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Posted on Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 4:41 p.m.

Michigan offers scholarship, gets commitment from 2013 long snapper Scott Sypniewski

By Nick Baumgardner

Never one to ignore special teams, Michigan football coach Brady Hoke has added another weapon to the all-important third phase of the game.

The Wolverines snagged a commitment from long snapper Scott Sypniewski, now the 21st member of Michigan's top-ranked 2013 class.

The news was confirmed via Twitter by Sypniewski's personal long-snapping coach, Chris Rubio, who runs Rubio Long Snapping.

Scout.com and Rivals.com also confirmed the report.

Sypniewski will be on full athletic scholarship, according to both Rubio and TheWolverine.com.

The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Sypniewski will be a senior next season at Marquette High School in Ottawa, Ill.

Sypniewski already has one Michigan tie. He hails from the same hometown as former Michigan tight end/fullback Aaron Shea.

Michigan currently has its long snapper position filled by junior Jareth Glanda, but will need to replace the position in 2014.

The spot seemed to be saved for Taybor Pepper, a former Saline High School long snapper who had accepted a preferred walk-on spot in Michigan's 2012 class.

But instead of snapping in Ann Arbor next season, Pepper will do so in East Lansing. Mark Dantonio and the Spartans offered him a full scholarship -- which he accepted.

Tyler Tokarsky from Fenton High School is also a preferred walk-on long snapper who will join the Wolverines this season.



Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.

Comments

MrBlueBlood

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 10:39 p.m.

I don't have a problem with Michigan offering him a scholarship if he can be perfect...But now they need to go and get the next Hayden Epstein to guarantee points everytime we cross the 30 yard line. i think that coach Hoke and the rest of the staff have done enough to be able to look at special teams which is where alot of games are won and lost and you gain or lose alot of ground in field position...Remember the Sugar Bowl a couple months ago?...special teams... How about App St.? That one still sucks

RudeJude

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 12:27 p.m.

Welcome aboard, Scott and ignore the negative comments from the detractors and, sadly, the some "fans" as well. Good luck at Michigan. Go Blue!

newe82

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 12:25 p.m.

Are we saving scholarships for the water and towel boys as well? Don't forget the ball boys.

MRunner73

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 6:48 p.m.

Hey, newe... I sure hope so; and I still owe Michigan one more track season so maybe they can entice this old guy to come back and run for them. I need to get my Master's Degree.

umgoblue47

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 5:18 p.m.

new82. . . MICHIGAN does not use water, towel and ball boy's. . . but sparty and o$u does! if you have experience in these area's and it sound's like you do, maybe you would qualify for a scholarship to one of the two schools mentioned. . . GOOD LUCK! GO BLUE!!!!!!

Blue Marker

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 1:21 p.m.

If only the Michigan coaching staff was as smart as you.

MRunner73

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 11:23 a.m.

I like it...In Hoke we trust. To the boo-birds, unless you are a true insider to the football program and are a supreme advisor to the coaching staff; wait and see. It can't be all bad, bet this recruit pays off.

RudeJude

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 12:38 p.m.

Right on the money. It's disappointing to see fans criticize a kid for getting a scholarship. The other preferred walk-on long snapper will eventually get a scholarship, too. Hoke doesn't see these as "wasted" scholarships, I wish some of our fans wouldn't either.

ted

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 5:34 a.m.

WOW !! Did you see that long snap at the :48 second mark ?!! Amazing !! talk about talent !!

blue91mba

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 6:40 p.m.

See O$U recent scholarship award to Bryce Haynes ... yup ... long snapper. Yeah ... so now what?

ted

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 5:24 a.m.

Are you kidding me ?!! Wasting a scholarship on a long-snapper ?!! This better get someone fired fast !! I'm guessing Borges is behind yet another, and at this time the biggest blunder since Hoke has took over at Michigan !

blue91mba

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 6:38 p.m.

I wonder who Meyer should fire for giving a full scholarship to Bryce Haynes out of Cumming, Ga ... long snapper ... Hmm???

MRunner73

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 11:21 a.m.

Glad to see you're back after sitting out the news of recruit number 20 the other day. Biggest blunder?? LOL

RJ12688

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 4:14 a.m.

Suppose we need long snappers too. While many will complain about this, I will not. Hoke has done so much good in a short time. If he thinks the team needs a long snapper, ill gladly take his word for it.

Scott Laux

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 1:08 a.m.

Sypnewski outweighs Pepper by 40 lbs. At 230 currently he could be used a backup center. He'll certainly be harder to run through than Pepper.

Scott Laux

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 12:54 a.m.

It's a very important position. saving turnovers and getting the kicker the ball quickly and accurately o he dds to his punts. If he's excellent it is worth it.

Terry Star21

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 12:15 a.m.

There is nothing wrong with offering a full ride, this position is extremely important and I am sure our coaches saw something special in him. They weren't going to offer a full ride to Taybor, and therefore the low life dantanio got to show his worthiness by offering a scholarship - pretty funny, that's all dantonio has (gets)....lol.

blue91mba

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 6:30 p.m.

Yup. Dantonio can scoop up our leftovers ... fine with me.

Tom

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 12:08 a.m.

This kid will likely spend a lot more time on the field than your so-called "4 Stars". Punt Walverines, punt!

GoBlue2009

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 3:29 p.m.

I think someone's just angry because Dantonio has lost out on nearly every major recruit he has gone head-to-head with...

umgoblue47

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 2:13 p.m.

you are right tom he will see a lot of time on the field. . . snapping the ball to our kicker for PAT's. . . especially when we play sparty!! GO BLUE!!!!!!

Julius

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 12:13 a.m.

I'd wait to talk until Dantonio actually does something.

Blue Marker

Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 11:57 p.m.

Turn-overs are one of the most important parts of the game. Congratulations Scott and welcome to Michigan!

leo

Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 11:33 p.m.

Hoke is all about filling needs on the team, not going after every athlete all other teams are pursuing. Plenty of scholarship players never do anything, i prefer using one on a kid who will hopefully fill the position 3-4 years. who knows, maybe he's one heck-of-a long snapper!

Robert Granville

Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 11:13 p.m.

Color me perplexed...

Julius

Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 10:57 p.m.

Why now! If there really is a need to use a scholarship on a long snapper, why turn away about 6 5 stars who are considering Michigan. We could easily get him on signing day if everything fell through. We also have a walk on long snapper from last year.

ethanblue

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 3:31 a.m.

Let's consider basketball for a second. Assuming we have a few talented offensive players already, don't we need our Bill Cartwright or Luc Longley or Steve Kerr as much as we need 5 MJs? A team is made up of different talents, needs different skills. As a Bears fan, I am glad Patrick Mannelly has a job. The kicking game needs attention as much as we need eight guys that can all run 4.4s at WR.

Gabe Callender

Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 10:33 p.m.

What a waste of a scholarship, no disrespect to the kid but the few scholarships Michigan has left should be used on the highly-touted kids that want to come here and the ones we need..

Blue Marker

Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 11:55 p.m.

I think this coaching staff has earned the right to know what's in the best interest of the team.

Gabe Callender

Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 10:51 p.m.

Yeah, your right we need a scholarship on a long-snapper...so good thing we picked this guy up 8 months before signing day. I hear the long-snapper market in recruiting was just about to heat up....

Hailmary

Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 10:43 p.m.

Gabe, games are won and lost with long snappers and often.

garrisondyer

Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 10:37 p.m.

The ones we need.... like a longsnapper?

Hailmary

Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 10:13 p.m.

Interesting !

michboy40

Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 9:15 p.m.

If we are giving a scolly ,I wonder if we are getting a higher rated snapper out of the deal...if not, well played Dantoni...OH

7718

Wed, Jun 6, 2012 : 9:07 p.m.

A full scholarship to a long snapper?! Yikes. I don't want to question Hoke's move here, but maybe some more skill position players would help too.

ted

Thu, Jun 7, 2012 : 5:28 a.m.

Yes . 1 good skill position player to start with.