Could a surprise pick in the NFL Draft be … wait for it … a local long-snapper?
Michael Pifer is one of the best at the position in the country, and the former Navy standout could hear his name called in the mid- to-late rounds or perhaps draw a free agent offer in the days following the virtual draft.
A Penn-Trafford graduate, Pifer was named a first-team All-American this past season by Special Teams University and was one of two long-snappers to get an invitation to the NFL Players Association Collegiate Bowl, joining West Virginia’s Rex Sunahara.
Pifer (6-foot-3, 245 pounds) has been training extensively with the help of current Penn-Trafford junior Anthony Youngo, his neighbor. Youngo is a Robert Morris commit.
“We practice social distancing by working on our long snapping,” Pifer told the Capital Gazette of Annapolis, Md. “We’re always at least eight yards apart.”
The New England Patriots reeled in long snapper Joe Cardona in the fifth round in 2015. The Navy product still snaps for the team.
Cardona hosted Pifer during an official visit to Navy when Pifer was a senior.
A new policy could make Pifer eligible to play in the NFL right away, should he get a draft call. Guidelines now allow service academy graduates to apply for a waiver to delay their military commitment so they can play professional sports.
Those approved would not return to military life until after their playing careers and would have to fulfill a five-year obligation or repay the cost of their college education.
Any good kick needs a good snap, so we're starting our #NFLDraft content off with one of the best @mikepifer36.
?: 2020 @NFLDraft April 23-25 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC#NavyFB | #BuiltDifferent pic.twitter.com/5yagr4tRlg
— Navy Football (@NavyFB) April 22, 2020
@mikepifer36 Practicing social distancing at 15 yards with 20+ mph winds (watch the trees). #longsnapperlife #insearchofturf pic.twitter.com/7EYUdybUkl
— Jill DeNillo (@JillDeNillo) March 30, 2020
Thank you to the @NFLPABowl for an great week in LA. So many good memories and connections I got to make. I look forward to building off the week in an effort to reach my goal of playing at the next level! pic.twitter.com/hNaMKenwEU
— Michael Pifer (@mikepifer36) January 20, 2020
Good luck to @mikepifer36 in 2020 NFL draft! @JillDeNillo @coachmoe022 @SpecialTeamsU @KyleLStelter pic.twitter.com/yDFoEmaZK4
— Anthony Youngo (@anthonyyoungo64) April 24, 2020
