Before Maryland football long snapper commit Brock Sassler even touches the ball, he identifies the defensive formation. He tells the other blockers what he sees in potential linebacker stunts and matchups.
Next he lowers into his stance and aligns his vision with the waistline of his punter standing 15 yards behind him. Sassler wraps his left hand on the seam of the football and places his right hand opposite to guide the ball.
That’s when he launches the ball backwards, sending it spinning toward the punter’s chest.
“It all begins with the snap,” Sassler said. “The faster the snap, the less blocks they get.”
Right now, Sassler plays at Boys’ Latin School of Maryland, where he is also the starting defensive end. While Lakers coach Ritchie Schell called him a “very good” defensive end, he noted Sassler’s special teams prowess. In the past fews seasons, Schell can’t recall a poor punt snap and remembers only one mistake on an extra point.
Sassler is one of two special teams players committed to Maryland’s 2017 recruiting class. The Parkton native is also one of 11 players in the class to be a part of the “DMV to UMD” movement.
As a freshman linebacker, Sassler dreamed of playing for a top college program but knew he wasn’t big enough. After realizing as a sophomore that long snapping could be his path to a Division I football program, Sassler buckled down.
Sassler bought nets and other practice devices. He also works with Kyle Stelter, a professional long snapping coach, about four times a year, his father Mark said. When the two can’t meet in person, Sassler’s dad films him snapping the ball and sends it to Stelter, who gives Sassler feedback during Skype sessions. Sassler practices snapping five or six days a week for up to two hours each time.
“It doesn’t work without putting in the time,” his father said. “It’s like golf. You need practice.”
Showcasing his skills at camps garnered Sassler attention. After a camp in West Virginia entering his junior season, Kohl’s Kicking ranked Sassler as the No. 8 long snapper in the Mid-Atlantic. By the end of his junior year, Sassler had moved to No. 1 on the list.
Soon, the Terps took notice and special teams coach Pete Lembo began recruiting Sassler. One day, Mark saw a missed call from his son and went home to hear what Sassler had to say. When Sassler told his dad Maryland called to say the team wasn’t interested, Mark called his bluff.
“His smile told me something else. He couldn’t cover it up,” his dad said. “Schools don’t call to say that. They just stop calling.”
Sassler then committed to the Terps Aug. 14 via Twitter, and he’s looking forward to perfecting his technique under Lembo’s direction.
“He’s only going to get better next year,” Schell said. “It’s all he’ll focus on there.”
For now, though, Sassler is in the midst of his senior season.
On Monday, he stayed after practice alone for 45 minutes for extra repetitions. When he can’t work with his punter or kicker, his father will stand 15 yards back and receive the passes. If no one is available, he’ll launch snaps into a goal post.
Sassler adds challenges to his snapping practice, too. In the past few years he’s knocked helmets and other objects off his teammates’ heads. Once, he made a half-court shot in the Boys’ Latin gymnasium.
While he’s savoring his time competing with his friends for the Lakers, Sassler is excited for his career in College Park. He’s wanted to become the best since focusing on long snapping in his early high school seasons and soon has the opportunity to bring his skill to the Terps program.
“The work has had it’s results, and that’s a great feeling,” Sassler said. “And next year, I plan on bringing my best.”
