BearTerritory.net - Matt Rios heading home as well

October 28, 2009

BearTerritory.net Staff

Two recruiting seasons ago, BearTerritory had the pleasure of catching up with renown long snapping coach Ben Bernard. One of the many topics brought out of the conversation was Bernard's latest protÃ©gÃ© Matt Rios. Considering his track record and what each player who studied under him has ended up, it was only a matter of time before Rios joined that prestigious list.

As the 6-foot-1, 236 pound freshman long snapper gets set to return to Arizona this week when Cal visits Arizona State 12:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon in Tempe, Rios's contribution this year is a stark reminder of exactly how good, and fortunate, Cal has been that that position the last decade or so.

"Personally, I feel like I'm doing a great job this year," Rios explained. "But, I always feel like I can do better."

If Special Teams play is the most underrated aspect of college football, then prospects that strictly play special teams are the absolute long-shots of the game. Although they play a pivotal role in whether a team wins or loses on nearly every level of the game, few special teamers ever obtain scholarship offers. That's why the story of Matt Rios is one of our all-time favorites.

You meet a number of prospects on the recruiting trail, and under the leadership of head coach Jeff Tedford, Cal has recruited a number of extremely intelligent, committed, and talented prospects over the past half-dozen years. When you sit down with their families, put in the interview time at their respective homes or high schools, and talk in person before they even step on the Berkeley campus for a day of Summer Bridge, there's a certain personality that comes across. Whether you define it as a respect for the game or a keen sense of responsibility, it is an apparent trait in all Cal recruits. They understand family and being a teammate, and they clearly want to be Bears.

Rios is no exception. Despite the fact that he's stricly a long snapper, handling the snaps for punts, point-after kicks, and field goal attempts, he's just one of just a handful of special teamers in the Pac-10 to earn a scholarship in Div. I college football. In fact, he's one of just a few special teamers to earn a scholarship under Coach Tedford.

Personality wise, Rios depicts that of a "Cal kid", which is a phrase used often by the Golden Bear staff after they announce each class. Rios carries himself with a deep respect for family, coaching, and dedication. It would be tough to find someone who will outwork him at long-snapping.

"Cal means so much to me," Rios said. "The education is what really makes this such a perfect situation for me. That's what really motivates me; to know that I can long-snap to get a Cal degree."

What makes Rios so great?

He was arguably the No. 1 long-snapper in the country coming out of high school. When you watch him snap, or better yet, stand back seven yards and handle one of his field goal snaps yourself, you get a great idea of his talent.

We did it.

The first snap went zipping right through our hands, but it was right on the money. Every snap was like receiving the same lightning bolt. We finally caught one on the fifth attempt, which was a great feeling.

Rios has been timed around the .75 second mark, which is certainly NFL caliber. Anyone below .80 seconds is considered as a potential pro prospect. However, long-snapping as a profession is no sure thing. Only thirty jobs in the NFL are available, and some of those jobs are secured for a dozen years at a time. But as Rios matures and gets stronger, his speed will be even better.

For fans who might be interested in understanding what it's like to hold for Rios, his snap is equivalent to trying to harness a 100 mph fastball, especially when you consider the speed and distance. You can hear it hum, literally. The ball is on you before you can think.

"He's the best high school long-snapper in the country, and what makes him good is the dedication he has for long-snapping," former North Canyon line coach and long-time Arizona long-snapping guru Ben Bernard said. "The faster the ball gets back there, the better, because it reduces the amount of time that a defense can block it. It speeds up the whole process."

FLASHBACK: Bernard is coaching at it's finest

There are few coaches in the game like Bernard, who took Rios on just before he started high school at North Canyon. For Cal, it is the second time they've struck long-snapping gold with a North Canyon, Bernard-coached long-snapping prospect. Cal landed Nick Sundberg three years ago, and the junior has become nationally known for his skills. Coach Tedford remarked during the 2005 season, which was Sundberg's freshman season, that he was likely the team MVP.

"We've talked a little bit," Rios said. "He's doing great in the UFL right now."

The mark of a truly great long snapper is how unheralded he is on a yearly basis.

If you never hear his name called, chances are he's having one heck of a season.

Considering the fact that the Bears haven't had a punt blocked yet this year, it's a pretty good bet that Rios fits that description.

"I haven't had a bad snap all year," Rios said. "Hopefully it stays that way."

AUDIO: Matt Rios midweek interview

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