2016 RECRUITING ISSUE
BY LOU SOMOGYI
Anonymity is a long snapper's best
friend.
So John Shannon doesn't mind be-
ing Notre Dame's most overlooked
recruit in its 2016 haul. Nobody ever
asks who the long snapper is — until
he makes an error.
"I hear that all the time," Shannon
said. "It's not as easy as it might look.
It takes a lot of repetition and work to
execute it right every single time."
Perfection was Shannon's job de-
scription in his three varsity seasons
at state power Loyola Academy in
Wilmette, Ill., and at the Chris Rubio
Long Snapping Camp that Shannon
has frequently attended. Rated as the
nation's No. 1 long snapper by Ru-
bio, Shannon actually is the best bet in
Notre Dame's 23-man class to become
a four-year starter, although probably
not in 2016.
In 2009, Notre Dame exclusively
awarded a four-year scholarship to
a long snapper, Jordan Cowart, for
the first time ever. The Fighting Irish
did it for the second time in 2012 with
Scott Daly, who redshirted behind
Cowart as a freshman before starting
from 2013-15, and is projected to han-
Notre Dame Was Easy Snap
Judgment For John Shannon
Shannon, who is rated as the nation's No. 1 long snapper, is a good bet to be a four-year starter after a
likely redshirt season in 2016.
PHOTO BY ANDREW IVINS
