Interview: Versatile 2019 California ATH/TE Simon Samarzich Tabbed as 5-Star Long Snapper

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

The most overlooked position on any football team at any level is the long snapper. The basic thought among fan bases, and seemingly even teammates and coaches alike, is of little interest, that is until a snap goes bad squandering a field goal or a chance to flip the field on a punt pinning the defense deep inside their own territory without room for error. In less than a second, a bad snap promotes the most overlooked player on the team into perhaps the most hated, no matter how well any given long snapper has performed over any amount of time. With consistency and precision, Class of 2019 athlete/long snapper Simon Samarzich is a talent fans may never come to know the name of but quietly appreciate for his growing mastery of the art.

Football fans of a certain age remember well the NFL follies watching a full-time center wildly snap the ball back to a punter watching chaos ensue. Fun for fans of the game to watch and a treat for the opposing team making a meal out of the mistake, but never fun for the battery made up of the snapper and punter or snapper and field goal holder. In the modern era of the game, long snappers are on par with a MLB closer called out of the bullpen as needed. The position has become specialized with more than a flick of the wrist needed to push the pigskin back somewhere in the general vicinity of the intended target. Coaches at the collegiate and NFL level want an athletic guy who can go down field and cover on punts and someone who can snap it with speed every time to the exact same spot. The next in a long line of extremely talented long snappers capable of doing it all is Samarzich.

Samarzich has been on the varsity level for Upland High School since his freshman season. He broke onto the scene as a dead-eye snapper but took his game to another level becoming a threat for the Highlanders on offense as a tight end. During his sophomore season, Samarzich was an asset in both the run and passing game hauling in tight end dump passes while proving to be a very effective blocker.

During the off-season, Samarzich has improved his trade as a snapper working with well-known instructor Chris Rubio. Rubio already has Samarzich as a can’t miss prospect rated as a five-star recruit, listed as the No. 2 long snapper in the nation among his peer group. College coaches have taken notice of the high honor with interest coming in from schools like Ohio State, Stanford, Nebraska, UCLA, Arizona, Utah, and USC. The 6-0, 198 pound, athlete already has an offer waiting for him coming from Fresno State. The potential pairing makes sense, Simon’s older brother Christian was a long snapper for the Bulldogs.

Recruiting interest in Samarzich may blow up beyond being a long snapper during his junior season. The Highlanders’ coaching staff is adding multiple duties to his workload including some time at fullback, receiver, and as the team’s backup quarterback. In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with the five-star talent to find out how he has worked his trade during the off-season with a look ahead to his junior season.

Interview

Simon, when did you start long snapping at the varsity level?

“I started as a freshman. I have taken every snap since my freshman year. I started snapping in fourth and fifth grade.”

The coaching staff utilized you a lot at tight end last season. How did your game come around on offense during your sophomore season?

“It went really well. We run a lot of tight end sets. They flex me out some too. It is more of a hybrid tight end position.”

Where all will you play on the field during your junior year?

“I’m playing tight end, fullback, receiver, and I might play quarterback some, and of course do all the long snapping.”

Have you maxed out in the weight room this spring?

“Yes, sir. My bench was 255, snatch 165, clean 225, and my squat was 315.”

Chris Rubio has you as one of the top long snappers in the nation in the 2019 class. What are your strengths as a snapper?

“Consistency. I might not be the fastest snapper all the time, but I will hit the same spot 99 percent of the time. That helps my punter. He knows where the snap will be and can think about his steps without worrying about the snap.”

What is your snap speed?

“I’m trying to keep everything under .74. I’m steady at .72 for punt snaps.”

How well have you placed at some of Rubio’s camps?

“The last camp I attended at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks (CA) was in March, I won that camp. In May, he named me a five-star.”

How many five-star snappers are there in your class?

“There are only two five-stars in the class.”

Which college camps have you attended this summer?

“I’ve been to an Ohio State, Stanford, and Fresno State camp at Redlands. I have also met with Nebraska’s head coach, Coach (Mike) Riley. Last year, I attended camps at UCLA and USC, and I snapped for SDSU (San Diego State).”

Which was your best camp performance this summer?

“All of them have been pretty good. I thought I did well at all of them. The Fresno State camp went well, they offered me.”

What did you do well at the Fresno State camp to earn the early offer?

“Just locking down the consistency. All of my snaps were all good snaps. I was consistent. Coach (Jeff) Tedford (head coach), he taught me on the snaps. He got down on a knee to catch my snaps.”

Oh, wow. That’s impressive on his part and on yours to deliver for the head coach like that. Great job.

“Thank you.”

How did Fresno State notify you about the offer?

“I called them on the phone about two days after the camp. I talked to Coach (Scott) Thompson for about 10 minutes. He offered me over the phone.”

Do you have any other camps lined up for this summer?

“I don’t think so. In July, I’m going to the Top 12 Chris Rubio camp in Florida (Sarasota).”

Have you taken any unofficial visits yet?

“I have visited Ohio State, San Diego State, UNLV, USC, and UCLA.”

Do you have any lined up for this summer or fall?

“This fall I am planning on going to an Arizona game. I am hoping to visit Utah, USC, UCLA, and Fresno State this fall.”

You have the offer from Fresno State, which schools are showing interest in you?

“Arizona, UCLA, USC, Nebraska, Stanford, and Ohio State, and Utah.”

What is the cumulative GPA you are carrying into your junior year?

“4.0.”

What is your favorite subject in school?

“I’m studying to be an engineer or architect, we have that pathway at my high school.”

Do you play any other sports for Upland?

“I’m the MVP captain of our varsity volleyball team.”

Very nice. Last couple of questions. What goals have you set for yourself for the 2017 season on the field?

“We want to win league and then we want to run through the playoffs to get a ring. We are working hard in the weight room. We are getting after it to make it happen.”

What are you doing the summer with your downtime?

“This summer, for fun I’m getting lots of sleep. We practice at night and we practice at six-o’clock in the morning. When I am not doing that, I’m going out to eat trying to put on some weight.”

Simon, thanks for your time today and good luck with the rest of your summer practices.

“Thank you.”

Please help keep RecruitingNewsGuru.com FREE!

If RNG has helped you, a friend, or a family member through an article, video, or stylized interview with our countless hours of free promotion for high school, junior college, and college athletes – please donate. Any amount is appreciated!

Photo credit: Samarzich family; Simon Samarzich vs. St. John Bosco.

Photo credit: Samarzich family; Simon Samarzich with Chris Rubio.

Photo credit: Samarzich family; Simon Samarzich with OSU head coach Urban Meyer.