Paul Rucci returns to Mullica Hill with NFL rookie camp experience to coach long snappers
MULLICA HILL, N.J. — Professional Long Snapper and Clearview alumni Paul Rucci brings his passion and NFL experience back to South Jersey where he shares it with football’s future generation.
Paul Rucci, Jr. graduated from Clearview Regional High School in 2013 where he played both football and baseball all four years. Paul had big dreams of playing in college with looks from Division I schools. But the summer before his senior year, he sustained a broken ankle forcing him to miss eight of the 10 games in his final high school season.
Devastated, Paul thought his chances of playing in college were over. But his brother, Alex Rucci, wouldn鈥檛 let that dream die. Alex put together a recruiting highlight video showcasing his brother鈥檚 incredible talent as a long snapper and sent it out to various schools.
The video worked, and Paul played at Rowan University as the Profs鈥� starting long snapper and reserve tight end all聽four years. In fact, Paul is聽considered one of the best long snappers, if not聽the聽best, in Division III according to Rowan’s special teams coordinator Cedric Dawkins in a Courier-Post interview.聽Paul was also a聽four-time Rowan Scholar-Athlete and a New Jersey Athletic Conference All-Academic honorable mention.
After graduating from Rowan in 2017, Paul was invited to the Arizona Cardinals Rookie Mini Camp. Although he didn鈥檛 make the Cardinals roster, he gained invaluable experience, acquired an agent, and received an offer to play in the Spring League Games.
The Spring League is an elite professional development league that is considered to be a pathway to the NFL. Since it began in 2017, more than 100 players have signed NFL contracts. There are eight teams total in the League鈥� four in the North division and four in the South. Paul was the starting long snapper on the North division’s Indianapolis-based team,聽The Linemen. Spring League games were televised on聽FOX Sports Network, fulfilling Paul鈥檚 dream of playing on national television. In addition, The Linemen won the聽Mega Bowl Championship聽that year.
Returning to his Mullica Hill roots, Paul dedicated himself to helping the next generation of football players. He founded聽East Coast Long Snapping聽in January 2020, providing private and group long snapping lessons, youth training, and collegiate level training for Division I, II, and III athletes. He works with long snappers at Clearview as well as other local high schools.聽His students are able to benefit from Paul’s former NFL experience and his relationships with NFL players.
Playing football on television was one dream. Another was to get involved with the聽Special Olympics,聽something Paul is聽actively pursuing at present. As someone who has fought hard for his dreams, Paul is now devoted to helping others do the same.
For more information on East Coast Long Snapping, head to Paul Rucci’s Instagram page @eastcoastlongsnapping.
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.