2015 Season Countdown: #26 Scott Sypniewski

Scott Sypniewski

Name: Scott Sypniewski
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 224 lbs.
High school: Ottawa (IL) Marquette
Position: Long snapper
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #43
Last year: I ranked Sypniewski #32 and said he would be the starting long snapper. He started all twelve games at long snapper.

I would be fibbing if I told you that long snapper scuttlebutt abounds. The average Michigan fan probably couldn't tell you the name of Michigan's long snapper last year, and that's probably a good thing. I vaguely remember a lone questionable snap on a field goal attempt last season, but it was just a little low and those types of things tend not to make the news. I can say from personal experience that having poor play from a long snapper is extremely damaging to a team and can change a lot of game strategy, so minimizing mistakes is a huge deal. With a new, dedicated special teams coach, I would expect Sypniewski to remain solid. The lone backup long snapper listed on the roster is Andrew Robinson, a redshirt freshman walk-on from Troy (MI) Athens, but tight ends and linebacker types have often dabbled in the long snapping arts.

Prediction: Starting long snapper

2014 Season Countdown: #32 Scott Sypniewski

Scott Sypniewski

Name: Scott Sypniewski
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 226 lbs.
High school: Ottawa (IL) Marquette
Position: Long snapper
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #43
Last year: I ranked Sypniewski #94 and said he would redshirt. He redshirted.

Sypniewski was offered a scholarship out of high school for his long snapping prowess. That's rare for long snappers, and unheard of (as far as I know) for Michigan in the modern era of the 85-scholarship limit. Last year the Wolverines could afford to redshirt him since they had the near-flawless Jareth Glanda to snap on both the field goal/extra point team and the punt unit. Now Glanda has graduated, and Sypniewski is the only long snapper on the roster. That means there's a premium on keeping him healthy and getting him prepared for high-pressure situations. The coaches will probably be adding some walk-ons this fall, at least one or two of whom will be able to long snap. We always see a game or two each season come down to the difference between a made field goal and a missed one, and bad punt snaps can be disastrous. Let's hope that Sypniewski proves he was worth giving a scholarship.

Prediction: Starting long snapper

2013 Season Countdown: #94 Scott Sypniewski

Scott Sypniewski

Name: Scott Sypniewski
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 230 lbs.
High school: Ottawa (IL) Marquette
Position: Long snapper
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A 
Last year: Sypniewski was a senior in high school.

The story about the recruitment of Sypniewski was an odd one.  In the midst of putting together a highly rated recruiting class, the coaches offered and received a commitment from a long snapper.  Nobody really knew whether he was being offered a guaranteed scholarship or a preferred walk-on spot, and as a long snapper, he seems to be the forgotten recruit of the class.  It appears to have been a legitimate scholarship offer, so the coaches must think that he can get the job done for the better part of the next five years.  In case you don't remember the story of Taybor Pepper, by the way, let me refresh your memory: Pepper was a preferred walk-on long snapper in the 2012 class who was "committed" to become a Wolverine; well after National Signing Day 2012, he accepted a scholarship to play for the Michigan State Spartans.  Sypniewski represents Michigan's more aggressive approach to recruiting long snappers, who are usually walk-ons that might earn a scholarship if they win the starting job.

The reason Sypniewski is all the way down here at #94 is that Michigan has a returning long snapper in the form of fifth year senior Jareth Glanda.  Glanda has done a good job as a short snapper and long snapper over the past couple seasons, and he even caught that miracle pass against Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl.  Long snappers who catch passes are a pretty rare commodity, so we can probably expect Sypniewski to stare slack-jawed from the sideline as Glanda's greatness unleashes itself.

Prediction: Redshirt

Visitors: Michigan vs. Iowa

Dymonte Thomas

2013
Reon Dawson - CB - Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison: Dawson is a 6'2", 175 lb. prospect who is committed to Illinois.  The teammate of Michigan commit Mike McCray, Dawson also holds offers from Arizona, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Pitt, Purdue, Virginia, and West Virginia.  (Highlights.)

Da'Mario Jones - WR - Westland (MI) John Glenn: Jones committed to Michigan at the end of October.

Mike McCray II - LB - Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison: McCray committed to Michigan in March.  Here's how his senior season is going.

Shane Morris - QB - Warren (MI) De La Salle: Morris is Michigan's premier recruit for the 2013 class.  Here's a look at how his senior season went.

Channing Stribling - CB - Matthews (NC) Butler: This is his official visit.  Here's a look at how Stribling's senior season is unfolding.

Scott Sypniewski - LS - Ottawa (IL) Marquette: Sypniewski is a long snapper, which is really neat.

Dymonte Thomas - S - Alliance (OH) Marlington: Thomas committed to Michigan.  Here's a look at how his senior season went.

Logan Tuley-Tillman - OT - Peoria (IL) Manual: Tuley-Tillman committed to Michigan in February.  Here's a look at his senior highlights.

Csont'e York - WR - Highland Park (MI) Chandler Park: York committed to Michigan back in May.

2014
Brian Allen - C - Hinsdale (IL) Central: Allen is a 6'2", 275 lb. center prospect.  He has offers from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Purdue, and Wisconsin.  (Highlights.)

Alex Bookser - OT - Pittsburgh (PA) Mt. Lebanon Shores: Bookser is a 6'5", 295 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Avery Edwards - TE - Raleigh (NC) Ravenscroft: Edwards is a 6'5", 220 lb. prospect with offers from North Carolina, North Carolina State, and Wake Forest. As a sophomore in 2011, he had 45 receptions for 659 yards (14.6 yards/catch) and 10 touchdowns; his junior produced 40 receptions for 490 yards (10.3 yards/catch) and 4 touchdowns.  He's not the most athletic tight end out there, and I think Michigan might have some better options, but he could be a guy they pursue down the road. (Highlights.)

Matt Hammerstein - OT - Uniontown (OH) Lake: I don't know much about Hammerstein, but my assumption is that he's the son of former Michigan defensive tackle Mike Hammerstein.

Joe Henderson - DE - Cleveland (OH) Shaker Heights: Henderson is a 6'4", 220 lb. prospect with offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, Minnesota, and Pitt.  Some people think he could play outside linebacker, but he looks like a weakside end to me.  He uses his hands well and has pretty good athleticism.  He had previously been listed with a Michigan offer, although recent information suggests he was not verbally offered by the Wolverines; however, I would not be surprised if he is offered soon. (Highlights.)

Darryl Long - TE - Westerville (OH) South: Long is a 6'4", 220 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois, Ohio, and Pitt. (Highlights.)

Evan Mallory - OG - Brownsburg (IN) Brownsburg: Mallory is a 6'4", 285 lb. prospect with no offers at this time.

Kyle Rachwal - TE - Lapeer (MI) East: Rachwal is a 6'3", 225-pounder with no offers at this point.  This is his fifth or sixth visit to Michigan this season, so I would bet that he would jump on a Michigan offer if he were lucky enough to get one.

Gelen Robinson - DE - St. John (IN) Lake Central: Robinson is a 6'1", 230 lb. defensive end with no offers at this point.  As a junior this season, he had 95 tackles, 47 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries.  Robinson is the younger brother of Michigan freshman basketball player Glenn Robinson III and, therefore, the son of former Purdue and NBA star Glenn Robinson. (Highlights.)

Vic Roe - DT - Carmel (IN) Carmel: Roe is a 6'3", 255-pounder without any offers at this point.  I do not think Roe is a Michigan-caliber player. (Highlights.)

Shelby Spence - QB - Chicago (IL) De La Salle: Spence is a 6'1", 193 lb. dual-threat quarterback with no offers at this time.  He's the teammate of 2014 offensive guard offeree Jamarco Jones.  Spence does not appear to be a high level FBS prospect. (Highlights.)

Darius West - CB - Lima (OH) Central Catholic: West is a 5'11", 189 lb. cornerback with offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, and Purdue, along with some MAC schools.  As a sophomore in 2011, he had 69 tackles, 1 interception, and 1 forced fumble.  If Michigan were to offer him, I think it would be as a slot corner prospect; however, he does not appear to be a player who will be offered by Michigan anytime soon, despite recently being named to the Rivals 250.


2015
John Kelly - S - Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Kelly is a 5'11", 180-pounder without any offers at this time, but the buzz suggests that he'll be a decent recruit in the not-too-distant future.

Visitors: Michigan vs. UMass

Malik McDowell

Pickerington (OH) North TE Jake Butt: Butt committed to Michigan back in February.

Avon (OH) Avon CB Ross Douglas: Douglas committed to Michigan in July.

Columbus (OH) Marion-Franklin WR Jaron Dukes: Dukes committed to Michigan back in February.

Detroit (MI) East English Village TE Khalid Hill: Hill committed to Michigan back in February.

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech RB/LB Gary Hosey: Hosey is a 6'0", 215 lb. athlete from the 2014 class.  He might be physical enough to play fullback, but he does not have the speed to be an FBS tailback.

Westland (MI) John Glenn WR Da'Mario Jones: Jones is a 6'2", 185 lb. wideout who committed to Central Michigan over offers from BGSU and Toledo.  He transferred to John Glenn from Montgomery (NJ) Montgomery.  With LaQuon Treadwell delaying his decision longer and longer - and Michigan appearing to fall back to the pack with him - Michigan might need to offer more receivers in the near future, so Jones might be a guy watch. (Highlights.)

Maitland (FL) Orangewood Christian FB/LB Jimmy Martin: Martin is a 5'11", 205 lb. prospect from the class of 2015.  He claims a 4.62 forty (but was timed at 4.84 at a national combine) and had 111 tackles, 4 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries as a freshman in 2011.  Keep in mind that Orangewood is a small Christian school that doesn't play the best competition.  However, he was named to the Maxpreps Freshman All-American Second Team.  His head coach was previously the head coach at Orlando (FL) Dr. Phillips and Orlando (FL) Edgewater, the latter of which sent wide receiver Greg Mathews and linebacker Mike Jones to Michigan. (Freshman highlights.)

Detroit (MI) Loyola DE Malik McDowell: McDowell is a 2014 prospect with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Stanford, and Wisconsin, among others.  He has been considered to be a heavy Michigan lean, but he's also interested in Michigan State and Ohio State.  He is expected to visit MSU for their game against Notre Dame after he visits Ann Arbor in the afternoon.  McDowell stands 6'6" and weighs 292 lbs., and I think he'll eventually end up at defensive tackle rather than end.

Plantation (FL) American Heritage RB Sony Michel: A 2014 prospect, he already has offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, and Notre Dame.  His older brother Marken is the leading receiver for UMass, which is likely the biggest reason for visiting Michigan.  The younger Michel is coming off an ACL tear he suffered during his sophomore year.


Detroit (MI) Southwestern RB Romello Ross: Ross is a 5'11", 180 lb. running back from the class of 2015.  As a freshman in 2011, he had 1,312 yards rushing, 46 tackles, and 6 interceptions.  He doesn't have any offers yet, but that's not unusual for a kid at the beginning of his sophomore season. (Highlights.)

Novi (MI) Catholic Central RB Wyatt Shallman: Shallman committed to Michigan back in February.

Ottawa (IL) Marquette LS Scott Sypniewski: Sypniewski committed to Michigan back in June.

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech CB Damon Webb: Webb is a 5'11", 170 lb. wide receiver/cornerback with offers from LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, and others.  LSU and Michigan appear to be the front runners in his recruitment.

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech LB William White: White is a 6'1", 215 lb. linebacker from the 2014 class.  Of the Cass Tech trio of linebackers, I think White is the second-most talented player behind Deon Drake. (Highlights of White.)

Harper Woods (MI) Chandler Park Academy WR Csont'e York: York committed to Michigan back in May.

Scott Sypniewski, Wolverine

Scott Sypniewski

Ottawa (IL) Marquette long snapper Scott Sypniewski committed to Michigan on Wednesday.  He picked the Wolverines over offers from no one.

Ratings:
Chris Sailer Kicking: 5-star, #2 long snapper

The 6'1", 230 lb. snapper tweeted that he is going to Michigan on full scholarship, so apparently Michigan's coaching staff is satisfied enough with their talent at all the other positions to go after a position that is usually filled by walk-on contributions.

This gives Michigan 21 commitments in the class of 2013.  That's ridiculous.

I really don't know much about long snapping, so enjoy the following video as much as you can: