Florida's long snapper Rocco Underwood named to 2025 Patrick Mannelly Award watch list
The rising redshirt senior originally from Lake Mary, Florida, will have the opportunity to repeat the honor in 2025 following an effort that also resulted in All-SEC recognition, as well as being named a Phil Steele First-Team All-American and AFCA Second-Team All-American. He has also made the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll thrice in his career, along with a SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll mention.
Underwood has tallied a total of 314 special teams snaps over his four-season career in Gainesville, during which he made seven total tackles on special teams. Of those snaps, 103 of them came last fall when the special-teamer made significant improvements in his game across the board, amassing 56 successful punt coverages as well as 57 successful field goal and extra point attempts during that campaign.
He notched his single-season career-high of three tackles in 2024, also notching his lone credited fumble recovery against the Florida State Seminoles.
About the Patrick Mannelly Award
The Patrick Mannelly Award was first issued in 2019 and is given to the best long snapper in college football. Named after Patrick Mannelly, who played as the long snapper for Duke University from 1993 to 1997 and was the long snapper for the Chicago Bears from 1998 to 2013. During his time in the NFL, Mannelly never recorded a bad snap and was credited with playing a pivotal role in the success of the kickers he played with.
The award benefits Bernie's Book Bank, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding ways to help children develop their reading skills by providing free books to help build their home libraries in the local Lake Buff, Illinois, area.
The 30-man watch list will be narrowed down to ten semifinalists on Nov. 17, with the three finalists being announced on Dec. 1 and the winner being selected on Dec. 13.
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