Penn State long snapper Tyler Duzansky talks first starting role, path to State College, more

Penn State third-year long snapper Tyler Duzansky went through elementary and middle school knowing that baseball was his favorite sport and wanted it to one day be something he did in college. His high school days started with that same mindset. Then, he started long snapping as a member of the Wheaton, Ill., St. Francis Prep, as a junior. Next came the COVID-19 pandemic between his penultimate and final years of high school. Suddenly, recruiting travel was out, So, too, were any summer baseball showcases or anything like it.

Before long, Duzansky realized that his dream of playing sports at the Division-I level would come through football, and specifically, long snapping, and not being a catcher or shortstop on the diamond. So, like so many Class of 2021 recruits, he took to Twitter to get the word out about his talents via videos that were the sole means of contact between so many college coaches and prospects back then.

Fast forward to 2023, and after playing in seven games as a reserve in 2022, he is now the Lions’ starting long snapper. It’s a journey few could believe, let alone make a reality. But, the son of Jane and Jim Duzansky and brother of Nick, who turned a lifelong fandom into his own roster spot as a long snapper at Oregon, did exactly that.

What led Tyler Duzansky to Penn State?

Penn State offered Tyler Duzansky a walk-on spot before his senior year of high school. The five-star per the acclaimed Rubio Snapping was No. 6 in the Class of 2021. He received the offer on Oct 12, 2020, and accepted it on Oct. 21, 2020, for reasons that he could still easily define this week.

“You can’t really turn down Penn State,” Duzansky said Tuesday. “Ever since I got here, I have loved all the coaches. I’ve definitely made the right decision.”

When he signed, Joe Lorig was leading the Lions’ special teams operations. Stacy Collins is now in his second season in that role. But, the change in coaches did not change Duzansky’s drive to get better and, one day, replace mentor Chris Stoll, who had his own lengthy starting career as the Penn State long snapper and now holds the same job with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks. With that now accomplished, he wants to be the next Nittany Lions specialist to go to the pros.

“I would say the reason I came here, number one, obviously, to be able to play at the next level,” Duzansky said. “And, Penn State specifically has been able to produce specialists to the NFL in recent years.

“Chris Stoll and Jordan Stout, who I’ve played with here, and I would consider them both mentors to me. But then also just how the coaches treat players. It’s not like this everywhere. And I would say that another plus that Penn State gives to recruits and players.”

Duzansky, Lions specialists, aim to continue pushing forward

Duzansky beat out a few others for Stoll’s old first-team job. While that was not announced until Week 1 of the 2023 season, the role has long been his. He was the staff’s top special teams player back during spring ball. And, at every turn this summer, be it from BWI reporting or on-the-record comments from Collins or head coach James Franklin, this was not in doubt that long.

But, other special teams jobs were up in the air. Duzansky is a first-time starter, just as punter/holder Riley Thompson and kicker Alex Felkins are at Penn State. They’re all off to various degrees of good starts so far. Now, as the second half begins, they aim to build on them.

“I think these first five games before the bye week were really impactful for us in a positive way,” Duzansky said. “Just building more and more chemistry and getting comfortable and trusting each other. And I think heading into UMass this week, we’re really confident and our trust in each other is higher than ever. So, we’re excited.”