Michigan football nabs 2026 five-star longsnapper Colton Dermer for special teams future
Michigan football nabs 2026 five-star longsnapper Colton Dermer for special teams future
It's been a long time since Michigan football has had to worry about replacing one particular position, but soon, it will need to find someone to take over the role from a couple of longstanding veterans.
Though some might not realize the importance of having a top-notch longsnapper, the Wolverines place an onus on special teams efficiency. As former head coach Jim Harbaugh used to talk about, the battery of snap, hold, and kick (or in the case of punting, snap and kick) needs to be spot on. Michigan has had William Wagner at the position since 2019, following Camaron Cheeseman, but he missed half of 2022 after a significant leg injury at Iowa in Week 5. At that point, second-year longsnapper Greg Tarr stepped in and handled the duties masterfully.
Tarr is expected to be the guy this year, but who will come after him?
On Saturday, Michigan got a commitment from 2026 Phoenix (Ariz.) Sandra Day O'Connor five-star longsnapper Colton Dermer.
Dermer is rated the No. 6 longsnapper in the 2026 class according to Kohl's Kicking rankings. Here is the scouting report:
Dermer is a prospect in the 2026 class with elite snapper talent, great size, and tremendous athleticism. He rips the cover off the ball with impressive velocity and extremely tight ball rotation. At the 2025 Kohl's Spring Western Showcase, Dermer finished with an average snap time of .66 seconds and ran a 4.93-second 40-yard dash. He has the talent and attributes needed to be a scholarship snapper.
Dermer is the 10th commitment in the 2026 class. Here is what the class currently looks like:
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