2020 Awards Ceremony Will Be Virtual

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We live in the age of the superstar. The big gun. The first pick. The franchise player. But the more we come to understand the game of football, the more we learn to revere the guy who sets every field goal, extra point and punt in motion – including nail-biting field goals that make or break games, seasons and sometimes even careers. It’s time to show some love for the Long Snapper.


Long Snappers don’t make the cover of the program. They’re rarely asked to sign autographs. You don’t typically see them being interviewed before the game. But Long Snappers aren’t driven by these things. Quiet, selfless, focused and courageous, the Long Snapper is content to trade conventional superstardom for the opportunity to do one job very well. 


The spirit of the Long Snapper lives, not just on the football field, but out in the real world as well. The nurse who hands the right instrument to the surgeon is a Long Snapper. The legal professional who works late into the night doing the research that uncovers the precedent that wins the case is a Long Snapper. Anyone who toils in quiet dedication to the greater good is a Long Snapper. No matter what you do, when you do it with excellence in the face of great pressure, you are a Long Snapper. 


The Patrick Mannelly Award presented by William Blair is a new vehicle through which football’s unsung workhorses can finally bask in the warm glow of appreciation. Now we celebrate the best Long Snappers in college football. And in doing so, we honor the Long Snapper in all of us.

BENEFITING

The Patrick Mannelly Award presented by William Blair benefits Bernie’s Book Bank, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing book ownership among at-risk children. Bernie's Book Bank achieves this mission by providing 12 free books annually to empower under-served children to read their way to a better life. Since 2009, Bernie’s Book Bank has distributed more than 19 MILLION books to children ages birth through sixth grade; this year alone they will provide 2.2 MILLION books to thousands of local under-served children. 


Bernie’s Book Bank is the long snapper of literacy – no child can learn to read without books. The work of Bernie’s Book Bank may be behind the scenes, yet they are an integral player in the literacy equation. For more information about Bernie’s Book Bank, visit berniesbookbank.org.

NAMED AFTER

Patrick Mannelly, widely known as the best Long Snapper in the modern NFL era, was a four-year starter at long snapper and two year starter at offensive line at Duke University before being drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. Mannelly is the Bears career leader in games played at 245, the longest tenured Chicago Bear after playing 16 seasons, and a recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award.

FOUNDERS

Kevin Gold, LongSnap.com

KEVIN GOLD

PATRICK MANNELLY

PATRICK MANNELLY

Kevin Gold is an NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor and creator of the award-winning web site Longsnap.com, dedicated to Long Snapping.  Gold has been featured in the national media for his unique sports representation focus, including the USA Today, Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News and SIRIUS NFL Radio. Mr. Gold has negotiated in exc

Kevin Gold is an NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor and creator of the award-winning web site Longsnap.com, dedicated to Long Snapping.  Gold has been featured in the national media for his unique sports representation focus, including the USA Today, Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News and SIRIUS NFL Radio. Mr. Gold has negotiated in excess of 100 NFL player contracts. Gold is a founding partner at the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania law firm Pillar+Aught.

Patrick Mannelly, Long Snapper

PATRICK MANNELLY

PATRICK MANNELLY

PATRICK MANNELLY

Patrick Mannelly was considered one of the NFL’s best long-snappers during an illustrious 16-year career that he spent exclusively with the Chicago Bears from 1998-2013. A sixth-round draft pick from Duke, Mannelly set franchise records for most seasons and games played (245). A model of excellence and consistency, he helped the Bears win

Patrick Mannelly was considered one of the NFL’s best long-snappers during an illustrious 16-year career that he spent exclusively with the Chicago Bears from 1998-2013. A sixth-round draft pick from Duke, Mannelly set franchise records for most seasons and games played (245). A model of excellence and consistency, he helped the Bears win four division championships and one NFC title. Mannelly played in Super Bowl XLI, was a special-teams captain for 11 seasons and recorded 81 special-teams tackles, the third most in Bears history. At Duke, he was a four-year starting long-snapper and a two-year starting offensive lineman. Mannelly currently serves as a football analyst for 670 The Score and also hosts the Chicago Huddle and Golf 360.

Chris Rubio, Long Snapping

CHRIS RUBIO

PATRICK MANNELLY

CHRIS RUBIO

Chris Rubio is a Long Snapping trainer. He works with middle school, high school and college Long Snappers and evaluates them for college football programs.  Rubio’s Long Snapping Camp is the longest-running in the nation. Over the past 14 years, Rubio has helped over 1,000 long snappers play football in college and the NFL. Rubio is also

Chris Rubio is a Long Snapping trainer. He works with middle school, high school and college Long Snappers and evaluates them for college football programs.  Rubio’s Long Snapping Camp is the longest-running in the nation. Over the past 14 years, Rubio has helped over 1,000 long snappers play football in college and the NFL. Rubio is also the creator of the Chris Rubio Award given annually to the nation’s best high school Long Snapper. Rubio was a three-year starting Long Snapper at UCLA. Rubio has been featured in the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the USA Today

VOTING

The Patrick Mannelly Long Snapper Award is determined by a committee comprised of former NFL Long Snappers, punters and kickers, special team coaches, as well as snapping instructors, NFL player agents and sportswriters. 

CRITERIA

The Award is presented to the overall best Long Snapper at the Division I FBS level. The winner must be of senior standing, have started 75% of games in his senior year, snap on punts and placements, and demonstrate a strong mentality, notable athleticism, as well as speed, accuracy and consistency in their snaps. 

2020 PreSeason watchlist

Brian Keating, UConn

Adam Higuera, Tulsa

Mitch Hall, Louisville

Ben Wyatt, Duke

Cal Adomitis, Pittsburgh

Logan Klusman, Kansas

Camaron Cheeseman, Michigan


Billy Taylor, Rutgers

Ethan Tabel, Illinois

Tyler Gillikin, Northwestern

Adam Bay, Wisconsin

Jacob Fuqua, UAB

Sean Mills, Toledo

 Erik Dickerson, Arizona State 

Damon Johnson, USC

Keegan Markgraf, Utah

Thomas Fletcher, Alabama

Paul Blackwell, Mississippi State

Ryan Langan, Georgia Southern

Seth Cottengim, Arkansas State


2020 SEMIFINALISTs

Cal Adomitis, Pittsburgh

Adam Bay, Wisconsin

Turner Bernard, San Diego State

Thomas Fletcher, Alabama

Jacob Fuqua, UAB

Damon Johnson, USC

Logan Klusman, Kansas

Ryan Langan, Georgia Southern

Keegan Markgraf, Utah

John Taylor, Duke


2020 FINALISTs

Thomas Fletcher, Alabama

Damon Johnson, USC

Ryan Langan, Georgia Southern

PATRICK MANNELLY AWARD WINNERS

2020

Thomas Fletcher

University of Alabama


2019

John Shannon 

Notre Dame


CONGRATULATIONS!

SELECTION COMMITTEE

 Patrick Mannelly, Founder

 Chris Rubio, Founder

 Kevin Gold, Founder

 Lonnie Paxton, Former NFL LS

 Tom Lemming, Recruiting Writer

Wes Huber, Pro Football Focus

  Robbie Gould, NFL Kicker

 Brad Maynard, Former NFL P

  Rob Davis, Former NFL LS

  Justin Snow, Former NFL LS

 Randy Chevrier, Former NFL/CFL LS

Clint Gresham, Former NFL LS

Rick Gosselin, NFL Writer

  Tom Osborne, NCAA ST Coach

 Phil Steele, NCAA Writer

 Dave Wannstedt, Former NFL Head Coach

SELECTION PARTNER

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Pro Football Focus

DATES

Announcement/Virtual Trophy Presentation 


Saturday, January 9th virtually on social media

WATCH VIRTUALLY

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