Mateo Arenas is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Pinnacle High School for AZPreps365.com

In the game of football, star power dominates the headlines. The attention diverts to the star quarterback, the diva receiver, or the dominant edge rusher who just cashed in on a monster pay day.

There is one position overlooked more than any other on the roster. It's not the traditional lineman; that's trite. Rather, when was the last time anyone focused on a long snapper when they sat down to watch the big game?

But the long snapper is in focus at Pinnacle High School, as the Pioneers boast the No. 1 long-snapper recruit in the nation. Senior Alan Soukup, who has committed to Indiana University, recently was named an Under Armour All-American.

“Long snappers rarely see the field, snapping the football to the punter on punts and the holder on field goals and extra points,” Tom Joyce detailed in an article for The Guardian. “Sadly, for the men playing the position, they generally only receive attention when they screw up. ... Good long snappers might not see their name in newspapers much, but they provide something of value to their respective teams, even if few take notice.”

The most important part of Soukup’s job is staying out of focus when the game is rolling. His success is no accident, as Soukup has put in plenty of work to secure that No. 1 tag.

“I was a center in flag football in my youth days,” Soukup said. “When tackle football came around in grade school, the center was the long snapper, and wasn’t very good. I decided to give [long snapping] a shot. My dad had the idea to see a coach just to get the basics, like how to hold the ball. I would see that coach maybe six times from sixth to eighth grade.”

“When high school came around, I started taking it seriously, knowing I had a legit shot at going somewhere with long snapping. The coach, Ben Bernard, has trained many of the NFL snappers, and has gotten many other snappers in high school full rides from across the valley, so it wasn’t like I was taking a chance. After freshman year, I truly fell in love with the process of long snapping, and the rest speaks for itself.”

Kohl’s Professional Camps, among other recruiting platforms, ranked Soukup as its No. 1 snapper in the class of 2024. The website emphasized Soukup’s blend of skills necessary to succeed in the position.

“Soukup has proven time and time again that he is the best snapper in the country,” the site reported. “He has the rare combination of power, control, and athleticism. Against the best snappers in America, Soukup finished with the second-highest overall score and multiple snaps in the .66-second range. He put a staple in his journey by winning the Under Armour All-America Game competition. It's no surprise at all that Soukup will be attending Indiana University on scholarship. He is a wonderful individual who has the talent to snap at any level.”

While long-snapping can be overlooked, it is not a skill that is developed overnight. Alex Kirshner, writing for SB Nation, described how the snap needs to look more like a throw than a kick, a tight spiral that quickly leaves the snapper’s hands.

While the playmaking stars in the NFL get all the attention, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce being arguably the biggest star at the moment, it is nearly impossible for those players to step into the role of the snapper.

“The Chiefs’ backup snapper is Travis Kelce, a star tight end who works on long snaps in practice from time to time,” Kirshner wrote. “Kelce is one of the more athletic tight ends to ever play, but the organization has little confidence in his snapping skill. ‘It won’t be pretty, but they’ll have emergency ability to come in,’ general manager Brett Veach explains. ‘So Travis does that. And every time in camp, he does great. We get to a mock game or whatever, he’s awful. So you’re gonna have to hold your breath.’”

Soukup is a vital part of Pinnacle’s team. The Pioneers emphasize dominating all parts of the game, and special teams are no exception. While snapping is the key part of the job description, Soukup adds extra value to the position. Soukup also plays tight end for the Pioneers and his overall athleticism contributes to the skills needed around the snap.

“It is a huge advantage to have a long snapper that is incredibly fast and accurate,” Pinnacle head coach Dana Zupke said. “In addition, having one like Alan that can block and cover really opens up how we can do things on punt.”

Quarterback is the position that often gets most of the attention and it is no exception at Pinnacle. Junior Wyatt Horton fills the role for the Pioneers, and he has excelled since bursting onto the scene and leading the school to its first-ever 6A championship appearance in his sophomore season. Horton did not mince words preaching the importance of Soukup to Pinnacle.

“Alan is such a huge part of our team,” Horton said. “People don’t understand how important long snapping is. When we consistently have the ball back to our holder and can dominate the special teams, it’s such an underrated role. They don’t always get credit for it, but when you really are looking for it, there is an obvious reason why he’s the best in the country. He also plays such a big role as a tight end and is an all-around athlete.”

While long-snappers are the most overlooked position in football, savants of the game understand their value. As detailed in an article from Pro Football Talk in 2021, Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots' head coach and arguably the greatest coach in the history of the sport, divulged his admiration for the position.

Infamously known for being short and brash with the media, Belichick gave a nine minute and more than 1,500-word response when asked why long-snappers are rostered, rather than teaching a position player to learn the skill.

“‘I think long snapping, to me, changed in the mid-80s, and really the key guy in that was [Steve] DeOssie, in my opinion because Steve was the first center that really, truly allowed a spread-punt formation against all-out rush,’” Belichick stated. “‘I think it’s a pretty tough position, and nobody knows or cares who the snapper is if there was a bad snap and all of a sudden, that’s front-page story. There’s a decent amount of pressure on that player as well, and not just the snap, but also, as I said, to the block and punt protection.’”

For Soukup, being named an All-American was always a goal of his. One of two long-snappers in the country selected for the Under Armour Next All-America game, Soukup will head to Orlando, Florida, for the event in January. After that, the focus will shift to getting ready for his next chapter, in Bloomington, Indiana.

“I grew up in Kansas, so I am a Midwest boy by heart,” Soukup said. “Coach [Kasey] Teegardin, the special teams coordinator at Indiana University, is one of the best out there. One, he believes in me, and two, I know he will get me to develop into an even better snapper. The school and campus are amazing, too. The culture is just different at IU, and I can't wait to be a part of it.”

While the season is over for the Pioneers, Soukup has a bright future ahead of him in the game of football. With Soukup describing his normal day as “lift, school, snap,” it is clear he has the work ethic to live up to his billing as the No. 1 long snapper in the nation.
While his role isn’t as touted in the media, Soukup serves one of the most important roles on the field with pride.

Long-snapping is not a position where all top recruits get full-ride scholarships to play at the next level, but this also was the case with punters and kickers in the not-so-distant past. As schools look for any way to get an edge, not having to worry about an errant snap is certainly an advantage. With top teams looking for the very best at every position, Soukup stands alone, above the rest.