Joe Shimko
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | September 30, 2000 Belmar, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 230 lb (104 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Wall (NJ) |
| College: | NC State (2019–2023) |
| Position: | Long snapper |
| Undrafted: | 2024 |
| Career history | |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Joe Shimko (born September 30, 2000) is an American professional football long snapper. He played college football at NC State.
Early life
[edit]Shimko was born in Belmar, New Jersey.[1] He played baseball and ran track, but only began football prior to his sophomore year at Wall High School.[2][3] Shimko sustained injuries playing running back and linebacker and questioned how long he would last playing the sport; his father then convinced him to try out long snapper, a position at which it is more common for players to have long careers.[2] He attended camps held by Chris Rubio but at an event in Las Vegas, was ranked only 80th out of 100 entrants for the Class of 2018.[2]
In the summer prior to his junior year, Shimko would long snap to his father 400 times each day (200 for each field goals and punts).[2] He quickly rose in Rubio's long snapping rankings and became the varsity starter that season at Wall.[2] As a senior, he posted 13 tackles, was named All-Division and played in the All-American Bowl.[4][5] Ranked a five-star recruit, the seventh-best long snapper by Rubio's camp and the fifth-best by 247Sports, he committed to play college football for the NC State Wolfpack.[4][6][7]
College career
[edit]Shimko became a starter at NC State as a true freshman in 2019, serving as the long snapper for all 108 of the team's kicks.[4] He then recorded 114 snaps in the 2020 season.[3] In 2021, Shimko was named a fourth-team All-American by Phil Steele.[8] The following year, he was a second-team All-American selection by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and was a semifinalist for the Patrick Mannelly Award, given to the best long snapper nationally.[9] In 2023, he won the Patrick Mannelly Award; in his career, 61 games, he never made a bad snap.[10]
Professional career
[edit]Shimko signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2024.[11] On August 20, 2024, Shimko was released by the Cardinals.[12]
Personal life
[edit]Off the field, Shimko has been active in charitable organizations, having helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for different groups.[13][14][15]
References
[edit]- ^ "Joe Shimko". ESPN.
- ^ a b c d e Thompson, David (June 23, 2022). "NC State football finds perfection in Joe Shimko. Is he the nation's best long snapper?". The Fayetteville Observer.
- ^ a b "NFL Draft Profile: Joe Shimko, Long Snapper, North Carolina State Wolfpack". Sports Illustrated. December 31, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Joe Shimko". NC State Wolfpack.
- ^ Bardsley, Len (December 31, 2020). "College football has been a snap for Shimko". The Coast Star. p. 22, 23 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Young, Adam (June 28, 2018). "Wall's Shimko lands at NC State for long snapping". The Coast Star. p. 57 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Young, Adam (March 22, 2018). "Wall's Shimko continues excellence in long snapping". The Coast Star. p. 52 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Smith, R. Cory (August 1, 2022). "Shimko, Durden named to prestigious preseason watch lists". 247Sports.
- ^ "NC State Wolfpack football: Wall NJ grad Joe Shimko". Asbury Park Press. August 30, 2023.
- ^ "Joe Shimko Takes Home Patrick Mannelly Award, Named Nation's Best Long Snapper". NC State Wolfpack. December 9, 2023.
- ^ Urban, Darren (April 29, 2024). "After Big Draft Class, Cardinals Agree With 3 Undrafted Rookies". AZCardinals.com.
- ^ Gershman, Zach (August 20, 2024). "Cardinals Sign UFL Special Teams Player Of The Year". AZCardinals.com.
- ^ Pope IV, Jonas (August 17, 2022). "'Trying To Help'". News & Observer. p. B1, B4 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Watson-Fisher, Jadyn (October 16, 2023). "NC State football player honored for volunteer work". The Herald-Sun. p. B2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Dailey, Chris (August 17, 2023). "Shimko is an All-American both on and off the field". The Coast Star. p. 44 – via Newspapers.com.
