Football
Award is given to the nation’s top long snapper
RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State’s Joe Shimko has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the fifth annual Patrick Mannelly Award, given to the nation’s top long snapper. The award, named after former NFL long snapper Patrick Mannelly, benefits Bernie’s Book Bank, a non-profit that provides books for underserved communities in the Chicago area.
In 2022, Shimko boasts 49 long snaps and 46 short snaps without a bad snap, including 31 snaps in punt protection. For his career, he has 449 total snaps without a miscue.
Without Shimko’s expertise, Trenton Gill (now with the Chicago Bears) and Christopher Dunn would not have set the NC State career records for punting and field goals, respectively.
Shimko, a Belmar, New Jersey native was a preseason All-American according to Phil Steele. This season, he recovered a fumble on a punt return in the win over Texas Tech.
Over the summer, he raised over $160,000 in a fundraiser, dividing the proceeds between an organization for special needs individuals in New Jersey and GiGi’s Playhouse in Raleigh.
Three finalists for the award will be announced Monday, November 28. The three finalists will be invited to the award presentation dinner on Saturday, December 10, outside Chicago.
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