As we continue the parade of preseason college football watch lists, there's one that is a pretty new one that an Ohio State player has landed on. The Patrick Mannelly Award was first handed out in 2019 and has been awarded annually since then to college football's best long snapper.
Ohio State landed its long snapper for the upcoming season through the transfer portal, and he is one of 20 names appearing on the Patrick Mannelly Award preseason watch list. Dalton Riggs entered the transfer portal after his redshirt junior season last year at UCF. That came after two seasons at BYU, and he is the epitome of a specialist, one that is coveted in the game.
Riggs, out of Eagle, Idaho, was lured to Columbus specifically for his long-snapping ability and will instantly be one of the best in the country. Ohio State has not had a winner of the Patrick Mannelly Award, but Riggs is a serious candidate to be the first.
One of the nation’s best long snappers. 🌰@daltonriggs48 earns a spot on the Patrick Mannelly Award Watch List. pic.twitter.com/MKNQJVra5D
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 4, 2026
This unique award is awarded in cooperation with Bernie's Book Bank, which sources, processes, and distributes free, high-quality books to children who need them most. The award will be announced at a live ceremony in Lake Bluff, Illinois, on Saturday, Dec. 12.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State lands player on the Patrick Mannelly preseason watch list