Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Halkyard Named to Mannelly Award Preseason Watch List
7/29/2024 12:00:00 PM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern long snapper Will Halkyard, one of the nation's best at the position, has been named to the 25-person preseason watch list for the award for the Patrick Mannelly Award, which is given to the best overall long snapper in the country.
The Patrick Mannelly Award is presented to the overall best long snapper at the Division I FBS level. The winner must be of senior standing, have started 75% of games in his senior year, snap on punts and placements, and demonstrate a strong mentality, notable athleticism, as well as speed, accuracy, and consistency in their snaps.
Last season, Halkyard played in all 13 games and executed 130 total snaps, 77 on punts and 53 on the field goal and extra point operations. The Glen Ellyn, Illinois, native is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Named after Patrick Mannelly, widely known as the best long snapper in the modern NFL era, he was a four-year starter at long snapper and two-year starter at offensive line at Duke University before being drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. Mannelly is the Bears career leader in games played at 245, the longest tenured Chicago Bear after playing 16 seasons, and a recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award.
From the 25-preson preseason watch list, ten semi-finalists will be announced on November 14. Those names will be narrowed to three finalists on November 28 and the winner will be selected at the ceremony in Lake Bluff, Illinois on December 10.
The award, which is presented by William Blair, benefits Bernie's Book Bank, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing book ownership among at-risk children. Bernie's Book Bank achieves this mission by providing 12 free books annually to empower under-served children to read their way to a better life. Since 2009, Bernie's Book Bank has distributed more than 19 million books to children ages birth through sixth grade; this year alone they will provide 2.2 million books to thousands of local under-served children. For more information about Bernie's Book Bank, visit berniesbookbank.org.
The Patrick Mannelly Award is presented to the overall best long snapper at the Division I FBS level. The winner must be of senior standing, have started 75% of games in his senior year, snap on punts and placements, and demonstrate a strong mentality, notable athleticism, as well as speed, accuracy, and consistency in their snaps.
Last season, Halkyard played in all 13 games and executed 130 total snaps, 77 on punts and 53 on the field goal and extra point operations. The Glen Ellyn, Illinois, native is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Special Players. Special Teams.@Will_Halkyard has been named to the @MannellyAward Watch List! ?? pic.twitter.com/lOiIpVIcns
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) July 29, 2024
Named after Patrick Mannelly, widely known as the best long snapper in the modern NFL era, he was a four-year starter at long snapper and two-year starter at offensive line at Duke University before being drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. Mannelly is the Bears career leader in games played at 245, the longest tenured Chicago Bear after playing 16 seasons, and a recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award.
From the 25-preson preseason watch list, ten semi-finalists will be announced on November 14. Those names will be narrowed to three finalists on November 28 and the winner will be selected at the ceremony in Lake Bluff, Illinois on December 10.
The award, which is presented by William Blair, benefits Bernie's Book Bank, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing book ownership among at-risk children. Bernie's Book Bank achieves this mission by providing 12 free books annually to empower under-served children to read their way to a better life. Since 2009, Bernie's Book Bank has distributed more than 19 million books to children ages birth through sixth grade; this year alone they will provide 2.2 million books to thousands of local under-served children. For more information about Bernie's Book Bank, visit berniesbookbank.org.
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