Long snapper: it's one of the least-heralded positions on a football team, but it's one of the most vital. After four-year starter Luke Elkin exhausted his eligibility following the 2024 season, Iowa was in the market for a new long-snapper. They appear to have found their man now, picking up a commitment form Boston College long-snapper Bryant Worrell out of the transfer portal.
Worrell comes to Iowa after a long and circuitous college journey. His career began at Old Dominion in 2020; after two years with the Monarchs, he transferred to Division II Emory & Hunt College and played there for two seasons. Worrell then transferred to Boston College for the 2024 season and played 13 games for the Eagles. Worrell has one year of eligibility remaining.
Statistics don't do much to tell the story of a long-snapper -- officially, Worrell recorded three tackles and recovered a fumble with BC in 2024. (Elkin recorded a total of six tackles during his four seasons at Iowa.) That said, Worrell was well-regarded as a recruit -- he was a five-star prospect in 2020 per Kohl's (a training service that focuses on kicking specialists).
More than perhaps any other position, long snapper is one where trusting the coaches is necessary. The implication of this move is that LeVar Woods trusts that Worrell can effectively handle the deep-snapping responsibilities for Iowa's special teams.
With the departure of Elkin, the only long snapper on the Iowa roster this spring was freshman Ike Speltz. Worrell's addition provides competition for Speltz -- and a likely starter on Iowa's special teams units this fall. It's not ideal that Worrell will have little if any time to develop chemistry and timing with Iowa's kicking specialists this spring -- spring practice ends next Saturday, April 26 -- but he should also have all summer to work on developing that chemistry and timing with Rhys Dakin and Drew Stevens.
Worrell is the second player to join Iowa out of the transfer portal in the current period, joining Ferris State OL Bryce George. Stay tuned to Hawkeye Beacon for full coverage of Iowa's continued action in the transfer portal this spring.
