Alabama extended an offer to 2021 long snapper, Jonathan ‘Rocco’ Underwood, on Saturday during his unofficial visit to Tuscaloosa.
Extremely blessed and honored to receive my first scholarship offer to play football at the University of Alabama!! ROLL TIDE ROLL!! Thank you for the opportunity @CoachJeffBanks @CoachJoeHouston @TheChrisRubio @AllDayGalante @AlabamaFTBL @LMRamsFootball @longsnapfletch pic.twitter.com/QPYh7oizjc
— Jonathan Rocco Underwood (@rocco_4015) October 20, 2019
Underwood is the No. 1 long snapper in the 2021 class. With this offer, the Crimson Tide is the first team to offer Underwood. The Florida product said he was taken back after he received his first Division 1 football offer.
“I talked to coach (Jeff) Banks and he said that he was offering me a scholarship,” Underwood said. “I could not believe it. I had to pinch myself a little.”
Underwood is not the first member of his family to be a highly recruited specialist. The 2021 recruit’s cousin, Johny Townsend, was a punter for the Florida Gators from 2013 to 2017. Townsend was drafted in 2018 by the Oakland Raiders.
Townsend took to Twitter to share his excitement for Underwood.
Congrats to my cousin on picking up his first scholarship offer from Bama!! Our family BREEDS specialists ? @GatorsFB offer this man before it’s too late! ?? https://t.co/T9WwmZSnRE
— Johnny Townsend (@johnnytownsend1) October 20, 2019
According to Chris Rubio of Rubio Long Snapping, the ceiling is high for Underwood.
“He has a tremendous frame and can pass for a college athlete right now, let alone in two years,” Rubio said. “Ball is extremely powerful and can absolutely crush the punter. Moves really well and is easily a factor on the punt coverage team. No doubt he is going to be able to snap in college, and possibly beyond. The sky is the limit for Rocco.”
The Tide’s 2021 recruiting class currently has two verbal commits at the moment and are looking to add Underwood, so he can be their long snapper for the future.
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Justin Smith is a Scouting/Recruiting analyst for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via @Jdsmith31Smith
