Maryland football enters 2017 with 2 experienced long snappers

Profiles in Terpage is back for 2017. Last week, we focused on the safeties; this week, we’re looking at the special teams.

Nate Adams, LS, No. 56

Height: 6’0, 210 lbs.
Weight: 210 lbs.
Year: Senior
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
High school: Greenway

Matt Oliveira, LS, No. 36

Height: 6’1
Weight: 215 lbs.
Year: Junior
Hometown: Watchung, New Jersey
High school: Saint Peter’s Prep

How they got to College Park

Adams was the No. 7 long snapper in the class of 2014 when he committed to the Terps. He is on a scholarship, and though it’s unusual for a long snapper to get one, it never hurts to add a top-10 player at any position. Oliveira, on the other hand, walked on before the 2015 season.

Career highlights

Adams handled starting long snapping duties for the 2015 and the 2016 opener against Howard. Oliveira then took over the job and started the season’s final 12 games.

2017 prospectus

If DJ Durkin has made one thing clear in his time in College Park, it is that no job is safe. Adams and Oliveira will battle it out in camp for the starting job, and whoever wins will be responsible with delivering strikes to Wade Lees and whoever ends up being the holder on Maryland’s field goal attempts. Oliveira would seemingly have the edge, having started most recently, but Adams holds the advantage

in experience.

Dream season

In a perfect world, Adams wins back the starting job for his senior season, before passing snapping duties to Oliveira, allowing him to do the same. However, if Oliveira keeps his starting spot heading into 2017, Adams could still see some time in other special teams packages. Regardless of who wins the job in camp, the Terps will start an experienced snapper this season.