Long snapper might be the most overlooked and underappreciated position on a college football team. Yet this niche spot on a special teams roster is one of the most essential to get right. It can be the difference between points on the board or huge yardage losses.
Campbell long-snapper Bobby Cleary has been getting attention for his precision work as a long-snapper in Buies Creek.
Today North Carolina Football News turns its FCS Spotlight on the senior from Slinger, Wisconsin (Slinger HS). Here are three things to know about Campbell’s LS:
1. Cleary has been named a third-team FCS preseason All-America by Stats Perform. This honor comes on the heels of being recognized as honorable mention preseason All-CAA from league coaches and all-conference by Phil Steele.
2. He has landed on the 2024 “Special Teams U” All-American watch list. This compilation of players encompasses 30 long-snappers, two-thirds from FBS programs, including Georgia, Michigan, Alabama and Ohio State.
3. Cleary played in 22 games for the Northern State Wolves, a Division II program, before joining the Camels in 2023. He saw action in 11 games a year ago for Campbell, handling nearly every long and short snap, without miscue. Cleary also made three tackles, downed multiple punts and protected Campbell from suffering a blocked punt. His work a year ago garnered honorable mention all-conference in one of the top leagues in FCS.
Quotable: “So grateful that in December of 2022 I made the decision to come be a Campbell Camel.” Cleary wrote on X in July. “On and off the field this University has set me up for years of success. Full of gratitude.”
In another post by Cleary: “To all the young aspiring college football players that don’t feel that they are being recognized or valued trust me when I say this TRUST the PROCESS and TRUST in GOD and his plan. I wasn’t even playing as a Freshman on a JV2 team.”
