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Four years ago, some observers thought that Nick Saban giving a precious scholarship to long snapper Cole Mazza was insanity. Fast forward to today and it looks like a genius move. With Mazza moving onto the NFL, Saban hopes to keep the consistency intact.
Thomas Fletcher has only two stars but that is based on his skills as an offensive lineman. He is ranked as the #1 or #2 long snapper in the nation the recruiting services. Chris Sailer Kicking thinks very highly of him giving him five stars as a LS:
“His form is flawless, his hands are quick and he is getting bigger. No one is even close to him right now and he is, easily, the best Long Snapper in the country. You could put him in a competition with any other high school, and a heavy majority of college kids, and Fletcher would win.”
This season at IMG Academy he was the snapper on 120 plays. The kickers converted all of their field goals and extra points on his watch.
Long snapping runs in his blood as his dad, Tom Fletcher, snapped for San Diego State, and then played for the Seahawks and the Raiders.
Fletcher grew up and spent most of his life in Vancouver, WA, near Portland, OR, before moving to Georgetown, TX in the summer of 2015 with his family and then transferring to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL last January.
While it might be hard to get excited about a long snapper, it is good to know that the Crimson Tide has one of the best in the nation. He is already enrolled at the Capstone, so he can further hone his skill this spring.
Originally from Washington state, Fletcher is 6’1” and 215 lbs. He chose Alabama over Florida State, Oregon, and Texas A&M.