Dawson Snyder's tenacity, grit and talent on the football field opened an iconic door for the Shanksville-Stony Creek High School graduate as the National Football League Draft approaches.
The receiver, who rushed for 1,483 career yards at St. Francis University, and his family worked hard to get his attention. Snyder earned the opportunity to attend Temple University's pro day in Philadelphia on March 26th.
Since then, Snyder has been working out, but waiting.
“It was a great experience,” Snyder said Wednesday after training at the Westmoreland County Training Facility. “I'm very happy they put me in Temple for their pro day. I thought I performed well.
“We did PR at several events. Overall, it was a great day.”
Mr. Snyder graduated from Saint Francis University last year with a degree in criminal justice and a minor in business analysis.
On the field, Snyder led the Northeast Conference in 2023 with 43 receptions for 718 yards. Snyder had five touchdown receptions for a 4-6 St. Francis team that went 4-3 in conference play.
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Snyder still had a year of eligibility left due to his redshirt and COVID-19 pandemic season. He has chosen to enter the pool for the NFL Draft, which will be held April 25-27 in Detroit.
“After the season ended, I sat down and talked to my parents,” Snyder said. His father, Robert Snyder, was the basketball coach at Shanksville-Stony Creek, and his mother, Lee, played a large role in the successful sports family.
“I had another year of eligibility or I could have tried for my pro day,” said Dawson Snyder, a 2023 All-NEC first-team player. “Since I finished school, I was looking for something new in life.”
Even for the most highly anticipated prospects and “sure things” from national powerhouses like Alabama and Michigan, the road to draft day is tough. It's even tougher for players at NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision programs like St. Francis.
“This process has been more than frustrating,” Snyder said. “It's a difficult process to get over it and understand the whole thing. I just keep my head down and keep striving for something in my life. I've been an underdog all my life.”
Shanksville-Stony Creek did not have a football program, so Snyder played at Shade High School as part of the co-op. He helped the Panthers win the District 5 Class 1A championship and reach the PIAA playoffs as a senior in 2018.
At Shanksville-Stony Creek, he led the Vikings basketball team, coached by his father, to consistent success. Dawson Snyder scored 1,789 career points before graduating in 2019.
He chose soccer, initially joining St. Francis and coach Chris Villarreal as a non-scholarship player.
“I kept walking,” Snyder said. “Then we had a few receivers leave. We had a COVID season. I kept my head down and kept working, thinking there would be a scholarship as well.
“I ended up taking first place. (Offensive coordinator and Richland graduate) Marco Pecora took me to a meeting and told me I was going to get a scholarship.”
His final season revealed Snyder's potential.
He had a 77-yard touchdown reception in the Football Bowl Subdivision opener against Western Michigan.
Snyder caught six passes for 110 yards against Wagner in a game broadcast on CBS Sports Network. He had seven receptions for 87 yards twice against Stonehill and Long Island.
Another highlight at Duquesne University was his six catches for 93 yards. Snyder finished the season with six receptions for 129 yards and two touchdowns on November 18 against Central Connecticut State University.
Snyder's next challenge was off the field, looking for a chance to show off his skills to NFL scouts and coaches.
“I was fortunate enough to be able to play at Temple (Pro Day),” Snyder said. “There were 22 or 23 NFL teams there. My first event was the vertical jump. I was nervous because everyone's eyes were on me. In the end, everything went very well. . It worked as well as possible for me.
“There's a good chance he'll probably go to minicamp (invitational) or get drafted in the later rounds,” he said. “It's a waiting game. It could be something or it could be nothing.”
There is a lack of information, especially as the draft approaches.
“Honestly, from what I've heard from other people, everything is being done in secret right now,” Snyder said.
“No one wants to tell you whether you are on the board or not. No one wants someone to steal their diamond in the rough. I spoke to the team.”
Snyder will watch the NFL Draft unfold on his TV or laptop. He has more at stake than just a viewer.
Even if his name is not called, he would still be one of the players hoping to sign a free agent contract.
“I'm going to wait and see, but I'm still going to keep training, stay the course and do everything I have to do,” Snyder said. “I'm running and lifting weights almost every day. Right now it's just a waiting game.”
Mike Mastovich is a sports reporter and columnist for the Tribune-Democrat. Contact him at 814-532-5083. Follow him on Twitter @masty81.
