job is to snap the ball as quickly and accurately as possible. Many teams, especially in college football, refer to the snapper in a punt formation as a deep snapper and reserve the term long snapper for the snapper in a field goal formation.

During field goals and point after tries, the snap is received by the holder. During punt plays the snap is delivered to the punter. A good, consistent long snapper is hard to find, and many marginally talented players have found a niche exclusively as long snappers.

A "bad snap" is a snap which causes the delay of a kick or the failure of a play. It is usually because of an inaccurate snap.

The long snapper still performs the normal tasks of a center and also runs downfield after the ball has been punted to help defend the punt return.

On punts, most NFL long snappers get the ball to the punter in .70 seconds and immediately attempt to make the tackle downfield.^{[citation needed]}

Long snappers usually aren't known throughout the NFL, and usually are never drafted (because they play other positions). Many long snappers in college are back-up tight ends.^{[citation needed]}

A lot of long snappers do not start snapping until they are on a team where the position is open. Long snapper scholarships are rare, and most have to walk-on to play in college.

[edit] External links

• Football 101: Special teams - punting by Bob Davie
• Great long snapping video, many angles
• Just for Kicks - The life of a long snapper (sfgate.com)
• Longsnap.com
• Advice for Novice Long Snappers