Zak Pedersen
Long Snapper
6′-2″, 230 lbs.
Senior (on scholarship, 1 year to play 1)
Joliet Catholic HS / Joliet, Illinois

ALE Ranking last year: #39
ALE Ranking in 2010: #63

What I Know About Him:

I know that #36 still feels low for our long snapper. If this is truly a list of “most important Illini”, long snapper should be higher, right? He’s in one if those positions where everyone forgets who he is, and then he sails one over Justin DuVernois’ head and everyone remembers His name.

That was a mistake there, by the way. I’m typing this on my phone while my wife drives (quality time!) and I had to respond to a text right there. When I returned and started with the word “his”, my phone capitalized it. Which now makes it seem like our long snapper earns capitalization cred like Jesus. Which is EXACTLY THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. It’s now a thing. From here until the end of time, Illini long snappers shall receive capitalization cred.

What I Expect From Him:

As usual, I simply don’t want to hear His name the entire season. Hit every snap right on the money – like last year – and we won’t even realize He’s out there. As it should be.

Actually, that’s not true. I’d love to hear of Him falling on a fumbled punt. Or making a big hit on a punt return. Or, perhaps best yet, we attempt a 56 yard field goal at the end of a tie game, it falls short and the other team attempts to return it, and Pedersen levels the guy returning the field goal, scoops up the fumble, and, just before He is tackled, successfully completes a drop kick to win the game. That would be an awesome way for us to remember His name.