LAKE BLUFF, Ill. – Virginia Tech junior long snapper Oscar Shadley was among the 31 players listed on the 2021 Patrick Manelly Award watch list on Monday. The award is named for NFL long snapper Patrick Manelly who enjoyed a 16-year professional career with the Chicago Bears. Manelly helped found the award in 2019 to honor the game's unsung special teams heroes, the long snappers.
Shadley (6-0, 265) has played in 35 games since his arrival on campus in 2018. The saw duty in nine games for the Hokies in 2020. The former U.S. Army All-American was ranked as the top long snapper in the nation out of high school by Rubio Long Snapping.
Ten semifinalists for the 2021 Patrick Manelly Award will be announced on November 15, which will narrow to three finalists on November 29. The third winner of the honor will be announced at a dinner in Lake Bluff, Illinois on December 11.
2021 Virginia Tech Football Preseason Honors
DE Amare' Barno
- Preseason All-ACC (Official ACC)
DB Chamarri Conner
- Lott Impact Trophy Watch List
OL Brock Hoffman
- Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
- Outland Trophy Watch List
- Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
TE James Mitchell
- Preseason All-ACC (Official ACC)
- Mackey Award Watch List
- Rotary Lombardi Award List
LS Oscar Shadley
- Patrick Manelly Award Watch List
Eleven Hokies appeared on the Athlon Preseason All-ACC Team: Amaré Barno, Conner, Hoffman, Mitchell, Norell Pollard, Tayvion Robinson, Lecitus Smith, Luke Tenuta, Tré Turner, Jermaine Waller and Jordan Williams
Nine Hokies appeared on Phil Steele's Preseason All-ACC Team: Barno, Conner, Hoffman, Dax Hollifield, Mitchell, Robinson, Smith, Turner and Waller
Eight Hokies appeared on the PFF College Preseason All-ACC Team: Johnny Jordan, Mitchell, Robinson, Smith, Dorian Strong, Tenuta, Turner and Waller