Wisconsin long snapper cracks 2024 Mannelly Award watch list

Wisconsin long snapper Cayson Pfieffer was included in the 2024 Patrick Mannelly Award watch list on Monday.

The honor is annually awarded to the best long snapper in college football. It was founded by former Chicago Bears’ long snapper Patrick Mannelly, football trainer Chris Rubio and creator of Longsnap.com Kevin Gold.

Former winners include Notre Dame’s John Shannon (2019), Alabama’s Thomas Fletcher (2020), Pittsburgh’s Cal Adomitis (2021), Penn State’s Chris Stoll (2022) and NC State’s Joe Shimko (2023).

Pfieffer arrives in Madison after five seasons representing the Cincinnati Bearcats. He served as UC’s primary long snapper from 2020-23 and snapped in 49 games.

During his redshirt junior season in 2022, Pfieffer helped Cincinnati register a net punting average of 44.88, good enough for No. 2 in the nation.

Pfieffer also played long snapper for four seasons under Wisconsin’s current head coach Luke Fickell in his previous tenure with the Bearcats.

Like many of Wisconsin’s staff members, Pfieffer appears to have followed Fickell to Madison.

Pfieffer becomes one of the first Badgers to crack a watch list for a position-based award. He is currently listed as Wisconsin’s No. 1 option at long snapper ahead of the 2024 campaign.