Florida's Rocco Underwood tabbed as Mannelly Award Semifinalist
On Tuesday, Florida Gators long snapper Rocco Underwood was selected as a semifinalist for the 2024 Patrick Mannelly Award, cementing him as one of the top long snappers nationally.
Underwood, a native of Lake Mary, Florida, is in his third season as the Gators’ starting long snapper and earned a spot on the Mannelly Award preseason watch list. Through nine games, he has recorded 71 snaps. He has also recorded three tackles on punt returns.
Prior to the 2022 season, the Gators had another player named to a Mannelly Award watch list in Marco Ortiz. He went down with an injury after the first game though, forcing Underwood into action.
Now, the Central Florida native is in the midst of his third season as starter and has not looked back. He was the No. 1-ranked snapper, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, during the 2021 recruiting cycle.
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At last season’s football banquet, Rocco Underwood was one of eight Gators presented with the “Unsung Hero Award.” The award is presented to the player, or players, who have made significant contributions to the success of the team and received the least amount of recognition for it.
This year marks the sixth year of the Mannelly Award. The award, created in 2019, benefits Bernie’s Book Bank, a non-profit organization located in Lake Bluff, Illinois.
The list of 10 semi-finalists will be narrowed to three on Nov. 25. The winner selected at the live award ceremony in Lake Bluff on December 14, 2024.
Stay tuned to Gators Online.
