LAKE BLUFF, Ill. (August 4, 2023) – Washington State long snapper Simon Samarzich was named to The Patrick Mannelly Award Watch List, Bernies Book Bank announced recently.
 
The Patrick Mannelly Award is presented annually to the overall best long snapper at the Division I FBS level in college football. Samarzich is the first Cougar to be named to The Patrick Mannelly Award Watch List in program history.
 
Samarzich has started 26-straight games the last two seasons including all 13 games as the long snapper on punts and field goals last season. The fifth-year senior from Upland, Calif. is a three-time Pac-12 Conference Fall Honor Roll selection.
 
The winner must be of senior standing, have started 75% of games in his senior year, snap on punts and placements, and demonstrate a strong mentality, notable athleticism, as well as speed, accuracy and consistency in their snaps. 
 
The Patrick Mannelly Award presented by William Blair is a new vehicle through which football's unsung workhorses can finally bask in the warm glow of appreciation. Now we celebrate the best Long Snappers in college football. And in doing so, we honor the Long Snapper in all of us. In 2019, The Patrick Mannelly Award had its inaugural award dinner held at Bernie's Book Bank in Lake Bluff, Illinois.
 
The Patrick Mannelly Award presented by William Blair benefits Bernie's Book Bank, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing book ownership among at-risk children. Bernie's Book Bank achieves this mission by providing 12 free books annually to empower under-served children to read their way to a better life. Since 2009, Bernie's Book Bank has distributed more than 19 MILLION books to children ages birth through sixth grade; this year alone they will provide 2.2 MILLION books to thousands of local under-served children. 
 
Bernie's Book Bank is the long snapper of literacy – no child can learn to read without books. The work of Bernie's Book Bank may be behind the scenes, yet they are an integral player in the literacy equation. For more information about Bernie's Book Bank, visit berniesbookbank.org.
 
Patrick Mannelly, widely known as the best Long Snapper in the modern NFL era, was a four-year starter at long snapper and two year starter at offensive line at Duke University before being drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. Mannelly is the Bears career leader in games played at 245, the longest tenured Chicago Bear after playing 16 seasons, and a recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award.
 
The Patrick Mannelly Long Snapper Award is determined by a committee comprised of former NFL Long Snappers, punters and kickers, special team coaches, as well as snapping instructors, NFL player agents and sportswriters. 
 
Ten semi-finalists will be announced on November 13, 2023.  
 
Those names will be narrowed to three finalists announced on November 27, 2023 and the winner selected at the live Award ceremony in Lake Bluff on December 9, 2023.