Wheeling, W. Va. - One of the most underrated positions in all of football is the long snapper. When they are good at their job, you never hear their name, however, if they mess up, it is front and center in the next day's headlines. Over the last two seasons, redshirt junior Shane Tomlin has handled Wheeling University's long snapping duties and has been automatic every time he takes the field. Playing football in college was the culmination of a lifelong dream for Tomlin that began when he was five years old growing up in St. Clairsville, Ohio. 

Tomlin's father played his college football at Rutgers University and instilled his love for the game onto Shane. He began playing the sport in third grade and immediately fell in love with the game. He played on both the offensive and defensive line growing up but, by the time he got to high school he was sitting at just over 5'0 and weighing in at around 120 pounds. Tomlin wanted to get onto the field as soon as possible and, after doing some research, his dad found Rubio Long Snapping. Tomlin went to his first camp in the spring of 2015 in a move that would end up being a life changing decision. 

"I didn't really understand what a long snapper was, but I loved the idea of playing a position that didn't care about size," said Tomlin. "I went to my first Rubio camp in the spring of 2015, right after my freshman season, and Chris Rubio and current (San Francisco) 49ers snapper Taybor Pepper helped me through the entire day. I'll never forget the way I felt after the camp, and I knew I wanted to get to a position where I could help other snappers feel that way." 

The following year, Tomlin spent most of the year as St. John's High School's starting Long Snapper and began to receive interest from smaller colleges. Tomlin never expected that he would be able to play college football, even though it had been a dream of his. He would go out and buy a snapping target so he could practice at home and went all in on being a long snapper. He continued to go to Rubio Long Snapping camps and, this time, got lessons from Atlanta Falcons Long Snapper Liam McCullough. He would transfer to St. Clairsville High School for his junior year, determined to improve before disaster struck. 

However, he ended up suffering two knee injuries in two months that required surgery and forced him to miss his entire junior season. As soon as he was able, Tomlin was back out snapping and determined to return for his senior year, even making a trip to Idaho for a private lesson with Chris Rubio. However, late in the summer, Tomlin hit another roadblock as he reinjured his knee. The doctor recommended surgery but warned Tomlin he might not ever be the same player again. 

"My recruiting was at a standstill once I got hurt, and I really thought I wouldn't play after high school, the goal that I had since I was five years old looked like it was gone," said Tomlin. "My dad and I talked to the doctor, and he decided that if I wore a brace, taped, and went to rehab daily, I could play my senior year. The only catch was that I could only snap. I wasn't cleared for cutting or agility work, so I would have to be a full-time long snapper." 

Tomlin loved the idea and brought it to his high school coach, who agreed, and Tomlin started on the path to being a full-time long snapper. He played his first full high school season his senior year and had his surgery as soon as the season ended. He would commit to play at Mount Union for the 2018 season and helped the Purple Raiders to be a 2018 National Runner-up. Tomlin was committed to playing football at an even higher level and began to look at the NCAA Division II ranks. 

He took a year off football, and after COVID hit in 2020, he once again saw his career at a crossroads. He was looking to make a highlight tape for colleges to see his snapping abilities and reached out to an old teammate who got him connected with Wheeling University. 

"After a year without football, I was once again in a position where I didn't think I would ever play again," said Tomlin. "I was incredibly frustrated and thought about giving up, but I decided to make one last attempt at getting back on the field. I reached out to my high school kicker/punter Matthew Greenwood to see if he wanted to catch some live snaps for me so that I could put a highlight tape together. He agreed and told me that Wheeling might have a spot for me. I put my tape together, contacted the coaches, and got an offer soon after." 

Tomlin's first season with the Cardinals was in the spring of 2021 in what he called the longest 852 days of his life. Since then, Tomlin has handled all the long snapping duties and built a relationship with fellow Wheeling specialists Greenwood and Trey Brady. He earned recognition from the CFBNetwork this summer when he was named to the Preseason All-MEC team as a Long Snapper. 

Even through his playing days, Tomlin continues to work with the Rubio Long Snapping camp and, in 2021, became a Rubio Long Snapping certified instructor. This gives him the opportunity to work with kids coming up as Long Snappers while teaching them about the position. 

"As a Rubio Long Snapping Certified instructor, I am able to work Rubio Long Snapping camps across the country, and can also give lessons individually," said Tomlin. "I have the opportunity to work with snappers from middle school all the way through high school. These lessons, depending on the snapper, can involve learning the very basics of snapping the football, fine tuning form, or anything in between. I am there throughout the recruiting process as well to answer questions. This aspect is just as important to me, as I had a very confusing path to where I am now and can offer some great insight." 

In 2022, Tomlin will enter his third season as Wheeling University's long snapper, handling all the duties on punts and field goals throughout the season. Long snapping is a position that helped Tomlin's dreams of playing college football come true and that is why he takes so much pride in being a snapper and a Rubio Long Snapping certified instructor. 

"Everyone who plays in college loves the game, but it is truly my life," said Tomlin. "My closest friends all came from football, and the best and worst times of my life came from the game. The years of uncertainty taught me to be ready for whatever life throws at you, and to never give up. That's why being a long snapper means so much to me. Without this position, and the people who have supported me along the way, my career would have ended years ago."