Draughn rising senior Jacob Mull holds one of the most valuable roles for the Wildcats varsity football team as the starting long snapper.
Without his skill, which has been built up over the years, Draughn would not have been successful on special team plays.
This summer, Mull has been showcased as one of the best in the country, visiting NCAA Division One schools, receiving collegiate offers from Lenoir-Rhyne and Gardner Webb, and recently competing at the Chris Rubio Top 12 camp in Idaho.
“Long snapping is a unique and specialized skill that very few people can do efficiently; it has opened doors for me and my future,” said Mull.
Mull says he first tried out the long snapping position at Heritage Middle School after his dad (Brian) played it in high school.
“We were trying out for positions (at HMS), and we were short of a long snapper, so I decided to try it and ended up getting the position. I came into Draughn as a freshman, and the same thing happened; I found a way to be a starter through long snapping.”
Punter John Robert Abernathy and Kicker Rudy Mendoza were a couple of Wildcat standouts on the receiving end of Mull’s long snaps.
“The biggest way you can contribute to your team and be a true team player is by finding your niche or wherever you fit in and being the best you can possibly be,” said Mull on his contribution to the team as the long-snapper.
Mull also plays at the tight end position for the Wildcats, making 26 catches last fall for 385 yards and one touchdown reception while also adding 27 tackles on defense with five stops for a loss of yards.
Some Long Snapping Facts
L.P. Ladouceur holds the NFL record for most consecutive games played as a long snapper (251) with the Dallas Cowboys. He also shares the Cowboys record with Jason Witten for 16 seasons played.
Kendall Gammon was the first long snapper to be named to the Pro Bowl in 2004 as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs.
JJ Jansen, the current long snapper for the Carolina Panthers, has played in a franchise-record 243 games. He set the record at 226 career games in the 2022 season.
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