90 Days Until Purdue Football: Brooks Royal

We are now 90 days until the season starts. For today, we have a little known walk-on.

Brooks Royal - Redshirt Freshman

Fitzgerald, Georgia, Fitzgerald High School

6’2”, 180 Pounds

Long Snapper

2018 Projection: Deep Reserve at Long Snapper (Yea thats a thing now)

People scoff at long snappers. But in reality, it truly is an extremely difficult job. With being a Special Teams Coordinator at the school I teach at, I had a heart attack this off-season when I realized that both my long snapper and short snapper would be gone. It took almost all of an off-season to train a new one.

At the college level, Long snappers are unsung heroes. They go out 5 or 6 times a game, depending on certain aspects, with little warming up or being involved in other parts of the game, snap a perfect ball and have to be the first man at the punt returner.

For us, we have had a luxury with Ben Makowski. Well, he is a senior now. Waiting in the wings is redshirt freshman Brooks Royal. He is a walk-on, who impressed enough to earn a roster spot for long snapping.

While this is a part of the game most do not pay attention to, having a solid long snapper is so important. Maybe Brooks is up next when Makowski graduates.