The Chris Rubio Award

Oscar Shadley (Va. Tech)

What is the Award?
The Award will be presented on an annual basis to the best national high school Long Snapper for that given season.

Who Is Eligible?
Every athlete that plays high school football at the varsity level, regardless of state division, or age. You DO NOT have to attend a Rubio Long Snapping  camp to win this award.

How Do You Win? 

  • You will have to be the starter for your high school varsity team.
  • You must not have more than one bad snap all season (snap that gets by the punter or the holder).
  • You must have 85% of your punt snaps in The Rubio Zone.
  • If you have to snap and block for your team, that is looked at in higher regard.
  • The amount of tackles is taken into consideration with the voting.
  • You must have started in 80% of the current year’s games for your varsity team.

    Thomas Fletcher of Alabama!

  • A Long Snapper’s physical size is NOT taken into consideration in the voting.
  • Other positions played are NOT taken into consideration for voting.
  • You may be viewed by Chris Rubio in person, send in film, have a high school head coach’s recommendation, college special team’s coach recommendation or sports writer’s recommendation to be considered eligible.
  • A panel of voters assembled by the Chris Rubio selection committee will vote for the winner.

Blake Ferguson of LSU is a two time winner of The Chris Rubio Award

Blake Ferguson of LSU is a two time winner of The Chris Rubio Award

How Does the Voting Take Place? 
A panel of voters assembled by the Chris Rubio selection committee will be voting. The panel will include: Chris Rubio, past and current NFL Long Snappers, past and current NCAA Long Snappers, past finalists for the Chris Rubio Award (once they graduate from college), and Sports writers and columnists.

When?
August: A Watch List of Long Snappers will be announced each year before the high school football season begins. The players on the Watch List were selected based on statistics from the previous season and upcoming season expectations.  The eventual winner does NOT have to be on the Watch List to win the awards.

Scott Daly of Notre Dame was the inagural winner of The Chris Rubio Award

Scott Daly of Notre Dame was the inaugural winner of The Chris Rubio Award

December:  Ten Semi-Finalists are announced.  The Semi-Finalists will be determined by committee selection.

December: The Three Finalists are announced. The Finalists will be determined by total votes. 3 points (1st Place Vote), 2 points (2nd Place Vote), 1 Point (3rd Place Vote). In the case of a tie, Chris Rubio will break the tie with his vote.

January : The winner will be announced in Las Vegas on Saturday, January 14, 2024. The winner will be determined by total votes. 3 points (1st Place Vote), 2 points (2nd Place Vote), 1 Point (3rd Place Vote).

In the case of a tie, Chris Rubio will break the tie with his vote.

Cole Mazza of Alabama holds his Chris Rubio Award trophy in Los Angeles

Guidelines:
Submit your season total stats (total snaps) for the season to Chris Rubio by emailing them to Rubio@RubioLongSnapping.com. You will email a TOTAL number that you have added up each week.

Please submit the following:
Total Number of Punts:
Total Number of Punts in The Rubio Zone:
Total Number of P.A.T’s:
Total Number of tackles:
Misc (fumble recovery, etc):

Please note: You may create a highlight tape for the judges but it cannot exceed one minute in length. It must be emailed to Rubio@RubioLongSnapping.com with a YouTube link.

*All statistics will have to be verified by your high school head coach before you can be announced as a Finalist.

__________________________________________________________________

Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Rubio has been featured in the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the USA Today, Deadspin and countless other publications.

Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world, Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be!

In just 18 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 1,700 Long Snappers earning full scholarships and preferred walk-on opportunities to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.

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Watch List for The Chris Rubio Award 2018

Here is the Pre-Season Watch List for The Chris Rubio Award!

Please note: you do NOT have to be on this list to win the award in January!!!

LONG SNAPPER QUALIFICATIONS

Last year’s winner, Oscar Shadley (Va. Tech)

What is the Award?
The Award will be presented on an annual basis to the best national high school Long Snapper for that given season.

Who Is Eligible?
Every athlete that plays high school football at the varsity level, regardless of state division, or age. You DO NOT have to attend a Rubio Long Snapping / Chris Sailer Kicking camp to win this award.

How Do You Win? 

  • You will have to be the starter for your high school varsity team.
  • You must not have more than one bad snap all season (snap that gets by the punter or the holder).
  • You must have 85% of your punt snaps in The Rubio Zone.
  • If you have to snap and block for your team, that is looked at in higher regard.
  • The amount of tackles is taken into consideration with the voting.
  • You must have started in 80% of the current year’s games for your varsity team.

    Thomas Fletcher of Alabama!

  • A Long Snapper’s physical size is NOT taken into consideration in the voting.
  • Other positions played are NOT taken into consideration for voting.
  • You may be viewed by Chris Rubio in person, send in film, have a high school head coach’s recommendation, college special team’s coach recommendation or sports writer’s recommendation to be considered eligible.
  • A panel of voters assembled by the Chris Rubio selection committee will vote for the winner.
Blake Ferguson of LSU is a two time winner of The Chris Rubio Award

Blake Ferguson of LSU is a two time winner of The Chris Rubio Award

How Does the Voting Take Place? 
A panel of voters assembled by the Chris Rubio selection committee will be voting. The panel will include: Chris Rubio, past and current NFL Long Snappers, past and current NCAA Long Snappers, past finalists for the Chris Rubio Award (once they graduate from college), and Sports writers and columnists.

When?
August: A Watch List of Long Snappers will be announced each year before the high school football season begins. The players on the Watch List were selected based on statistics from the previous season and upcoming season expectations.  The eventual winner does NOT have to be on the Watch List to win the awards.

Scott Daly of Notre Dame was the inagural winner of The Chris Rubio Award

Scott Daly of Notre Dame was the inaugural winner of The Chris Rubio Award

November:  Ten Semi-Finalists are announced.  The Semi-Finalists will be determined by committee selection.

December: The Three Finalists are announced. The Finalists will be determined by total votes. 3 points (1st Place Vote), 2 points (2nd Place Vote), 1 Point (3rd Place Vote). In the case of a tie, Chris Rubio will break the tie with his vote.

January : The winner will be announced in Las Vegas on Friday, January 13, 2017. The winner will be determined by total votes. 3 points (1st Place Vote), 2 points (2nd Place Vote), 1 Point (3rd Place Vote).

In the case of a tie, Chris Rubio will break the tie with his vote.

Cole Mazza of Alabama holds his Chris Rubio Award trophy in Los Angeles

Cole Mazza of Alabama holds his Chris Rubio Award trophy in Los Angeles

Guidelines:
Submit your season total stats (total snaps) each week to Chris Rubio by emailing them to Rubio@RubioLongSnapping.com. Each week, you will email me a new TOTAL number that you have added up each week.

Please submit the following:
Total Number of Punts:
Total Number of Punts in The Rubio Zone:
Total Number of P.A.T’s:
Total Number of tackles:
Misc (fumble recovery, etc):

Please note: You may create a highlight tape for the judges but it cannot exceed one minute in length. It must be emailed to Rubio@RubioLongSnapping.com with a YouTube link.

*All statistics will have to be verified by your high school head coach before you can be announced as a Finalist.

__________________________________________________________________

Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Rubio has been featured in the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the USA Today, Deadspin and countless other publications.

Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world, Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be!

In just 14 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 1,000 Long Snappers earning full scholarships and preferred walk-on opportunities to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.

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The 2016 Chris Rubio Award Ceremony

1. What is it?

  • The Chris Rubio Award is presented, on an annual basis, to the best national high school Long Snapper for that given season.

2. Where is it?

  • Suncoast Hotel & Casino (The Madrid Room)
    9090 Alta Drive
    Las Vegas, NV.

3. When is it?

  • Friday, January 13th at 7:00pm.

4. Who is allowed to attend the Awards Show?

  • Open to all, free to attend.   Attire is casual. Doors will open at 7:00pm at the Suncoast Hotel & Casino in the Madrid Room (follow the signs). Trust me when I tell you, you will NOT want to miss this as a special MC will be hosting AND we will be presenting other awards as well that could to you!

5. Who are the three finalists this year?

  • Thomas Fletcher, IMG Academy, FL
  • Kyle Gibbs, Norco HS, CA
  • Mitch Hall, Clayton HS, NC

6. Who is on the Chris Rubio Award Selection Committee and what is their role?

They are the people that vote on the winner. Each committee member votes for a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place Long Snapper. Votes are tallied and the winner is announced at the awards ceremony.

Justin Drescher – Four year starter at Colorado. Currently with the New Orleans Saints.

Christian Yount- Four year starter at UCLA. Two time, and only, Playboy All-American. Senior Bowl participant. First Long Snapper to be offered a scholarship his junior year. NFL Long Snapper with the Cleveland Browns

Corey Adams – Four year starter at Kansas St. All four years without a bad snap (almost 400). 2010 Lowes Award finalist for being a tremendous student-athlete on and off the field.

Aaron Brewer – Four year starter at San Diego St. All four years without a bad snap. Former #1 for Rubio Long Snapping in high school. Currently the starting Long Snapper for the Arizona Cardinals.

Kevin Gold – Kevin Gold is an NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor and creator of the award-winning Web site Longsnap.com, dedicated to football long snapping. Longsnap.com was founded in 2000 and, in April 2009, converted to its current blog format. Mr. Gold has negotiated in excess of 50 NFL player contracts.

Carson Tinker – Four year starter at Alabama. Currently with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

John Finch – Three year starter at Purdue. Senior most Rubio Long Snapping staff member.

Jon Weeks – Played his collegiate ball with Baylor. Currently with the Houston Texans.

Brandon Huffman –  Brandon is in his seventh year with Scout.com, currently as a National Recruiting Analyst and West Regional Manager.

Randy Taylor – Randy is a Recruiting Analyst and National Speaker for NCSA Athletic Recruiting.

Greg Biggins – Assistant Recruiting Editor & West Regional Coordinator at ESPN.

Chris Sailer – President and owner of Chris Sailer Kicking

Chris Rubio – President and owner of Rubio Long Snapping.

Above: The 2015 Chris Rubio Award Winner, Johnny Den Bleyker. Den Bleyker now plays for UCLA.

7. Who are the past winners?

  • Johnny Den Bleyker of UCLA (2015)
  • Blake Ferguson of LSU (TWO time winner 2014 & 2013)
  • Cole Mazza of Alabama (2012)
  • Scott Daly of Notre Dame (2011)

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have any questions about the ceremony, please contact Samantha@RubioLongSnapping.com.

——————————————————————————————————————————

The National Long Snapper of the Year is named in honor of Chris Rubio for his outstanding high school career and nearly single handedly changing the world of long snapping.  Chris is now the most prominent private long snapping coach in America.  He has made the position of long snapping a specialty and revered around the country through his website, as well as camps.  Through his training and development of young long snappers, dozens of high school long snapping specialists now receive full ride scholarships each year for their skill in that position.

Chris Rubio played high school football for Charter Oak High School in California from 1989-1992.  He was part of team that won the league championship in 1992 serving as the teams Long Snapper and left tackle.  He was voted Center of the Century in the San Gabriel Valley.  His long snapping ability earned him a spot on the UCLA football team where he was a 3-year starter at Long Snapper for three All-Americans.

575

Watch List for The Chris Rubio Award

Here is the Pre-Season Watch List for The Chris Rubio Award!

Please note: you do NOT have to be on this list to win the award in January!!!

LONG SNAPPER QUALIFICATIONS

Johnny Den Bleyker of UCLA

What is the Award?
The Award will be presented on an annual basis to the best national high school Long Snapper for that given season.

Who Is Eligible?
Every athlete that plays high school football at the varsity level, regardless of state division, or age. You DO NOT have to attend a Rubio Long Snapping / Chris Sailer Kicking camp to win this award.

How Do You Win? 

  • You will have to be the starter for your high school varsity team.
  • You must not have more than one bad snap all season (snap that gets by the punter or the holder).
  • You must do both punt and p.a.t. snaps.
  • If you have to snap and block for your team, that is looked at in higher regard.
  • The amount of tackles is taken into consideration with the voting.
  • You must have started in 80% of the current year’s games for your varsity team.
  • A Long Snapper’s physical size is NOT taken into consideration in the voting.
  • Other positions played are NOT taken into consideration for voting.
  • You may be viewed by Chris Rubio in person, send in film, have a high school head coach’s recommendation, college special team’s coach recommendation or sports writer’s recommendation to be considered eligible.
  • A panel of voters assembled by the Chris Rubio selection committee will vote for the winner.
Blake Ferguson of LSU is a two time winner of The Chris Rubio Award

Blake Ferguson of LSU is a two time winner of The Chris Rubio Award

How Does the Voting Take Place? 
A panel of voters assembled by the Chris Rubio selection committee will be voting. The panel will include: Chris Rubio, past and current NFL Long Snappers, past and current NCAA Long Snappers, past finalists for the Chris Rubio Award (once they graduate from college), and Sports writers and columnists.

When?
August: A Watch List of 15 Long Snappers will be announced each year before the high school football season begins. The players on the Watch List were selected based on statistics from the previous season and upcoming season expectations.  The eventual winner does NOT have to be on the Watch List to win the awards.

Scott Daly of Notre Dame was the inagural winner of The Chris Rubio Award

Scott Daly of Notre Dame was the inaugural winner of The Chris Rubio Award

November:  Ten Semi-Finalists are announced.  The Semi-Finalists will be determined by committee selection.

December: The Three Finalists are announced. The Finalists will be determined by total votes. 3 points (1st Place Vote), 2 points (2nd Place Vote), 1 Point (3rd Place Vote). In the case of a tie, Chris Rubio will break the tie with his vote.

January : The winner will be announced in Las Vegas on Friday, January 13, 2017. The winner will be determined by total votes. 3 points (1st Place Vote), 2 points (2nd Place Vote), 1 Point (3rd Place Vote).

In the case of a tie, Chris Rubio will break the tie with his vote.

Cole Mazza of Alabama holds his Chris Rubio Award trophy in Los Angeles

Cole Mazza of Alabama holds his Chris Rubio Award trophy in Los Angeles

Guidelines:
Submit your season total stats (total snaps) each week to Chris Rubio by emailing them to Rubio@RubioLongSnapping.com Please submit the following:
Total Number of Punts:
Total Number of P.A.T’s:
Total Number of tackles:
Misc (fumble recovery, etc):

Please note: You may create a highlight tape for the judges but it cannot exceed one minute in length. It must be emailed to Rubio@RubioLongSnapping.com with a YouTube link.

*All statistics will have to be verified by your high school head coach before you can be announced as a Finalist.

Rubio Award

291

You Are Who You Hang Out With

A Rubio Long Snapping parent posted this photo on Facebook and I had to borrow it to show exactly what the Rubio Long Snapping family is all about AND how things continue to grow.

The picture below is from Vegas about five years ago. It shows your normal group of Rubio Long Snappers hanging out on a Saturday evening after the day of instruction. Everyone is smiling and waiting for their food. There is even a little brother thrown in the mix.

Let me give you a run down of the people in the photo. From left to right, Taybor Pepper of Michigan St/NFL., Scott Daly of Notre Dame, Cory Cheadle of Kansas St. Reid Ferguson of LSU/NFL, Blake Ferguson of LSU and Kelly Mason of Kentucky/NFL.

That is one powerful table. Next time you are sitting around with some members of the Rubio Long Snapping family at VEGAS XXVIII on May 21-22, think to yourself and wonder, will Rubio be talking about me in five years?

#YouAreWhoYouHangOutWith

signature

Taybor, Reid, Blake, Kelly, Cory at Vegas

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Finalists for The Chris Rubio Award!

Here are your finalists for The Chris Rubio Award…

Snapper of the year

CONGRATULATIONS to these three fine young men! They deserve it.

Now is when it will really get intense. Each finalist has the option of doing the following….

  • sending in a two minute highlight tape explaining why they should be the next recipient of The Chris Rubio Award. Tape can include snapping highlights, personal interviews and even a first hand interview of the finalists. This will need to be uploaded to YouTube with the title = NAME, Chris Rubio Award Finalists, 2015.

All information must be sent to Rubio@RubioLongSnapping.com by 10 pm pst on Friday, December 18th.

The winner will be selected by the Awards Committee and presented with the trophy on Friday, January 15th at 7:00 pm at the JW Marriott in Las Vegas, NV.

____________________________________________________________________

The Chris Rubio Award is presented, on an annual basis, to the best national high school Long Snapper for that given season. Past winners include Scott Daly of Notre Dame (2011), Cole Mazza of Alabama (2012) and Blake Ferguson (TWO time winner) of LSU.

Chris Rubio played high school football for Charter Oak High School in California from 1989-1992.  He was part of team that won the league championship in 1992 serving as the teams Long Snapper and left tackle.  He was voted Center of the Century in the San Gabriel Valley.  His long snapping ability earned him a spot on the UCLA football team where he was a 3-year starter at Long Snapper for three All-Americans.

The National Long Snapper of the Year is named in honor of Chris Rubio for his outstanding high school career and nearly single handedly changing the world of long snapping.  Chris is now the most prominent private long snapping coach in America.  He has made the position of long snapping a specialty and revered around the country through his website, as well as camps.  Through his training and development of young long snappers, dozens of high school long snapping specialists now receive full ride scholarships each year for their skill in that position.

Rubio Award

271

2014 Chris Rubio Award Pre-Season Watch List

Take a look at the 2014 Preseason Chris Rubio Award Long Snapper Watch List!

The Chris Rubio Award recognizes the top high school Long Snapper of the Year. Past winners of the Chris Rubio Award are Scott Daly (Notre Dame), Cole Mazza (Alabama) and Blake Ferguson (LSU commit).

The players on the Watch List were selected based on their showing  from the 2013 season and 2014 season expectations.  The eventual winner does NOT have to be on the Watch List to win the awards.

Chris Rubio Award Long Snapper Watch List: (In Alphabetical Order):

Travis Baugus (SR, GA)
Good sized Long Snapper with a great ball. Always improving.

AJ Carty (SR, CA)
Terrific Long Snapper with a great frame and tremendous speed on the ball. Washington commit

Nick Cox (SR, FL)
Extremely powerful Long Snapper with large upside. Penn St. commit

Wesley Farnsworth (SR, NV)
Easily one of the most athletic Long Snappers in the country. Nevada commit

Ryan Farr (SR, NV)
One of the smoothest Long Snappers in the country. Oregon St. offer.

Blake Ferguson (SR, GA)
2013 Chris Rubio Award Winner, Army All-American, LSU commit

Grant Gluhaich (SR, CA)
Might have the fastest snap in the country. Tight spiral and great attitude.

Harrison Goebel (SR, UT)
Phenomenal frame on this exceptionally smooth Long Snapper.

Tyler Griffiths (SR, NC)
Smooth and accurate Long Snapper with a good frame. NC State commit

George Madden (SR, OK)
Extremely strong Long Snapper that can play at the next level right now.

Ben Makowski (SR, IN)
Thick bodied and smooth Long Snapper from the midwest. Purdue commit

Liam McCullough (SR, OH)
Army All-American, Ohio St. commit

Michael Poujol (SR, TX)
Always improving Long Snapper with an excellent frame and attitude.

Hayden Sak (SR, IL)
Tremendous size on this midwest Long Snapper with a solid ball.

Garrett Wilson (SR, NC)
Strong, athletic Long Snapper that moves well on his feet. Wake Forest commit

 

Semi-Finalists will be announced in early November.

The three Finalists will be announced in early December.

The winner will be announced on January 16, 2015 at the Awards Ceremony in Las Vegas, NV.

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332

Rubio Long Snapper Scott Daly Earns Honor at Notre Dame

Former top ranked Rubio Long Snapper, TOP 12er and Herbalife 24 Chris Rubio Award winner Scott Daly has been chosen by his teammates to be on Notre Dame’s Unity Council.

The Unity Council, which is made up of 10 players, are leaders and spokespersons for the team. They will sit down with Notre Dame Head Coach Kelly every other week and discuss in house topics and whether something might need to change with the team.

This is obviously quite an honor for Daly being that he is just a freshman and, I hate to even say it, because he is “only” a Long Snapper.

Congratulations to Rubio Long Snapper Scott Daly!

DSC_6429

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Who will win the National Championship game?

Since there are a total of FIVE Rubio Long Snappers between Alabama and Notre Dame, I don’t care who wins!

As always, I am pulling for a 0-0 tie with tons of punts and some great slow motion shots on all the punts!

_________________________________________________________________

Chris-Rubio-2Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world. Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be!

In just 12 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 300 Long Snappers earning FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.

Rubio_Card_frontMAGNET

233

Rubio Long Snapper Daly Commits!

Rubio Long Snapper Scott Daly (2012, IL) has made his decision and committed to Notre Dame! He was offered this morning by Notre Dame Head Coach Kelly before ND’s Spring Game. Scott committed immediately as Notre Dame has always been his dream school. He was previously offered immediately after the 9th Annual National Event in Las Vegas by Northwestern.

Scott is the youngest Long Snapper to ever be offered (January of his junior year in high school) and commit (April of his junior year in high school). The previous record holder was Christian Yount of UCLA/NFL and Chase Gorham of Arizona who both were offered in May of their junior years.

Scott is a unique story as he originally came out to a Rubio Long Snapping camp as a baseball player that just wanted to sample Long Snapping. After his first camp, I advised him and his mother to trust me and focus on Long Snapping. He had the tools but just had no idea what he was doing. If he was willing to work, he could make a name for himself. Love it when I am right and a kid with potential WORKS his tail off. Daly is a great person, Long Snapper and his success is well deserved.

_________________________________________________________________

Chris-Rubio-2Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world. Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be!

In just 12 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 300 Long Snappers earning FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.

 

81

Meet the “TOP 12” Long Snappers!

Going to Vegas in January for underclassmen Long Snappers means several things: seeing what all of the commotion is about, doing your absolute best, getting your ranking solidified, watching in awe at the top seniors that you have read so much about and, of course, making the exclusive TOP 12 list! The TOP 12 is chosen from underclassmen in January and they are simply the best of the best in January. They are the ones that snap the hardest, the most accurate, have the best blocking and are able to handle the pressure of the entire weekend. You make this list and you are on way to greatness….if you keep working as hard as you did to make it. The TOP 12 Long Snappers of January will be listed below and get the most exposure possible. They are invited to exclusive TOP 12 and EVENT ELITE camp this summer. You are only allowed to attend this camp if you prove yourself at one of our Vegas Events (January or May). Therefore, in May, I will be choosing the EVENT ELITE. They will be the best of the best in May and combine with the TOP 12 during the summer for the invite only camp. Some simply aren’t ready for January Vegas and need May to make a name for themselves. This happens. I know it. One particular instance would be Jonathan Weeks. He came in January, was not ready, worked his tail off and came back to dominate May. FYI: Jonathan Weeks in now doing this for his job. Side note: after reading his bio on that page, try to figure out what special teams camp the coach found out about him:) Think about this….come this summer…will you be reading daily about the TOP 12 and EVENT ELITE camp this summer or will you be participating? MAKE IT HAPPEN. ENOUGH EXCUSES. See you in May. PROVE YOURSELF!!! With no further adieu, here are your TOP 12 Long Snappers of 2011….. All information in this article is current as of April, 2011. Click on each individual players names for more information. Chris Fitzpatrick fitzpatrick_chris.jpg High School: Anderson County
State: KY
Graduating Class: 2012
Position: Long Snapper Current National Rubio Long Snapping Ranking: #5
Height: 6-1
Weight:  235
GPA: 3.5
SAT / ACT:
Top 5 Colleges Choices: 1. LSU 2. Purdue 3. Boston College 4. Northwestern 5. Western Kentucky
Hobbies: 1. Weightlifting 2. Fishing 3. Cooking
Chris Says: “My dedication of always trying to improve my long snapping abilities makes me the best Long Snapper in the country.” Chris Rubio Says: “Fitzpatrick  has grown a great deal with his body and his Long Snapping. Has transformed into one of the top Long Snappers in the country. Very, very solid speed that dips into .7s quite often. Very accurate and moves well for being so big. At this pace, he might be a five star by May Vegas. Keep a very close eye on this long time Rubio Long Snapper.” Cory Cheadle cheadle_cory.jpg High School: Hilton Head Christian Academy
State: SC
Graduating Class: 2012
Position: Long Snapper Current National Rubio Long Snapping Ranking: #4
Height: 6-3.5
Weight:  255
GPA: 2.85
SAT / ACT: 1360
Top 5 Colleges Choices: 1. Clemson 2. Auburn 3. Alabama 4. Tennessee 5. Maryland
Hobbies: 1. Fishing 2. Gofing 3. Boating
Cory Says: “My ability to snap well under extreme pressure is what makes me the best Long Snapper in the country.Chris Rubio Says: “Cheadle continues to impress me. Blocks very well, incredible flexibilty, solid personality and body, and he has the ability to snap the ball rocket fast. Cheadle continues to woo me with his overall snapping ability. Even under a bit of pain, he is doing well. Watch this one. I fully expect May Vegas to be his welcome party into the 5 star club.”Grant Meersand meersand_grant.jpg High School: Mira Costa
State: CA
Graduating Class: 2012
Position: Long Snapper Current National Rubio Long Snapping Ranking: #3
Height: 6-1
Weight: 218 GPA: 3.3
SAT / ACT:
Top 5 Colleges Choices: 1. Colorado 2. UCLA 3. Northwestern 4. Arizona St 5. LSU
Hobbies: 1. Playing football 2. Paddle Boarding 3. Hanging at the beach with friends
Grant Says: “I am the most consistent and can handle pressure better than any other person in the country and that makes me the best Long Snapper in the country.Chris Rubio Says: “Grant handles pressure as well as anyone in the country. The bigger and stronger he gets, the better he is. Easily one of the best forms around on a Long Snapper. Darn near flawless and picture perfect. Blocking is very solid. Speed improves every week. Very, very solid Long Snapper right now.”Jeff Overbaugh overbaugh_jeff.jpg
High School: Service
State: AK
Graduating Class: 2012
Position: Long Snapper Current National Rubio Long Snapping Ranking: #6
Height: 6-1
Weight: 235 GPA: 3.5
SAT / ACT:
Top 5 Colleges Choices: 1. Michigan 2. UNLV 3. WSU 4. Oregon St 5. LSU
Hobbies: 1. Downhill Skiing 2. Sea Kayaking 3. River Rafting
Jeff Says: “My proven ability to snap fast and accurately and block well in two Play Off/State Championships as well as the Tanoa Bowl Classic (Alaska vs Washington) makes me the best Long Snapper in the country.”
Chris Rubio Says:  “Overbaugh is very fluid and smooth. Starting to look effortless. Very strong. Blocking and speed of the ball will really bump him up the rankings board. Love his confidence. Definitely looked like a man on a mission in Vegas.  Once he stops thinking and really lets the ball go he will be amazing.” Kyle Ashby ashby_kyle.jpg
High School: Brazoswood
State: TX
Graduating Class: 2012
Position: Long Snapper Current National Rubio Long Snapping Ranking: #8
Height: 6-0
Weight: 240 GPA: 3.7
SAT / ACT:
Top 5 Colleges Choices: 1. Oklahoma 2. Missouri 3. Stanford 4. Texas A&M 5. La Tech
Hobbies: 1. Activiites with Church youth people 2. Hunting/Fishing 3. Working out on Long Snapping
Kyle Says: “My Accuracy, Consistency, Smooth, Tight Spiral, and the best work ethic of anyone in the country makes me the best Long Snapper in the country.”
Chris Rubio Says:  “Ashby is really coming into his own. He has turned himself into a terrific young Long Snapper. Very, very smooth. Love to catch his snaps. Almost fall into your hands. Great spiral and his frame is terrific. One of the most accurate within his class. Once he gets his body really involved and trusts his form, he will be top 5 and move closer to the elusive 5 star rating. Very solid Long Snapper.” Matt Cincotta cincotta_matt.jpg
High School: Charlotte Catholic
State: NC
Graduating Class: 2012
Position: Long Snapper Current National Rubio Long Snapping Ranking: #14
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195 GPA: 3.74
SAT / ACT: 1090
Top 5 Colleges Choices: 1. Notre Dame 2. Duke 3. Wake Forest 4. Va Tech 5. Virginia
Hobbies: 1. Target Shooting 2. Basketball 3. Golf
Matt Says: “I am the best Long Snapping in the country because I offer the combination of a consistent long snapper with the quickness, speed, and athleticism of a linebacker.”
Chris Rubio Says:  “Cincotta is making the turn to greatness. Ball has always been fast and on target but he had an issue with his spiral. Left hand used to move a tad which caused the spiral to disappear. Well that problem is almost completely gone which is great for him and terrible for the other Long Snappers ahead of him. The more size and muscle he gets, the better he will be. Watch this one!” Patrick Gerrits frix_trent.jpg
High School: Wellington
State: FL
Graduating Class: 2012
Position: Long Snapper Current National Rubio Long Snapping Ranking: #9
Height: 6-2
Weight: 222 GPA: 3.3
SAT / ACT:
Top 5 Colleges Choices: 1. Villanova 2. Tennessee 3. Va Tech 4. La Tech 5. Purdue
Hobbies: 1. Building Robotics 2. Traveling 3. Collecting historical swords
Patrick Says: “I am the best Long Snapping in the country because I  am consist, accurate, focused, and always improving are four words that I feel describe myself best. In the last two years I have consistently snapped over 100 times without a single blocked punt in a game.  Under the most pressure situations I stay consistent, accurate and focused. Every day I try to find ways to improve, and every year I find that I Improve in some way, for example my blocking and snapping speed have increased significantly over the past year.”
Chris Rubio Says:  “Patrick is one of the smoothest Long Snappers in the country. Does well under pressure and RARELY misses. The bigger and stronger he gets, the better he will be. Almost looks like he is not even trying when he snaps he is so fluid. Pretty soon he is going to realize how good he and his form are and he is going to just let the ball go and then watch! Great kid and personality. Blocking continues to improve.” Reid Ferguson ferguson_reid.jpg
High School: Buford
State: GA
Graduating Class: 2012
Position: Long Snapper Current National Rubio Long Snapping Ranking: #2
Height: 6-2
Weight: 240 GPA: 3.7
SAT / ACT: 1550
Top 5 Colleges Choices: 1. LSU 2. Tennessee 3. North Carolina 4. Florida St. 5. South Florida
Hobbies: 1. Playing football (preferably Long Snapping) 2. Spending quality time with friends and family 3. Watching movies and eating
Reid Says: “The attribute about me that makes me the best Long Snapper in the Country in my work ethic.  I am willing to do anything to be the best at what I do.  Especially if you give me a challenge, I will go above and beyond to try and reach that goal.”
Chris Rubio Says:  “Reid is ready right now for the next level. Terrific frame, speed and accuracy. Blocks very well. Can’t say enough good things about him. Been a true student of Long Snapping for quite some time and it has paid off.” Scott Daly daly_scott.jpg High School: Downers Grove South
State: IL
Graduating Class: 2012
Position: Long Snapper Current National Rubio Long Snapping Ranking: #1
Height: 6-3
Weight:  235 GPA: 3.0
SAT / ACT:
Top 5 Colleges Choices: 1. Northwestern 2. Notre Dame 3. Stanford 4. Michigan St. 5. Iowa
Hobbies: 1. Working out 2. Golfing 3. Traveling with my family
Scott Says: “I am the best Long Snapper in the country because I have a phenomenal work ethic.  I’m teachable and I never feel I have learned enough.  I always strive to become better and I prepare myself so that I can only get better.”
Chris Rubio Says:  “Daly is a machine. Went from average with potential to the most dominant Long Snapper in his class in one year. Works like a horse and built like one too. Kid is beyond smooth and fast. He is a no brainer scholarship Long Snapper.  Continues to dominate. Ball explodes out of his hands. Beyond fast. Almost shocking. Very, very smooth Long Snapper. Body is excellent. Very athletic.” Scott Sypniewski sypniewski_scott.jpg
High School: Marquette Academy 
State: IL
Graduating Class: 2013
Position: Long Snapper Current National Rubio Long Snapping Ranking: #2
Height: 6-1
Weight: 215 GPA: 3.4
SAT / ACT:
Top 5 Colleges Choices: 1. Michigan 2. Western Michigan 3. Nebraska 4. Illinois 5. Oregon
Hobbies: 1. Working out and becoming better 2. Hanging with friends 3. Playing sports
Scott Says: “I am the best Long Snapper in the country because I dont let anyone out work me.”
Chris Rubio Says:  “Sypniewski is growing with his body and snapping. This Long Snapper is just flat out great…..ALREADY! Very, very smooth and accurate. Needs a tad more pop to really pick up his speed (which is already excellent for his age). Great snapper and person. ” Trent Frix frix_trent.jpg
High School: Calhoun
State: GA
Graduating Class: 2012
Position: Long Snapper Current National Rubio Long Snapping Ranking: #7
Height: 6-0
Weight: 190 GPA: 4.0
SAT / ACT: 1030
Top 5 Colleges Choices: 1. LSU 2. Tennesee 3. Georgia 4. UAB 5. Alabama
Hobbies: 1. Hunting  2. Fishing 3. Hiking
Trent Says: “I believe I am one of the best long snapper in the nation because I have been the starting long snapper on my varsity high school team for the three years I have been in high school. I also started at outside linebacker this past year and have also played receiver and running back during my high school career. During the time I have been in high school  we have went to the Georgia state championship three years in a row and have an overall record of 40-4. I have also started the past two years at center field on our baseball team which won the state championship in 2010. I have also been practicing on my long snapping and competing in camps since I was in the 6th grade. I think that my overall athleticism, experience, and work ethic separates me from the other long snappers and makes me one of the best in the nation.”
Chris Rubio Says:  “Frix is going to be great. He already is beyond good. VERY athletic and strong. Hands are like rockets. Body is solid and getting better by the day. Form needs a couple quick tweeks but looks as though he is definitely headed in the right direction. Blocks well and runs even better. Watch this one.” William Eads eads_william.jpg
High School: Hoover
State: AL
Graduating Class: 2012
Position: Long Snapper Current National Rubio Long Snapping Ranking: #13
Height: 6-0
Weight:  202 GPA: 3.65
SAT / ACT: 23
Top 5 Colleges Choices: 1. Alabama 2. Ole Miss 3. Mississippi St 4. Wake Forest 5. Florida St
Hobbies: 1. Fishing  2. Golfing 3. Hanging out with friends
William Says: “I believe I am one of the best long snapper in the nation because I have experience blocking in games and I came through for my team in many clutch situations throughout the last season.”
Chris Rubio Says:  “Eads has really grown into his body. Oozing confidence, which I love, and is snapping is benefiting. Body is getting bigger and stronger and his snaps are quick. Blocking is coming along. His form is absolutely fantastic. When he gets all the way back and lets it go, he is amazing. The bigger he gets, the better he is going to be simply because his form is so darn solid.”    
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 32162805_1690368751039248_6661371560290418688_o.jpg
Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Rubio has been featured in the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the USA Today, Deadspin and countless other publications. Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world, Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be! In just 14 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 1,000 Long Snappers earning full scholarships and preferred walk-on opportunities to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.

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What Makes a Long Snapper Great?

Rubio-Ad.jpgI work with hundreds of Long Snappers per year and often get asked the question, what makes a Long Snapper great? The answer is something that I should be able to (don’t worry, I can) spray out to someone pretty darn clearly and with the utmost precision for a couple different reasons.

First, I rank Long Snappers for a living on RubioLongSnapping.com so I probably should know what I am talking about and not just go off something like a ball hitting a target. It would be pretty ignorant of me to completely demolish a Long Snapper’s ranking simply because he missed a target by a quarter of an inch (would you punish a quarter back if he was aiming for the center of a receiver’s chest, but was off a quarter inch….didn’t think so). So much goes into the art of Long Snapping, but very few actually know what it entails.

Second, I get asked by coaches of all levels that exact question (what makes a Long Snapper great? in case you already forgot) simply to challenge me. They are actually testing me and want to hear what I say to decide if I actually know what I am talking about. Can you imagine asking a world class chef why his food is so tasty and he responds with “um, well, it is hot and, um just tastes good.” You would not trust him and definitely would not think he knew what he was talking about.

My answer needs to be precise and broken down so the average Joe can understand. For some reason, not everyone is as into Long Snapping as I am so I try to stay away from getting too technical. I know it is pathetic and sad, but it is what it is. I will work on the people I meet and you do the same. Hopefully, sooner than later, enough of us spraying can enable people to see the light and figure out that the “center just doesn’t do the snapping for punts too.”

Those of you on my e-mail list have already received something similar to this, but I thought I might make it even clearer. Here, in my opinion, is what makes a Long Snapper great……

SPEED – This is easily one of the top things everyone sees when they watch a Long Snapper and it should be. How fast is your snap from 15 yards? We are talking from the instant you start your snap (that is when the defender can get moving) to the instant it hits the punter’s paws.   You are looking for something below .78. Most top tier Long Snappers nowadays flirt with the high .6s. Obviously, the quicker you are the better your rank and the more people/coaches/agents will be drawn to you. Easy way to judge speed is to simply watch the ball from the side about ten yards away. Does the ball have an arch or is it still rising when it hits the punter? Arch is bad, rising is good….told you I would break it down for you:) Check out this video of Rubio Long Snapper Tanner Gibas (2011, CA – headed to Kansas) and how his ball is rising:

Please note on this video: Gibas is basically trying to kill the person catching the ball. I love this (sorry Mr. Sue) because I ALWAYS teach my Long Snappers to snap the ball through the punter and not to him. Mr. Sue actually looks like he is trying to defend himself. I love it! Sorry, yet again Mr. Sue.The average high school Long Snapper hovers around the 1.0 second region. Most high school coaches don’t care simply because they just want the “ball to get there” (sound familiar to all of in the high school world?). The average college Long Snapper is mid .6s to high .7s.The pros are usually right around the same as college but they just don’t ever miss. They are like machines.

ACCURACY– This is usually the third thing someone notices about a Long Snapper. How accurate are you when snapping. Meaning does the punter/holder have to move around a lot to catch your snaps. Best possible location is the right hip (for a right footed punter). Even though some punters like the ball at their chest, this is actually not that great of a spot since they (punters) have to turn the ball over and, for some reason, they can have troubles with this process. A great Long Snapper is not going to make their punter/holder move. Good way to test this is to have someone catch your snaps from about 15 yards away while sitting in a lawn chair. How many footballs in a row can you snap without making that person move? Five, ten, fifteen, fifty? Anything less than ten and you need some work in my book.

Here is a good example of a Rubio Long Snapper, Scott Daly (2012 – IL – Starting at Notre Dame now), showing some very solid accuracy. The ball is in the same spot on all snaps.

CONSISTENCY– This one is a bit tricky to understand since everyone always tries to lump it in with accuracy. Little bit different since consistency, in my eyes, means the ball staying the same speed the with each and every snap. Basically, you and the punter/holder/kicker are trying to create a rhythm. Given, the whole process starts with the most important person on the team, the Long Snapper. Your snap needs to be a good, consistent tempo at all times. It is very hard for a punter to get a rhythm with a Long Snapper if one snap is a rocket and the other is a floater. If you snap a .75 that is great, but is it like that every time? Varying your time from .7 to .8 is a massive valley to cross and can screw up the timing of everything. It is similar to seeing fast ball, fast ball, fast ball, change up…it would screw you up. Big issues with this category come when a Long Snapper has to snap and block.

Below is a great video for consistency from Rubio Long Snapper Reid Ferguson (2012, GA, now at LSU). When you watch this masterpiece, note how the speed is almost identical on every single snap. It almost looks like one snap, cut and pasted over and over again.


SIZE– This is either the first or second thing someone notices about a Long Snapper. Even before you snap a ball someone is going to judge you on your looks. Think about it. You ever look at the old time Cadillacs and say, “Man, I bet that thing hauls!” Not even close. You see a massive ride that isn’t going anywhere quick (quite comfy though).How big are you? How strong are you? Are you built well? Do you pass the eyeball test? If you got off a plane to visit a college coach, what would be the first thing he thought when he saw you? Size and look of your body is a big thing with colleges and, therefore, a big thing with me.Given, not everyone is 6’4″ and 250 lbs so you have to do the best with what you got. How would you look in just your underwear? If vomit is making its way to your mouth right now, you might want to hit the elliptical and some weights. If you are undersized you will need to make up in other ways to compensate (grades, perfect form, blocking, speed of ball, attitude, aggressiveness). Perfect example would be someone like Rubio Long Snapper Scott Thompson (2011, CA – headed to NC State). He is not a giant, but uses his solid Long Snapper frame….meaning massive butt and legs which is a good thing for a Long Snapper:)…exceptionally well. Watch this video to see Scott really utilizing his backside almost like a trebuchet…love it!


Ideal Long Snapper frame? Rubio Long Snapper Nick Boyle (2011, NJ – headed to Delaware) is pretty darn close:

Yours truly and Nick Boyle
Please Note: I am not a small fellow (over 6 ft tall and above two turns on the scale)
and Nick is making me look like a child.

ATHLETICISM– how athletic are you? Can you move down field? Would you be able to divert the punt returner or even tackle him? Are you light on your feet or are you causing the ground to shake…in a bad way? Solid athleticism can really help out a ranking if you are under and over sized. It is not a deal breaker, but man oh man can it help a Long Snapper that is battling against another one in the coach’s eyes.

On that note, I can reflect back on quite a few Long Snappers that are beyond sub-par athletes (think doing a layup, mind you with no one around, and launching it well over the backboard….not even kidding) that are exceptional at Long Snapping.

BLOCKING– how well do you block? “My HS coach does not require me to block” doesn’t fly with me. It shows toughness and coaches will want to know if you can block. You say the school/coach you are getting recruited by does the spread punt….awesome! What happens if/when that coach leaves and the new one wants to see you block since he is doing the pro style? You aren’t going to say “sorry I don’t block” you are going to do exactly what you need to do to get/keep the starting spot.

Blocking is a major selling point for a Long Snapper. You can jump up the rankings very quickly by being able to snap AND block. Like I always say, there are thousands of people that can snap a ball, and there are thousands that can block, but there are very, very few that can actually snap AND block.

Look at this video of Rubio Long Snapper Samuel Rodgers (2011, PA – headed to Syracuse) and how his snap is the exact same (phenomenal) when he is blocking. Such a huge win to be able to do both.


SPIRAL– This one is pretty basic. Either your ball spirals or it doesn’t. You can look at this one two ways. 1) Scientifically: tight spiral cuts through the wind due to less resistance. 2) Caveman: Bad spiral is hard for the punter, who is already fighting an uphill battle since they aren’t a Long Snapper, to catch. How well does your ball spiral? Having a very fast snap and little to no spiral will crush your speed, your ranking and the opinion of you in a coach’s eyes. Just think if someone didn’t know a ton about Long Snapping, wouldn’t a nice, pretty spiral be something that catches their eye? The answer is undoubtedly YES.
MENTALITY– This is a huge one for Long Snappers and can absolutely crush you. Being a Long Snapper is extremely challenging because you essentially can never obtain a rhythm. A lineman misses a block and he has about forty seconds before he can redeem himself. You might have to wait for twenty to thirty minutes.  You snap a perfect ball, jog off the field and have to wait for a large chunk of time to get back in there. The only time you are on the field a ton is if your team is great (pats) or terrible (punts).How well do you handle pressure? Look at the picture below. Would that bother you or would you thrive on it?

Being a Long Snapper is a difficult position. If it was easy, quarterbacks would do it:) Coaches and I need to see how well you handle pressure and awkward situations. When you are playing in front of 100,000 people are you going to tell them all to shoosh? Nope. Didn’t think so.

When you combine all of these factors with a solid work ethic, you will get a Long Snapper that is simply a juggernaut. See, that is the trick. Finding someone that has all the attributes AND is willing to put in the time and effort. When you mix them all together you will obtain something along the lines of this (turn your volume WAY up so you can fully embrace)…..


For those of that don’t know (welcome back from living under that rock you have been calling home for the past 8 years), in the video is long time Rubio Long Snapper Christian Yount. He is someone that got into Long Snapping simply to get a spot on the bus. After hearing his HS coach tell him to “not even bother with Long Snapping since no one goes to college simply for that”,  Christian accomplished the following….

  • He went out and received a full scholarship to UCLA during his junior year (first to ever do that)
  • He was the only member of his HS team to get a full ride (the irony on this simply delicious)
  • He started all four years at UCLA
  • He was a two time Playboy All-American (the first one to ever be chosen)
  • He was selected to the Senior Bowl
  • He played in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Bucaneers, Cleveland Browns and the New England Patriots.

To top it all off, and in the Long Snapper way, Christian is a superb human being. Combine it all and you have a Long Snapper that is, well, great.

Told you I could answer the question:)

_________________________________________________________________

Chris-Rubio-2

Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world. Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be!

In just 12 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 300 Long Snappers earning FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.

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The Waves of Recruiting

If you are reading this you are either a Long Snapper or someone that is correlated to the glorious art of Long Snapping. You, or the person you are linked with, is going to want to get better and advance. I mean, come on, seriously, who just snaps to snap? You are either trying to get a spot on the bus, become the starter or, like countless people out there, trying to move onto the next level.

Obviously, Long Snapping and the recruitment of Long Snappers has grown immensely (pause while I stick my chest out and sit with pride for a second….ok, that’s good) and it is not just being able to snap a dead animal really fast anymore. You need to know the ins and outs of recruiting. You need to know what it is going to look and feel like. You need to know where you stand. You need to know, essentially, what the process is. Recruiting and being recruited is a monster that can be your best friend or your worst enemy. And, just like many things, the more you know about it, the more you can prepare yourself for what to expect in this process.

Throughout my years of instructing Long Snappers and being involved with countless “recruiting”, I can tell you that it is simply like waves in an ocean. I am very visual person (anyone that has seen me teach can easily attest to this) and this is proven to me to be the best way to explain it. The recruiting process is basically made up of four waves and you will need to see which wave you will ride to the next level. I also find this analogy makes it much easier for everyone to understand the process and relax just a tad. Before I move on, let me clarify that this recruitment article is strictly for Long Snappers. I simply don’t care about other positions or how they are recruited. I care about Long Snappers. Plain and simple.

FIRST WAVE
8th Grade – Signing Day

This wave of recruiting is made up of your freaks….in a good way, of course. Wave one is filled (I will use this term “filled” lightly and you’ll see why in about a minute) with the Long Snappers that are juggernauts. This wave usually will only hold about ten Long Snappers….max. These are the athletes that are beyond ready for the next level about a year prior (think five star Long Snapper by their junior year in high school). These are the kids that are offered and commit early. Very few are within this group. Needless to say, don’t stress if you aren’t riding wave one to the next level.

SECOND WAVE
Signing Day – College Spring Ball (Date varies because they all hold them differently)

This wave usually rolls up with Long Snappers right after signing day. I know how everyone wants to be that guy that they write the articles about and puts the hat on of your school and you sign on that coveted day in February. Snap out of it. It is rare and, like the term’s definition, doesn’t happen often. Just a couple years ago it never happened (pause for chest sticking out again). The Second Wave forms after signing day when a college has offered X amount of “more important” positions (remember reading about a college that has offered four quarterbacks or nine running backs….that is what I am talking about) but then, on signing day, only one, or none of those players commit to their school. Guess what the colleges have now? Full scholarships! This is when a school needs to sit down and think, do they really want to go after the 200th ranked wide receiver in the country or should they go after one of the top ten Long Snappers in the country?

Wave two can also be for those partial late bloomers that did pretty good their senior year of football but did exceptional at my Vegas Event. Doing well there can obviously up your stock very fast.

You ever hear of a kid named Scott Daly? Did you ever stop to think of how he got offered less than 24 hours after Vegas? Hmmmmm. True, he would technically be considered a severe Wave Oner but his experience exemplifies my Vegas point.

THIRD WAVE
College Spring Ball – Mid July

When a college decides that they simply don’t need a Long Snapper for their recruiting class they are banking on one thing: they have a guy on their roster that can handle the job. That is great and they should since my hope is that he is one of my guys anyways. When a college has that one particular guy on campus and he has not played in a game, they will use Spring Ball has one immense tryout for him. They will test him to the limits. They will do a ton punts and pats under massive pressure to ensure their guy is ready for that first game in a few short months. During Spring Ball is when a second string, never played or proven Long Snapper can really make a name for himself….in a good or bad way.

Right after Spring Ball is when the Third Wave Long Snappers will start getting a lot of contact. This is because the school that is contacting them found out their guy they “thought” could do it simply cannot. Now they are essentially behind the eight ball and need to move quickly to fill their spot with a top tier Long Snapper that can go in there and get the job done now. This wave might be the most populated wave for Long Snappers. Schools will go hard after a kid and want him there as soon as possible. I have had kids take a recruiting trip, commit and get to campus to live all in one week.

FOURTH WAVE
About One Week Prior to the Start of College Hell Week

This group could also be called CODE RED! This wave is filled with Long Snappers that will be grabbed up by a college that had an unforeseeable thing happen to their starting Long Snapper. This would include, but is not limited to, not passing enough summer school classes so he is not eligible, married and left, major injury during summer workouts or just flat out told the school he is done with football. I have heard several different stories and the only thing that matters is that the school needs someone and they need them NOW. This wave is not very populated and is usually in severe cases but it definitely can happen.

That is pretty much how I view the recruitment of Long Snappers. The obvious next question is, “Rubio, what if I am not in one of those waves?” The answer is simple, you need to either plan on going to a JC to grow with your body and your snapping or head to a college that you are already admitted to because of course you applied to schools you wanted to attend regardless of what happens with Long Snapping.

Hope this helps and see you soon.

Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Rubio has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the USA Today, Deadspin and countless other publications.

Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world, Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be!

In just 12 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 300 Long Snappers earning FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.

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