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Duzansky primed to take over an important role for Penn State

Fitz headshot croppedby:Sean Fitz•06/03/23•

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Tyler Duzansky is a walk-on long-snapper from St. Francis Prep in Wheaton, Ill. (Credit: Ryan Snyder/BWI)

Penn State will face the task of replacing the top player at his position in the country for the 2023 season, even if that position is often overlooked. Chris Stoll won the Patrick Mannelly Award as the nation’s top long snapper after last season, and now the Nittany Lions will face the task of naming a successor for the departed four-year starter and former captain.

“College football is always going to have change. Whether it’s kicker, punter, snapper, usually there’s not a lot of times that you’re going to get everybody back,” said Penn State special teams coordinator Stacy Collins. “You’re looking for strengths and weaknesses. Some guys can protect better than other guys, some guys can cover better than other guys. You’re trying to make sure we’re doing a great job, no different than any other position, of putting those guys in the best position to be successful.”

While the job remains open between the three snappers on the roster — redshirt sophomore Tyler Duzansky and redshirt freshmen Will Patton and Blaise Sokach-Minnick — James Franklin went out of his way this winter and spring to note that Duzansky has been trending through the offseason. Collins echoed those remarks. 

“We’re still competing for that job, but I’ll tell you what, Tyler Duzansky has done a heck of a job,” Collins said.

Duzansky came to Penn State in 2021

A 6-foot-4, 215-pound Academic All-Big Ten selection in 2022, Duzansky got into seven games last season in relief appearances. The Wheaton, Illinois, native played his high school ball at St. Francis Prep, where he was a multi-sport athlete as well. Duzansky was the nation’s No. 6 long snapper in the Class of 2021 according to Rubio Long Snapping. 

“Tyler has an unbelievable work ethic and he’s extremely competitive,” said Collins. “I’m extremely proud of how he’s handled the situations. He competed his tail off against Chris Stoll last year all through camp and Chris Stoll won the Mannelly Award as the best [long snapper in the country].

“Ty models what it is everyday, that work ethic and consistency is exactly the name of the game. Just who he is as a person on the field is exactly who he is off the field too. He’s he’s a cool kid to be around.”

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