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#46 Dalton Converse |
Position: Long Snapper Previous College: None Projection: Starter Status: Walk-On |
Dalton L. Converse (b. March 31, 1993) was a reserve long snapper in 2011 and 2013 who took over full-time duties as a junior. He was voted a player representative for the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
He played in 11 games last season, serving as the primary long snapper in each game except for the Stephen F. Austin and UTEP games, which were handled by Drew Scott.
Converse redshirted in 2012 after snapping in the Cotton Bowl against Arkansas, missing zero snaps, and also was perfect on all eight snaps in his games in 2013 against West Virginia, Kansas and Michigan.
That perfection is all the more impressive when you consider poor Converse literally was thrown into the lion's den to begin 2012. He had walked on in 2011 as both a linebacker and long snapper, and figured to redshirt in 2011.
But his predecessor, Marcus Heit, failed to remain academically eligible after the fall semester 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.