Tyler Duzansky isn’t a household name - not yet, anyway - but in the world of college football specialists, he’s making serious noise. The Penn State long snapper has been named one of three finalists for the Patrick Mannelly Award, which recognizes the top long snapper in the nation.
It’s a niche role, sure, but one that demands perfection every single snap. And Duzansky has been just that - consistently precise, quietly essential, and now, nationally recognized.
Joining him on the finalist list are Georgia’s Beau Gardner and North Carolina’s Spencer Triplett. The winner will be revealed at a ceremony on December 13. The award, named after longtime Chicago Bears long snapper Patrick Mannelly, benefits Bernie's Book Bank, a literacy-focused charity based in Lake Bluff, Illinois.
For Duzansky, this moment has been years in the making. A redshirt senior and team captain, he’s been the Nittany Lions’ starting long snapper for the past three seasons, appearing in 41 consecutive games.
That kind of durability and consistency is exactly what coaches dream of at the position. And while long snappers rarely get the spotlight, Duzansky’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Last season, he earned third-team All-Big Ten honors from the media and an honorable mention nod from the coaches - a rare feat for someone at his position.
But his journey to this point wasn’t handed to him. Duzansky walked on at Penn State out of Wheaton St.
Francis Prep in Illinois, joining the program in the Class of 2021. For two years, he learned behind Chris Stoll - the same Chris Stoll who won the Mannelly Award in 2022 and now snaps for the Seattle Seahawks.
That mentorship clearly paid off. Now, Duzansky is in position to become just the second Nittany Lion to take home the honor since its inception in 2019.
"That would mean everything," Duzansky said earlier this season, back when he was named a semifinalist. “You always want to be the best at your position, whether that’s in football, in life, or in any job.”
That mindset has shaped his approach to the game. While the snap itself might last less than a second, the preparation behind it is relentless - hours of repetition, film study, and chemistry-building with the punter, holder, and kicker. Duzansky’s focus has been on making their jobs easier, knowing that clean execution on special teams often swings field position, momentum, and even games.
“Once [Stoll] won that, that was my goal next,” Duzansky said. “The past couple years, I’ve been working toward that, but again, just trying to help my punter and holder and kicker as much as I can so that they can do their job to the best of their ability, and everything else will fall into place.”
With Penn State wrapping up a 6-6 regular season and awaiting its bowl assignment, Duzansky’s work isn’t done yet. But regardless of how the postseason shakes out, he’s already earned a place among the nation’s elite at his position - a testament to years of quiet consistency, leadership, and a commitment to mastering one of football’s most overlooked roles.
Now, he’s one step away from being named the very best at it.