Latest news with #SECFirst-YearAcademicHonorRoll
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida's long snapper Rocco Underwood named to 2025 Patrick Mannelly Award watch list
The 2025 Patrick Mannelly Award watch list was recently released and included Florida football longsnapper Rocco Underwood, who earned the honor last season after a superb campaign. 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. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
18-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Tennessee offensive lineman will reportedly enter transfer portal
Tennessee offensive lineman will reportedly enter transfer portal Tennessee redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Ayden Bussell will enter the NCAA transfer portal, according to VolQuest. The 6-foot-5, 314-pound offensive lineman played at Tennessee from 2023-24. He earned a redshirt in 2023 as a true freshman. Bussell enrolled at Tennessee in June 2023 and earned SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll honors. He is from Mount Juliet High School in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. The NCAA transfer portal spring window opened Wednesday and will close April 25. Bussell joins quarterback Nico Iamaleava, defensive back John Slaughter and defensive back Christian Charles as student-athletes who entered the transfer portal during the spring window. Tennessee concluded spring football practices on April 12 with its annual Orange & White Game. The Orange and White teams tied, 14-14, at Neyland Stadium. The Vols will kick off their 2025 season on Aug. 30 against Syracuse in Atlanta, Georgia. Follow us at @VolsWire on X and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of University of Tennessee athletics.
