Spencer Triplett is getting the recognition he's earned the hard way - through precision, consistency, and leadership in one of football’s most underappreciated roles. On Monday night, the North Carolina long snapper was named one of three finalists for the Patrick Mannelly Award, which honors the best long snapper in college football each year. It’s a major moment not just for Triplett, but for the Tar Heel program - he’s the first UNC player to ever be a finalist for the award since it was established in 2019.
Triplett joins Georgia’s Beau Gardner and Penn State’s Tyler Duzansky as this year’s top three, and all three have put together elite seasons. But what makes Triplett’s campaign stand out is his flawless execution.
He went a perfect 99-for-99 on snaps this season - 56 on punts, 23 on field goal attempts, and 20 extra-point attempts. That’s the kind of spotless performance that doesn’t show up on highlight reels but is absolutely essential to a clean kicking game.
And make no mistake - Triplett isn’t just showing up and doing the job; he’s setting a standard. His snap on Rece Verhoff’s 57-yard field goal against Wake Forest was picture-perfect, helping set a new school record.
That kind of execution under pressure doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the product of tireless repetition, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of timing and chemistry with the rest of the special teams unit.
Triplett’s impact goes beyond just the snap count. He’s a leader in the special teams room, a steady presence who’s helped anchor the unit through thick and thin. With 53 games under his belt for the Tar Heels, he brings experience and poise to a position where one mistake can change the outcome of a game.
The Patrick Mannelly Award - named after the longtime NFL long snapper who famously never recorded a bad snap - is all about celebrating excellence in a role that rarely gets the spotlight. It also supports a good cause: Bernie's Book Bank, a nonprofit that distributes free books to help build home libraries for children in the Lake Bluff, Illinois area.
For Triplett, this moment is a testament to years of grinding in the shadows, perfecting a craft that only gets noticed when something goes wrong. But this season, everything went right - and now, he’s right where he belongs: in the national conversation as one of the best at what he does.