MIKE LUCAS Senior Writer

BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer

MADISON, Wis. — In the Jeopardy! game show category "NFL Position Groups" the clues are "Their average salary is $930,463," and, "At least one of these has been selected in every draft the last six years."

Adam Bay had no trouble responding in the form of a question, "What are long snappers?"

Bay is eminently qualified to address the topic. For the last four years, 48 consecutive games, he has been Wisconsin's snapper on placements (extra points and field goals) and punts.

"You don't really hear about long snappers getting drafted, and if they do, they're a later round guy," he said. "That's a special thing for anyone who gets drafted as a snapper. That's a big accomplishment to the (specialist's) community itself."

Here's the roll call of draftees over the last six years:

2015: Navy's Joe Cardona, New England, fifth round (166 overall).

2016: Baylor's Jimmy Landes, Detroit, sixth round (210).

2017: Louisville's Colin Holba, Pittsburgh, sixth round (213)

2018: Mississippi State's Hunter Bradley, Green Bay, seventh round (239).

2019: Air Force's Austin Cutting, Minnesota, seventh round (250).

2020: LSU's Blake Ferguson, Miami, sixth round (185).

2021: ??????

"I want to say I'm going into it completely in the dark," Bay said of his own draft prospects. "I've had around 10 teams reach out to me. Who knows how the third day could go?"

Round 1 is Thursday. Rounds 2-3 are Friday. Rounds 4-7 are Saturday.

"I feel like I'm a safe pick — I've been trying to point my game in the direction of the pros, and I feel really good athletically," Bay said. "It's basically about finding my spot, finding where I belong. I feel confident in my abilities. I feel I can be an important part of a team."

Whether drafted or not?

"I'm good with going in there as a free agent — if I need to — and proving my worth."

Most people, he agreed, would likely be surprised by the net worth of long snappers. Based on current contracts, 18 are averaging between $1,037,500 and $1,212,500 per season. The overall average of $930,463 is the lowest among NFL position groups. Next are fullbacks: $1,191,699.

Bay attached this personal observation and caveat to the numbers, "You're not making the flashy money you'd see with the other positions. But that's still a lot of money. It's becoming more of a needed position and a lot of teams are prioritizing that.

"It's like over the last 20 years where you've seen more of a need for scholarship snappers entering colleges. I feel like that's an upward trend in the NFL, too."

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Bay has definitely put himself in the discussion of long snappers who could potentially be drafted this weekend. Joining him are Alabama's Thomas Fletcher, Michigan's Camaron Cheeseman, Georgia Southern's Ryan Langan and San Diego State's Turner Bernard, one of Bay's childhood friends.

Both are from Arizona. Bay is from Mesa and Desert Ridge High School. Bernard is from Glendale and Mountain Ridge. Bernard's father, Ben, has been Bay's long snapping coach since the latter was in the eighth grade, which was the first time that Bay ever attempted a snap in a game. It didn't go well.

Recalled Bay, "I threw it over the punter's head into the end zone for a touchdown for the other team in a state championship game. But we won and I've wanted to perfect my craft ever since."

Bay was perfect as a prep. From grades 9 through 12, he was perfect on 440 snaps, including three varsity seasons at Desert Ridge. As a senior, he was invited to the Under Armour All-American game and was rated as the No. 1 long snapper in the nation.

Bay was headed to the University of Missouri before flipping to the Badgers.

"I can't even put into words how grateful I am for the opportunities Wisconsin gave me," said Bay, who will graduate this spring with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies. "It was definitely life-changing and a part of my life that I will never forget."

Off hand, Bay couldn't remember how many snaps that he has executed the last four seasons. Prodded for a ballpark figure, he estimated 450-plus snaps. How many were bad snaps?

"I don't think any were bad," he said politely but firmly. "But if I'm critiquing myself, I'd probably count on one hand the snaps that I wish that I could get back. Or I wish I could fix the laces. Maybe it was a little too high or too wide. Overall, I'm confident in my film."

He's also comfortable in his own skin knowing that he has toiled in the shadows of others.

"That was a big goal of mine," he said. "To be kind of anonymous during this whole process."

Few could pick No. 51 out of a crowd. A good thing. (Fact is, Bay wore No. 42 throughout youth ball and high school as a tribute to his boyhood role model, the late Pat Tillman. "He never let one thing define him whether that was football, the military or who he was as a person," Bay said.)

Meanwhile, during pre-draft interviews, Bay fielded standard questions from NFL teams.

"Just simple questions: What are the things that I feel my strengths are? And what can I keep working on?" said Bay, who believes his versatility will be an asset. "We do a pro-style blocking system and I feel that really put me in a good spot compared to a lot of other guys coming out this year.

"Over my four years in the Big Ten to kind of learn this whole technique of blocking — rather than just snapping and running downfield — it has kind of given me an advantage. I've been able to make plays downfield whether getting a fumble recovery or making tackles as part of the coverage unit.

"I just want to keep getting better as an athlete … Luckily in the Big Ten, I've been able to go against guys that have been big and strong in NFL-sized bodies. It's still a pretty decent transition for any long snapper going to the next level. But it's a challenge I'm ready to take."

The 6-foot, 240-pound Bay played linebacker up until his senior year of high school.

"I know I need to focus on speed," he went on. "That's always an area I want to keep working at. Speed and strength. I'm training hard every day. Everybody can snap. But one way of differentiating yourself is through blocking and being an athlete.

"Every year here (at UW), I tried to get better and better, and I felt like I accomplished that — my knowledge of the game, being in a pro-style system my blocking from my freshman year has gone up significantly, my speed, making a play, reviewing film … But I don't feel like I've arrived in any aspects.

"That's why I want to show (NFL) teams that I'm still willing to work."

Bay views himself as a solid "locker room guy" — a positive at any level of competition.

"I feel as a long snapper you shouldn't be someone who's causing trouble or bringing extra baggage to the team," he said. "I feel like I'm pretty easy-going. I want to be somebody that people can look up to as a teammate and kind of look at you as a friend or anywhere in-between."

Bay considered returning for another year of eligibility at Wisconsin.

"Early in the season, when we had our COVID issues, I was definitely thinking about it," he admitted. "But, at the end of the season, I felt that I was ready with my abilities. Especially with such a smaller draft class this year."

The Badgers will replace Bay with Peter Bowden, a redshirt sophomore from San Diego.

"He's done a great job — he has used these past few years to learn and get better — to get stronger and faster," Bay said. "It's really cool to see the next person step up. I know Connor Udelhoven (who snapped in 52 games for the Badgers) was a really big mentor for me when I came in.

"I've kind of wanted to be the same thing for Peter. He's kind of like a bird leaving the nest. He's trying to learn how to fly. And I'm excited to see him do it."

The Badgers have cultivated a tradition among their long snappers. The gold standard is Mike Schneck, who played 11 seasons (159 games) in the NFL with Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Atlanta. In 2005, he was named to the Pro Bowl. Another Mike — Mike Solwold — played four years in the league.

"I really don't want to put myself in the company with them because I haven't done anything yet and they have," said a most gracious Bay. "In our meeting room, we have a board of specialists who have been in the NFL. I'm just hoping someday that I can have my picture up there."

Bay plans on watching all of the televised draft from start to finish.

"I'd love to see all my friends go," he said of Badger teammates who may be selected and his friends around the Big Ten. "I want to be an active part in this."

And if he isn't drafted, he will embrace the free agent route.

"I know by the end of third day, I will have a home. I just don't know where yet."