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#46 Dalton Converse |
Position: Long Snapper Previous College: None Projection: Second-String Status: Walk-On |
Poor Dalton L. Converse (b. March 31, 1993) literally was thrown into the lion's den to begin 2012.
He walked on in 2011 as both a linebacker and long snapper, but the latter position is where I listed him since we had a slightly greater need there, especially if neither Marcus Heit nor Chandler Smith had panned out.
Well, Heit did pan out — through the regular season, at least. Then he failed to remain academically eligible and was not able to travel with the team to the Cotton Bowl, which obviously left us in quite a bind.
Converse's redshirt was lifted and he was told he would be the starting long snapper for the big game.
With the inexperienced Converse firing 11 perfect snaps to him, Ryan Doerr averaged 42.6 yards per punt, with one downed inside the 20, one in excess of 50 yards, two touchbacks and two fair catches.
Not bad for your first action ever as a collegiate football player, on one of the biggest stages on which you can play.
Unfortunately for Converse, he hasn't seen the field since then. Heit reclaimed his job in 2012 spring practice and handled all long-snapping duties last season. Although Converse did not play, he wasn't credited with a redshirt.
They're the only two long snappers listed on the roster this season, so if anything else untoward happens to Heit, Converse will be waiting in the wings, ready to be thrown into the special teams fire once again.