If you hadn't already seen, the Pittsburgh Steelers just invited a former member of the Baltimore Ravens to its rookie minicamp. That would be former tight end Nick Boyle, who played eight seasons in Baltimore. Notice the word "former" in reference to his position though, as he is trying out for a new one. Boyle was invited to the minicamp that took place this past weekend, as he tried out as a long snapper.
USATSI
Nick Boyle is trying to revitalize his eight-year playing career by trying out as a long snapper for the Steelers.
Boyle hasn't played the position since high school, which was actually his primary position according to Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He would eventually go on to play tight end at the University of Delaware, where he was quite successful. Boyle racked up 984 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in his time there. Fast forward years later, and he's been practicing his new position in an interesting way.
"I was snapping to a Fisher Price basketball hoop in my driveway. My wife didn’t want to catch the balls. I hit [the backboard] sometimes. Sometimes, it goes in the road," Boyle said via Batko.
Yes, those Fisher Price hoops you would shoot into as a little kid. Hey, if it works, it works. Time will tell if it has worked, and there haven't been any reports yet as to how Boyle did this past weekend. The Steelers' current long snapper, Christian Kuntz, has been with the team for two years. Some competition at the position wouldn't hurt, especially coming from a veteran guy like Boyle.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers long snapper Christian Kuntz's roster spot could be in jeopardy if former Ravens TE Nick Boyle excels at his new position.
Injuries have hurt Boyle over the past few years with Baltimore. In fact, he has just one catch for two yards over the past two seasons. That's quite the fall from his typical impact with the Ravens, as he also became a very good blocker. In eight years there, he had 121 catches for 1,049 yards and four touchdowns. Boyle is adamant on staying in the league though, which is why he felt the need to change positions to try and extend his career.
"I’m serious. Let’s go do it. It’s not a joke. That’s not what I want it to look like, because it’s not. If this doesn’t work out, I’ll just keep snapping, and if someone else calls, I’ll go there," Boyle said via Batko.
Oh, and there was one more notable tidbit from Batko. Guess where the Steelers connected with Boyle? If you guessed the University of Maryland's Pro Day, you are correct. Yep, just another player from the Big 10 school. At this point, it's getting to be a little too obvious, especially after the recent seventh-round selection of offensive lineman Spencer Anderson. That's over a handful of connections between the Steelers and Maryland over the past few years now.
Nell Redmond / AP
Steelers 2023 seventh-rounder Spencer Anderson is just one of the team's latest connections to the University of Maryland.
What are your thoughts on Boyle's way of practice at his new position? Do you think Kuntz can be taken over as the Steelers' long snapper? Does Boyle's tight end background give him any sort of upper hand over Kuntz? Will he be signed after this past weekend's rookie minicamp? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, as well as on our social media sites, yinz!
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