By Jared Putnam (forsythnews.com) -

Like many high school athletes, Bryce Haynes wanted to land a Division I college football scholarship.

The problem, as he realized, was that he would never be good enough to earn one at the positions he played.

That self-critique started Haynes on a path that sent his recruiting stock spiraling upward almost as fast as the spirals he now delivers on special teams.

In less than a year, Haynes has gone from being an unknown player learning an under-appreciated position — to the most heavily recruited long snapper in the nation.

The specialist made history when he chose Ohio State last week, accepting the first scholarship the Big Ten powerhouse had offered to a high school long snapper.

“It’s been an amazing process,” Haynes said.

“I definitely think it turned a lot of heads when people figured out that Ohio State had offered a long snapper.”

Haynes received rock star treatment at Pinecrest Academy on national signing day Wednesday, when he became the first Paladin to sign with a football program above Division III.

He said he hopes the national publicity he’s received will benefit other long snappers, a position Division I schools often fill through a walk-on role.

Just don’t expect Haynes’ particular story to be duplicated anytime soon.

Two years ago, Haynes wasn’t even the starting long snapper for Pinecrest, a private Catholic school with a high school enrollment of 210 students.

The rising junior had not lined up at that position in a game since eighth grade, and the most tutoring he’d ever received in snapping came via an instructional DVD.

He had spent his freshman and sophomore seasons on the varsity team at defensive end and wide receiver, positions typically more suited for players with his 6-foot-4, 185-pound frame.

Though he was a well-rounded, three-sport athlete, Haynes began to understand he didn’t have all the physical gifts necessary to compete in either of those roles at the highest level of college football.

He started envisioning a new future for himself during a receivers camp at the University of Georgia in summer 2009, after his sophomore year.

While participating in long snapper drills merely as a……
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