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UCLA Football: Johnny Den Bleyker named to long snapper award watch list

By Mike Regalado

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 21: 'Joe Bruin' the mascot of the UCLA Bruins works the sidelines during a game against the Utah Utes during the first half of a college football game at Rice Eccles Stadium on November 21, 2015 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 21: 'Joe Bruin' the mascot of the UCLA Bruins works the sidelines during a game against the Utah Utes during the first half of a college football game at Rice Eccles Stadium on November 21, 2015 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images) /
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UCLA football’s Johnny Den Bleyker has been named to the David Binn Award watch list, an honor given to the most outstanding long snapper in the country.

Football is a collective team sport, though some positions get overshadowed by others. And even within those position groups, key figures are not mentioned nearly enough as they should be. That is the case for UCLA football long snapper Johnny Den Bleyker… but that has changed.

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JDB is a special teams poison player and one that many may not know, but if it was not for his production as a long snapper, the UCLA punting game would not be where it is at.

Because of his efforts, on Monday, Den Bleyker was named to the David Binn Award preseason watch list, an award that is given to the best long snapper in college football. The junior specialist is part of a list of 48 players that have been named to the preseason list, and one of only five from the Pac-12.

Last season, Den Bleyker helped with the overall improvement in UCLA’s punting game. With his consistent and reliable long snaps, he was able to get the ball to former walk-on punter Stefan Flintoft who averaged 42.9 yards per punt (5th in the Pac-12), pinned 21 of his 56 punts inside the 20 and had a long of 65 yards. That does not happen without the Den Bleyker being in complete control.

This season, the Bruins are in transition with a new a coaching staff and the specialists will now work under the tutelage of Roy Manning, an electric coach that has an infectious spirit and should bring more life to special teams. Under his guidance, Den Bleyker and the rest of the specialists should continue to step up their game. When that happens, there is no reason why we should not see JDB named as one of the finalists for the David Binn Award at season’s end.

Next: UCLA Football: Revisiting the 2018 recruiting class/in-coming freshmen

Congratulations, Johnny! Go Bruins!