Arkansas Razorbacks special teams: Kudos few, duties vital

Best publicity for a deep snapper is no publicity

Sophomore deep snapper Alan D’Appollonio (53) is one of five key returning starters for Arkansas’ special teams, along with kicker Zach Hocker (right) and holder Brian Buehner (center). Punter Dylan Breeding and kickoff returner Dennis Johnson are also back this season.

— Alan D’Appollonio got his name mentioned in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette after starting as a freshman in the Razorbacks’ 2011 season opener.

He has not seen his name again, until now. That’s a good thing.

D’Appollonio, a sophomore from Phoenix, is the Razorbacks’ deep snapper. There are only two times a deep snapper wants to see his name mentioned: Never and hardly ever.

“Well, maybe the only time you want your name coming up is on a tackle, but that would just be a little blurb,” said D’Appollonio, who made two blurbless tackles as a freshman. “Really, anonymity is the best compliment for our position. It’s not Tyler [Wilson] getting all the recognition.”

D’Appollonio is one of five key special teams starters returning this season, along with punter Dylan Breeding, kicker Zach Hocker, holder Brian Buehner and kickoff returner Dennis Johnson. The positions are demanding in their own way, and special teams coordinator Steve Caldwell said it’s huge that he has so many veterans.

“It makes you comfortable,” Caldwell said.

Caldwell agreed that D’Appollonio’s low profile is a result of his solid performance. He wants his snapper to stay unknown.

“No one really knows about him,” Caldwell said. “You know you’re doing well. One bad snap, and you’re in trouble. They’ll find out what your name is.”

Snapper might seem like one of those positions that make casual fans scoff. What’s so difficult about snapping a ball back 7 yards (on a place kick) or 15 yards (for a punt)?

More difficult than you might think. When D’Appollonio was about to start his junior year as a backup quarterback at Shadow Mountain High School, his coach thought quarterback snapper, piece of cake.

D’Appollonio was sent to Ben Bernard’s Arizona Elite Long Snapping school. He quickly discovered that being able to throw a pass had little to do with being a good snapper.

“He figured if I could throw it over my head, I could throw it between my legs,” D’Appollonio said. “It doesn’t really apply because a lot of snappers can’t throw at all. I ended up being pretty good at it.

“I decided this is what I really wanted to try to play at a big-time university. I had no clue I was going to get to the SEC.”

D’Appollonio sent his film to Arkansas, got invited to walk on and then won the job in the summer of 2011.

“Talent-wise, he’s probably the best I’ve ever seen,” Buehner said. “The way he spins the ball, he can get it laces out every time. It’s pretty crazy. It’s definitely an art, and he has it down.”

D’Appollonio said his work this summer has been to improve his snap to Breeding. In the past Breeding has used a high drop, so D’Appollonio tries to snap it so Breeding catches it about sternum high.

With Breeding trying a lower drop this year, D’Appollonio is snapping the ball at his punter’s belly button.

“It’s no problem for me,” D’Appollonio said.

D’Appollonio and Buehner worked this summer to cement their chemistry, vital for two overlooked but important players. Buehner said he can tell D’Appollonio that a snap was half a rotation off, and D’Appollonio can make the adjustment in the next snap, if he didn’t already know.

At a glance

RETURNING STARTERS P Dylan Breeding, Holder Brian Buehner, DS Alan D’Appollonio, PK Zach Hocker, KOR Dennis Johnson

KEY LOSSES PR Joe Adams, KOR Marquel Wade

PROJECTED STARTERS Breeding, Buehner, D’Appollonio, Hocker, Johnson, KOR Ronnie Wingo

IN THE MIX PR Nate Holmes, Kaelon Kelleybrew, Kelvin Fisher Jr., Keante Minor, Demetrius Wilson; KOR Holmes

SUDDEN IMPACT Holmes has been one of the fastest Razorbacks in camp

PLUSES Big-game experience, ahtleticism

MINUSES Doubtful Hogs can match four punt return scores from last season

SUMMARY The Razorbacks should have one of the nation’s most productive special teams, with veterans at virtually every position. Additionally, the roster is filled with more quality players in the corps who make up the bulk of special teams, like linebacker, defensive back and receivers. Arkansas should have a decisive advantage on the kicking units in most games.

Sports, Pages 13 on 08/20/2012