Long snappers are long shots in the NFL Draft.
Only 10 long snappers have been chosen over the past 25 years. Michigan’s Camaron Cheeseman was the last one selected, taken by Washington in the sixth round of the 2021 draft.
Ryan Wintermeyer, SDSU’s long snapper the past four seasons, doesn’t expect to get picked during next month’s NFL Draft.
“If my name gets called on draft day, that would be amazing,” Wintermeyer said, “but, realistically, as a long snapper, I’ll be picked up in free agency. I’m just excited to look forward and hope for the best.”
Wintermeyer was on the SDSU practice field Friday morning, along with 10 other former Aztecs teammates and seven players from the University of San Diego. They were trying to impress NFL scouts for the schools’ Pro Day.
The players were tested in the weight room before heading out to the field to be timed In the 40 and put through some agility and positional drills.
“Snapping went well,” Wintermeyer said. “I’m just focused on getting better each day and can’t wait for the next step.
“I’m open to anything at this point. Whoever wants to give me a chance, I’d love it. They won’t regret it.”
Wintermeyer began snapping at Cactus Shadows High School in Cave Creek, Ariz. He joined the Aztecs as a walk-on in 2021.
“The goal was always to get a scholarship,” he said
The scholarship was awarded after a solid freshman year. Wintermeyer was a model of consistency over four seasons, never making a bad snap on a punt, field goal or extra point attempt — a total of 488 snaps. He was a semifinalist for the 2024 Patrick Mannelly Award, which honors the nation’s best long snapper.
“I never thought it would get to this point,” Wintermeyer said. “I’ve cherished every second. It’s like a dream come true. … It’s not an easy road. It takes a lot of hard work. But if you love it and you’re good at it, you could do it for your whole life.”
Tom Matthews of Blitz Sports Management, which is representing Wintermeyer, said, “long snappers are perhaps the most underappreciated position in the NFL.”
“Their value is not recognized until one of them goes down with an injury and a team needs to find a replacement,” Matthews said. “There are numerous teams in the NFL that have aging long snappers at the moment, players between 35 and 40, so there is opportunity for Ryan.”
As an Arizona native, Wintermeyer is naturally a fan of the Cardinals. His inspiration there is longtime Arizona long snapper Aaron Brewer, who snapped at SDSU from 2008-11.
“He just shows what it looks like to be a really good long snapper,” Wintermeyer said. “He’s been in the league for (13) years now. He’s just doing great, and that’s kind of my hero for long snappers.”
Wintermeyer has the distinction of snapping for three punters who were Ray Guy Award nominees — Matt Araiza (who won the award in 2021), Jack Browning and Tyler Pastula.
“I don’t think there’s another college long snapper in the country that can make that claim,” Matthews said. “Ryan has the requisite talent to play at the next level. If he gets an opportunity, you may very well see him playing on Sundays this season.”
Pastula’s performance
Pastula, who ranked fourth in the nation last season with a 46.1-yard punting average, is bidding to make it three straight Aztecs punters in the NFL.
“I could have done better,” Pastula judged after a workout that included 10 punts. “One day is not going to define everybody.
“For me, it’s just like, yeah, I missed an opportunity. However, if you look at the 270 more opportunities I had during my career, it’s going to show. And that’s in-game.”
Pastula was hoping the workout would be “an extension of what I’ve been doing.”
“I wasn’t looking for anything in particular out of it,” he said, “but I wanted to be able to show the guys I can do this at the next level. … I’ll admit it, I have to be better.”
Pastula is a Pennsylvania native who punted at Delaware and Albany before transferring to SDSU last year. He follows on the heels of SDSU’s Araiza, who punted for Kansas City this past season, and Browning, who punted for Tampa Bay and is currently a free agent.
“The other two are fantastic at what they do,” Pastula said. “They’re awesome. I was honored to follow in their footsteps, but make my own footsteps, too. No pressure on the next guy.”
The next punter up for the Aztecs is junior transfer Hunter Green, who averaged 45 yards a punt at Northern Colorado the past two seasons.
Cooper disappointed
SDSU running back Marquez Cooper seemed disappointed in himself as he walked off the practice field.
“Not well,” Cooper answered when asked how the workout went. “I can say what I have can’t be tested by these drills.
“Unfortunately, the day probably didn’t go the way I wanted it to. The performance wasn’t what I wanted. I hope today doesn’t decide my future, and it’s the end for me.
“I felt like I caught the ball well and I did the drills well, but I did not test great. … It’s just one day. It’s all good.”
Cooper concluded his collegiate career as the 19th-ranked rusher in NCAA history with 5,130 yards. He picked up 1,274 yards this season with the Aztecs after a year and Ball State and three years at Kent State.
Toughness and durability are among the characteristics displayed by the 5-foot-6 Cooper, whose size has required the Maryland native to prove himself at each level of competition.
“I definitely had some interest coming into today,” Cooper said. “I hope they let the film speak and give me a chance to work in person.”
Draft details
The 2025 NFL Draft is April 24-26 at Green Bay’s Lambeau Field and Titletown District, which is just west of the field.
There are 257 total selections over seven rounds. Round 1 is conducted the first day, followed by rounds 2-3 on the second day and rounds 4-7 on the third day.
Free agent signings begin virtually as soon as the draft concludes. SDSU has not had a player drafted the past two years, which had not happened since the 1961-62 seasons. The Aztecs are not expected to have anyone selected this year, although they could have several undrafted free agent signings.
