MM grad goes from longshot to long-snapper at Idaho
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 11:35 PM PDT
By Nick Jezierny
The Idaho Statesman
Printable version
E-mail this articleSenior Joel Jones may be the least talked about four-year starter in the history of Idaho football.
“If you have to talk about the long snapper, it generally is not a positive thing,” Vandals coach Robb Akey said. “The fact that nobody knows who Joel Jones is — that’s the best compliment you can give him.”
How the former walk-on linebacker wound up snapping is a story in itself.
During spring practice of his true freshman year, Jones — a 2004 graduate of Mark Morris High School — was goofing around snapping the ball with teammates. Assistant coach Johnny Nansen asked if Jones had any experience.
“I told him I snapped in high school, but I didn’t,” Jones said.
Nansen isn’t surprised that Jones wasn’t truthful.
“He was a kid who always wanted to be part of something on our football team,” Nansen said. “I told him the quickest way he could earn a scholarship is by being a long-snapper. We worked on it, and now he’s one of the best guys in our league. Other than the quarterback, he’s probably the most important guy on our football team.”
The art of snapping is easy, Jones said.
“I think it’s practice and being consistent,” said the former Monarch. “I developed a routine. It’s kind of like a golf swing. I just go out there and do the same thing every time, the same motion every time.”
And the results are the same every time.
“He is money,” Akey said.
The Vandals can’t recall a bad snap by Jones. He and punter T.J. Conley recall a high snap during their freshman year that Conley corralled and managed to get the punt off.
“He’s really accurate and he’s got great speed on it,” Conley said.
The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Jones is so consistent with his snaps that coaches won’t let him see the field in any other capacity, although he is listed as a tight end.
“He’s always hounding us to get on more special teams, but that guy is extremely valuable so we make sure to preserve him,” Akey said.
It’s one reason Jones prefers punt team to PAT/field goal.
“I like punt team because I can run down and hit somebody,” said Jones, showing his inner-linebacker.
He and Conley have been partners on both units since they were freshmen. Conley also serves as holder.
“We have the field-goal snap down now so that T.J. doesn’t even have to turn the laces,” Jones said.
And Conley, who ranks third nationally in punting, said a lot of that is because of Jones’ snaps.
“If Joel somehow got hurt or wasn’t able to snap, that would drastically affect my season,” Conley said. “It’s great to not have to worry about that snap.”
Jones, who has been on scholarship since his sophomore year, would like to continue football in the NFL.
“The coaches told me I have the capability to do that and I’ve been told I have scouts looking at me,” Jones said. “I think I snap better than anyone that we’ve played against. I think I can go to the next level.”
You get the sense he’s telling the truth this time, unlike that spring practice four years ago.
“And he’s making a career out of it,” Nansen said. “It’s a great story.”
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