The snap. The hold. The kick. Always overlooked, always taken for granted. The simple three-step process carries so much weight, especially in the hands of the long snapper.

Junior John Beck understands this pressure. If anything, he embraces it.

“I can’t let anything get to my head,” Beck said. “As a snapper, if I ever get into a big situation, I don’t think about. I have to just go and perform my job on the field.”

Beck is currently ranked 23rd in the nation among all junior long snappers.

“It’s a pretty good feeling to earn that rank, but my goal is to be higher.”

Being a crucial part of the scoring process on field goals and extra points draws the usual attention for most long snappers. Fourth and long tells a different story. Sending the ball the other way during punts, while not always a glamorous process, starts with how the long snapper’s hours of practice translates under the bright lights.

The chemistry between a punter and his snapper is critical.  For senior Brance Anderson, his success as a punter can be attributed to how well Beck performs.

“He has his days,” Anderson said, “but in the big picture he’s very consistent at getting the ball back to me well and giving me time to react.”

The pressure to perform this simple task weighs heavy on Anderson’s mind as well.

“It depends on the situation,” he said, “but there’s pressure no matter what.”

The on-field relationship between the two took some time to develop, but according to Anderson, it’s paid off so far this season.

“It took a couple weeks during the offseason, working through different drills,” he said, “but we picked up a connection.”

The coaching staff realizes how vital Beck is to the success of both the offensive and defensive units. In his first year as special teams coordinator, Justin Fierro appreciates the talent of his group, led by the abilities of Beck.

“He’s dedicated to being a good long snapper,” Fierro said. “He’s taken it to heart.”

Fierro realizes Beck’s position is overlooked by the casual fan, but he understands results do not always generate fame.

“It’s not a glorious position,” Fierro said, “but with John, the odds are in our favor.”