Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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2016 RECRUITING ISSUE JOHN SHANNON LONG SNAPPER 6-2 • 220 LOYOLA ACADEMY LAKE FOREST, ILL. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ — — — ✪ ✪ — 5 40 ✪ ✪ — 1 50 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 10 — MEASURABLES • At the Rubio Long Snapping Camp, Shannon had his ball speed for 15 yards measured at 0.59 seconds, which is faster than the college bench‑ mark of 0.75. STATISTICS • Did not miss a snap during his three varsity sea‑ sons at Loyola Academy, where his teams finished 37‑5, highlighted by a 14‑0 campaign and Class 8A Illinois state title as a senior. • Started at linebacker before dislocating his shoul‑ der early in his senior season after he had recorded 15 tackles. Played in the nickel defense late in the year and recorded an interception in a playoff game. ALL-STAR GAMES AND CAMPS • Attend the Chris Rubio Long Snapping Camp approximately a dozen times, including several times in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. RECRUITMENT • Verbally committed to Notre Dame on March 21, 2015, during Junior Day. • Received his first scholarship offer from West Point, and later West Virginia and Colorado. • Lone official visit was to Notre Dame for the Irish Echoes weekend Dec. 11‑13. • Lead recruiter was special teams coordinator/ tight ends coach Scott Booker, with associate head coach/wide receivers coach Mike Denbrock also involved. NOTABLE • Born Dec. 17, 1997. • Plans to enroll in Mendoza School of Business. Owns a 3.5 grade‑point average and scored 26 on ACT. • His grandfather, Dan Shannon, was an end and co‑captain of the 1954 Notre Dame team. In his three varsity seasons, the Irish were 25‑3‑2 and never finished lower than No. 4 in the country. • His father, Gerard, also is a Notre Dame gradu‑ ate and his mother, Elizabeth, graduated from St. Mary's College. 2016 PROJECTION • Underwent labrum surgery Jan. 18 and is likely to redshirt this year while apprenticing behind fourth‑year starter Scott Daly before taking over as the starter from 2017‑20. THEY SAID IT • Head coach Brian Kelly (courtesy UND.com): "John was one of the highest rated long snappers in the country. With an immediate need at his position, John will have an opportunity to make an early impact at Notre Dame." • Special teams coordinator Scott Booker: "Very excited to get the No. 1 long snapper in the na‑ tion. He has the mechanics and understands how to tackle. We plan on him being able to cover the field. He can learn a lot from Scott Daly over the next nine months." • BGI football analyst Bryan Driskell: "Shannon is widely considered the nation's top long snapper. ... Should the Irish staff decide not to bring back senior Scott Daly, Shannon will immediately step into the role of starting long and short snapper for the Irish. "Daly's name was never mentioned this sea‑ son, which is good for a snapper. Shannon has even better skills than Daly coming out of high school."