With the outcome of a football game on the line, the difference between a game-winning field goal or a loss can be decided in a snap.
Fortunately for Dana Hills coach Todd Rusinkovich that situation is less burdensome on his mind thanks to Ryan Simmons. The senior was recently tabbed as a long snapper to watch in California by Chris Rubio, who runs several camps for long snappers and puts out a rankings system before the start of each season.
According to Rubio’s list, Simmons checks in at No. 23 in the nation for the class of 2015.
“It’s such a huge advantage to have someone with his skill set,” Rusinkovich said. “He can cut down operation time with how fast he can get the ball back and how accurate he is. No one really knows about those guys until there’s a bad snap, but Ryan continues to impress with his ability.”
Simmons said he has received some interest from Cal, USC and Utah State.
Simmons said his father, David, introduced him to long snapping, as well as piqued his interest in international business. He said his parents, David and Lara, are his biggest role models.
This season, Simmons is looking to record at least four tackles in punt coverage and maybe recover a fumble, but more than anything, no bad snaps and no blocked punts.
Simmons and the Dolphins open up the season against Tustin on Aug. 29.
Q. How long have you been practicing the art of long snapping?
A. I’ve been practicing for five years now. I started in eighth grade, and my dad was the first person to introduce it to me. We found Chris Rubio online and saw some of the videos and started going to him and the rest is history.
Q. What are the characteristics of a good long snap?
A. 1. Accuracy, you have to keep it accurate. 2. Speed – The faster you can get it back there the more time the kicker has and 3. Consistency – Hitting the exact same spot, same speed, everything. That’s what makes it the best.
Q. What does it mean to you to be selected by Chris Rubio as a long snapper to look out for this season?
A. It’s a tremendous honor. There are so many guys that go there and everyone’s good. I give credit to everyone who goes, it’s not easy to pick people, and I’m humbled to have been given the opportunity.
Q. What are some common misconceptions about long snappers?
A. That it’s a worthless position or that there’s no use for it, because if you don’t have a good long snapper you can’t punt the ball, you can’t kick PATs, it doesn’t seem like a big deal until you’re in that situation and then when you are, you’re flabbergasted that you don’t have somebody and you can’t do it. We try to work just as hard as everyone else. We do anything we can to support the team.
Q. What is one thing people don’t know about Ryan Simmons?
A. I speak Mandarin Chinese. I’m fluent in it. That’s something most people don’t know. I started in eighth grade. I was an early planner on what I wanted to do as an adult and so I saw Mandarin Chinese and I love international business and the idea of it and so my dad said why not start early? So I did.
Contact the writer: 949-492-5135 or npercy@ocregister.com
