Bryce Haynes

February 17, 2011. Cumming, GA. Bryce Haynes, a Pinecrest Academy senior, has had a meteoric rise from anonymity to the #1 Long Snapper in the nation. Now, after being offered full scholarships to multiple D1 schools, including Notre Dame, Harvard, UNC, Michigan State, Ohio State, Arkansas State, and Utah State, he has chosen to attend Ohio State.

Haynes’ rise to football excellence picked up momentum last summer and fall. The 6’4” and 195-pound athlete had been training for months with nationally noted long snapping instructor, Chris Rubio, who described Haynes’ snap as “very fast, smooth, and accurate. He has exceptional form and superb balance.”

Every second counts in the ball’s 15-yard trajectory backwards to the waiting quarterback, and Bryce delivers with unfailing accuracy and speed. (Watch a college football recruitment video of Bryce long-snapping here.)

“Bryce has the ability to snap in the .7s [seven-second range] and has proven to me that he is the best Long Snapper in the country,” explained Rubio.  “He is extremely long and athletic, and when he snaps, the ball absolutely flies into your hands.  He delivers a tight spiral and can block, too.”

Rubio’s opinion was echoed by numerous college football coaches. After attending six SEC camps last summer (UGA, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, University of Florida, UNC, and Auburn) Bryce was ranked the best Long Snapper at each one.

Haynes was also among about 250 athletes invited to attend the “Friday Night Lights” camp, hosted by the University of Florida in late July.  Friday Night Lights is an elite camp and only the best athletes from around the country are invited to showcase their talent.

During the camp, University of Florida Head Coach, Urban Meyer, noted, "Bryce is the best high school long snapper that I have ever seen." Coach Meyer shared that he takes much pride in his special teams at Florida and that they are ranked in the top 5 every year.

As a junior at Pinecrest during the 2009-2010 school year, Haynes was selected to the 2009 GISA 1AAA All Region Team as a defensive end.

“I’ve had the pleasure of coaching Bryce for four years now, and he’s a super kid all the way around,” says Charles Wiggins, Head Football Coach and Athletic Director at Pinecrest Academy.  “Besides his incredible abilities on the football field, he is committed to being number one in everything he puts his mind to.  With an SAT score of over 2000 and the notable accomplishments he’s made on the football field, Bryce exhibits what a Pinecrest student should be.”

Bryce will attend Ohio State on a full athletic scholarship and as an honors program student. He is the first D1 athlete from Pinecrest to sign a letter of intent to play football.