Cole Mazza is like the short kid trying to beat out taller players who are trying out for the basketball team along with him. What I’m actually saying is, people overlook others and don’t get enough credit for the effort they’ve put in.
Coming out of high school, Mazza was ranked as the nations No.1 long snapper by 247sports.com, and ESPN ranked him as the No.3 long snapper in the country.
Coaches are naturally focused on making the offense and defense better if there’s an error, but once that’s corrected, when special teams comes around and a team has to punt, the long snapper can easily make a critical mistake by not getting the football into the punters hands which results in a turnover and easy opportunity for the opponent to score a touchdown.
Until something like this occurs, that’s when some coaches wake up to the reality that every position matters on the football team.
Mazza was a four year starter for the Crimson Tide and did not disappoint being former Crimson Tide kicker, Adam Griffith’s best friend by not failing on a single snap he’s ever attempted.
This resulted in 245 PAT’s, 207 punts and 98 FGA’s.
He’s also not afraid to make contact with his opponents on the field. In addition to that, Mazza has seven tackles in his career at Alabama.
The former Crimson Tide standout knows that the journey for kickers, punters and long snappers is not icing on the cake.
Just ask long snapper, Charley Hughlett who’s with currently with the Cleveland Browns in the NFL.
Per Montgomery Advertiser, Hughlett finished his third season with the Browns after bouncing around from NFL camp to NFL camp—sometimes twice in the same season.
The Philadelphia Eagles currently have the NFL’s best long snapper in Jon Dorenbos. Dorenbo’s been in the league for over 14 seasons and is a two-time Pro Bowl selection.
Mazza didn’t get his name called on draft day, but he’s received an opportunity by the New York Jets to possibly make the squad. It’s important that he keeps a positive mental attitude like Hughlett did when trying to break into the NFL and get signed to a team.
We can only hope the New York Jets decides to sign Mazza so that he can achieve his dream to be in the NFL despite how rough the road is for him.
Michael Cannady is an intern for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter at: @mike_can21
