Syracuse Football: Get To Know Your Orange Man - #47 Sam Rodgers

We're counting down every SU football player, one a day, from Chandler Jones (#99) to Phil Thomas (#1). Keep track of every player profile right here.

Next up on your Orange-Man Orientation, #47 Sam Rodgers.

Position: Long snapper

Year: Freshman

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 210 pounds

Hometown: State College, PA

High School: Mercersburg Academy

2010 Stats: He's a freshman, so, none.

2011 Projections: There's a 50-50 chance Rodgers plays this year. It's either him or Eric Morris. Alright, so the 50-50 thing is a little misleading, and the truth is that it's going to be a showdown between a walk-on with experience (Morris) vs. the freshman good enough to earn a scholarship (Rodgers). It's in SU's best interest to groom Rodgers so one would think the coaches want to play him. There's a reason Eric Morris is spending his summer flipping tires.

How'd He Get Here?: Rodgers is probably supposed to be long-snapping for Penn State. He grew up with a view of the Penn State campus from his bedroom window. However, the Lions didn't move quick enough, neither did UConn and Ohio State's offer was merely as a preferred walk-on. Syracuse offered him a full-ride and here he is. Prokicker.com ranks him as the 22nd best Long Snapper in the 2011 Class.

Scouts/Rivals Said: Rivals have him the ol-two-star treatment and I couldn't find him on Scout.

Money Quote: "The academics fit to what I want to do...Coach [Doug] Marrone and coach [Bob] Casullo are special teams guys. So everything was right for me. It's a pretty special feeling because I know not too many long snappers earn scholarships out of high school...This is pretty special." - Rodgers

Links of Wonder: Here's a nice writeup on "the forgotten face" of Rodgers from his days at Mercerburg. 

Doug Marrone Thinks: Nothing official, which is fine. When it comes to long snappers, the less the head coach mentions their name in public, the better.

Interesting Nugget O'Interest: Finished third in the Pennsylvania prep championship in wrestling and helped the baseball team capture the MAPL conference championship with a 16-4 record.

Let Us Get A Good Look Atchya: Let's watch Sam long-snap some balls!