Sam Rodgers knows the likelihood is slim since there hasn’t been a long snapper drafted into the NFL since 2008.

“A late-round draft would be a dream come true,” Rodgers said. “But you’ve got to look at the reality and hope that you get called for free agency.”

Still, Rodgers is controlling what he does best, and what would be the only reason a team picked him up — flinging the ball in between his legs from distance. Assistant athletics director for athletic performance Will Hicks, who ran Syracuse’s Pro Day on Tuesday, said Rodgers has NFL-type snap times.

And in addition to being the only student-athlete serving on the search committee for the new athletic director, Rodgers is working to achieve the small chance someone at his position has of latching on with a professional team.

“The only thing that Sam doesn’t do probably perfect is he doesn’t run real fast,” Hicks said. “Other than that, Sam Rodgers is the kind of kid you want your daughter to date because he does everything else perfect, and he’s a pretty good snapper, too.”

On Tuesday, Rodgers snapped the ball 24 times for scouts, excluding warm-ups. He replicated 14 punt snaps and performed 10 field-goal snaps, he said, in addition to running and lifting, which Hicks said he did well — 19 bench-press reps of 225 pounds — for a 244-pound player.

He demonstrated his high football IQ to scouts, Hicks said, answering questions about certain snap angles with “it depends on the rush,” which Hicks said is the right response. Rodgers mentioned that he talked with scouts from the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers, and also chatted with others on the sidelines in between drills.

“It’s not his first rodeo,” Hicks said. “He knows what he’s doing.”

On top of trying to become a pro, Rodgers is the lone student-athlete of 10 members on the search committee for SU’s new director of athletics. He said it’s a role he earned because of the body of work he’s put in at Syracuse over the past four years, both in the classroom and the community.

He added that there are no real specifics as to when the committee meets and what he’s looking for in the next athletic director, but that he’s just looking to give his input when needed.

And whether it’s emailing fellow search committee members to set up a meeting or coordinating a private workout with a potential NFL suitor, Rodgers is simply relying on his past to guide him in his next step.

Said Rodgers: “Anytime you can say you’ve never been a problem off the field, it’s not going to hurt.”

Published on April 7, 2015 at 6:54 pm

Contact Matt: mcschnei@syr.edu | @matt_schneidman