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Florida Gators: Top Ranked, and Important, Long Snapper Gets Offer From Gators

By Benjamin Henderson

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 21: A helmet of the Florida Gators rests on the sideline during a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 21, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 21: A helmet of the Florida Gators rests on the sideline during a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 21, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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It may be easy to forget with all the NIL money being thrown around that college football teams still only get 85 scholarships to have on the roster. So it may have raised some eyebrows when it was announced yesterday that Billy Napier and the Florida Gators had offered a long snapper a scholarship.

Gannon Burt Is Top Ranked Long Snapper

Out of Fort Mill, SC (just south of Charlotte, NC), Gannon Burt is considered the top ranked long snapper in the country. He is a product of the Rubio Long Snapping camp and according to his profile:

"Absolute machine and crushed it at the Rubio Long Snapping VEGAS XL Event on May 14-15, 2022. He is super smooth and might be the most consistent Long Snapper in the country. He had one of the highest RSI scores, again, and just dominates every single snap. His demeanor is incredible nothing rattles Gannon. He is beyond ready for college now and is still, without a doubt, the #1 Long Snapper in the class of 2023. Moves well on his feet, handles pressure like a champ and his form is gorgeous."

Gannon consistently has a snap to holder time under one second and was as low as .68 second at his recent camp in Las Vegas.

But Why A Long Snapper?

Let’s get the obvious out of the way. A long snapper is never, ever, ever, ever, ever, going to be the reason a team wins a game.

But they can lose a game.

In February, the Freakanomics Podcast did an entire episode on the position. The main point brought up is that both college and NFL are using roster spots on the position because the positive impact of the 85th/53rd  guy on the roster would be minimal if it went to any other position.

But the negative impact of not having a consistent snapper can derail an entire team. So teams are making it a point to secure the spot and make sure they aren’t losing because of their snapper.

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