When you’re a college athlete, you feel like you can do anything and everything.
You want to run, pass, catch, kick, block and ... long snap?
Long snapping doesn’t seem like the most romantic position to play and it is definitely not the most visible.
But when the South Atlantic Conference coaches got together to pick the all-conference team recently, Donnie Vernon’s name was included.
Vernon, a senior from West Lincoln, became the first-ever long snapper to be recognized on the elite team.
Catawba coach David Bennett fought hard to get the long snapper on the all-conference team because he fought hard to convince Vernon he could be an important part of a championship team by specializing.
“Why shouldn’t they give another a guy a chance to be recognized?” Bennett said.
The 6-4, 235-pound Vernon came to Catawba as a defensive lineman. But Bennett told him to work on his snaps.
“At first, it was frustrating,” said Vernon. “Last year, I was content with it and this year, I have (pro) scouts asking about me. They come to see Radell (Lockhart), DeVonte (Peterson) and Smiley (tailback Kevin McKenzie) but Coach Bennett tells them about me.”
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Vernon has been snapping since the third grade but remembers only one snap since coming to Salisbury.
He remembers it because it was the only bad snap of his career. That came as a freshman during a Greg Payne field goal attempt.
“It was a one-hopper,” Vernon said. “It was the only one that no one fielded.”
Now, he is flawless.
“I take pride in it,” Vernon says. “Coach Bennett tells us that whatever you do, whether it’s sweeping up or the starting quarterback, be the best you can be.”
His biggest thrill probably came Oct. 28 when he snapped for Matt Gross’ game-winning field goal in the final seconds against Carson-Newman.
But even that can’t compare to the ecstacy of marrrying the perfect woman.
Back in July, he tied the knot with the former Kristie Hoffman of Kannapolis.
“She comes to all the games,” he said. “She went to Miles (Alabama) last year and went to Austin Peay (Tennessee) this year. It’s a real thrill to have somebody supporting you.”
Bennett has supported his guy. He is the reason Vernon will have an all-conference certificate to show his kids one day.
“Here’s the thing Donnie can be proud of,” Bennett said. “He is not only first-team all-conference but he’s the first long snapper to ever be all-SAC.”
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Ronnie Gallagher is the sports editor of the Post.
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