BYU long snapper Riggs named to the Patrick Mannelly Award watch list

HARRISBURG, Pa. — BYU long snapper Austin Riggs has been named to the watch list for the 2023 Patrick Mannelly Award, presented annually to the top long snapper in college football.

Riggs, a junior from Eagle, Idaho, has appeared in 28 games for the Cougars over the past three seasons (2020-22) as the long snapper. Coming off an injury-shortened season in 2022, Riggs first earned the starting role as a freshman in 2020 on punt team and then added field goal and PAT duties to his role as the team's primary snapper.

In 2021, Riggs played in all 13 games helping BYU achieve a 10-3 season and No. 19 final ranking. He delivered on-target deep snaps on 39 punts throughout the season as well as all of his PAT and field goal snaps. He has added three tackles on special teams during his three seasons.

The Patrick Mannelly Award was created in 2019. It was named in honor of Patrick Mannelly, widely known as one of the premier long snappers in the modern NFL era. Mannelly was a four-year starter at long snapper and two-year starter at offensive line at Duke University before being drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He went on to become the Bears career leader in games played with 245 over 16 seasons and was the recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award.
 
The recipient of the Patrick Mannelly Award is determined annually by a committee comprised of former NFL long snappers, punters, kickers, special team coaches, snapping instructors, NFL player agents and sportswriters. The Award benefits Bernie’s Book Bank, a non-profit organization located in Lake Bluff, Illinois.

Previous winners of the Patrick Mannelly Award include John Shannon, Notre Dame (2019); Thomas Fletcher, Alabama (2020); Cal Adomitis, Pitt (2021); and Chris Stoll, Penn State (2022). 

Ten semi-finalists for the 2023 award will be announced on Nov. 13. That list will be narrowed to three finalists on Nov. 27. The winner will be announced at a live award ceremony in Lake Bluff on Dec. 9.
 

Patrick Mannelly Award Watch List