'He prides himself on that' – New England Patriots 2025 NFL Draft pick Julian Ashby is more than just an elite long snapper
Long snapper is not a position that often gets all the glory in the game of football, but it's vital for success. So, when the New England Patriots selected Vanderbilt's Julian Ashby in the 2025 NFL Draft, they were bringing in someone who would be a staple of the team for a while. And that […]
Long snapper is not a position that often gets all the glory in the game of football, but it's vital for success.
So, when the New England Patriots selected Vanderbilt's Julian Ashby in the 2025 NFL Draft, they were bringing in someone who would be a staple of the team for a while. And that became even more clear after the Patriots released long-time long snapper Joe Cardona.
It's officially a new era on special teams for New England, and according to Vanderbilt special teams coordinator Jeff LePak, the Patriots got an "elite human being.”
“They’re going to have their long snapper for a long time," LePak said when speaking with A to Z Sports. "It’s not a position that you have to worry about. I know people don’t always look at the long snapper as a huge position need, but you don’t know how much you need one until you don’t have one."
"And the Patriots have one. Not only do they have one, but they got a great one," he added. "The special teams operations will flow smoothly with Julian being the catalyst for it. And it all starts with the snap. And so they got a great one. They should be excited about the future to come with Julian as their snapper.”
The Patriots kept a close eye on Julian Ashby during the draft process
As the New England Patriots prepared for the 2025 NFL Draft, they had an eye on the Vanderbilt long snapper. And not just that, but they sent a small group down for a private workout, which included Jeremy Springer and Mike Vrabel.
"Any time an NFL franchise sends four people down to see your long snapper, you take these context clues there that they are very interested in him," LePak explained. "Whenever they spend time, the resources to send those guys down and work Julian out, they’re serious about him.
"I could tell by their actions that they were serious about Julian and wanted him to be a part of their team," he added.
New England ultimately decided to select Ashby in the seventh round, using their second-to-last pick on the special teams star. It also allowed him to join an exclusive group, becoming the first long snapper selected in the draft since 2021.
"I know they didn’t want him to be a free agent where he could really choose his destination. They wanted to be able to lock him in and get him in a spot where they knew they were going to be able to get him on their roster, which was awesome," Lepak said. "I was super fired up for him for being the first ever snapper drafted since 2021. That’s a huge, huge honor for him, but also a testament to the work that he’s put into being where he’s at now."
Julian Ashby was a Patrick Mannelly Award Semifinalist
While Julian Ashby began his college career at Furman, spending four seasons there from 2020 to 2023, he ultimately decided to transfer to Vanderbilt prior to the 2024 season. That's when he teamed up with LePak.
"We were going to be in the market for our new long snapper, and we were potentially looking for someone who could transfer in who had game experience," LePak stated. "We saw the crossover tape and saw a guy who was snapping the ball with great velocity, great accuracy, but also had the athletic ability to get down the field and make tackles, and he was making tackles against returners from South Carolina and from Clemson. So, we really, really like that, and thought that it would be a good fit for our team.”
Knowing that he was entering the portal, the Vanderbilt coaching staff had multiple phone conversations and even hosted him on his bye week during his junior year at Furman, where he "came up to a game, and actually we got to get around him and sit with him.
"He got to see how we do things," LePak said. "And so it was really just kind of a match made in heaven.”
And it all worked out incredibly, as Ashby went on to play in all 13 games and recorded 114 snaps. Plus, he managed to tack on two tackles which came against Kentucky and South Carolina. His efforts earned him a high honor, being named a Patrick Mannelly Award semifinalist, which is given to the best college football long snapper.
“It was awesome to see him get honored that way," LePak explained. "I mean, in my opinion, Julian was the best snapper in the country, and it was cool to see that other people put him in that same prestige.
"Obviously, the Patriots think super highly of him to take a draft pick on him, and that’s the kind of light he’s put himself in with what he’s gone on and done. He should be in that award. He’s one of the best in the country, and one of the best in the nation."
So, when New England selected him, LePak was certainly on Ashby's call list.
“Me (and) Coach (Clark) Lea FaceTimed him and talked to him for a little bit. Super fired up for him and for his family," he said. "And obviously he’s a great human being who deserves an opportunity that he’s got. So we’re super excited."
What kind of player are the Patriots getting?
LePak was asked this exact question, and he didn't hold back, detailing each and every reason why the Patriots are lucky to add Ashby to their roster.
"He's a dude who's constantly going to be smiling, enjoying his life, and a real positive, upbeat guy," the Vanderbilt special teams coordinator said. "He’s going to come into work every single day. He’s always looking for ways to get better. He’s going to watch his tape. He’s going to be self critical of himself. He’s always going to be around the building. He’s always going to be working."
"If there’s ever an opportunity for him to snap with the operation, with the holders, with the punters, anything like that, he’s always going to be looking for opportunities to snap and any kind of feedback on any of his snaps.”
And he's someone the coaching staff is going to love working with.
“Julian is extremely coachable," LePak added. "So any kind of feedback that you give him, he’s going to take and he’s going to go work on it to the highest level until he perfects it. He is a perfectionist in his craft, which you really kind of have to be in his position. But he takes it to a different level, where if you give him something to work on, he’ll work on it.
"And he’s open to any kind of feedback that you have. He’s never down on himself. He’s never down on the process," he continued. "He’s always back engaged in the process and attacking the next rep.”
Plus, last season, Jeremy Springer allowed Cardona to be a little more physical, with the veteran long snapper finished the season with four total tackles. And that's something that is expected to continue now that they have Ashby.
“Julian is an athlete. He doesn’t like to be looked at as just a long snapper," LePak explained. "He’s a good football player. He can go down and get his body in positions. He’s athletic enough to be able to make plays on returners. He did it in our league, in the SEC, and he’ll be able to do it in the NFL as well.
"I think that’s something that the Patriots really liked, is somebody that can not only be an elite snapper at the beginning of the play, but then also get down and be able to finish off the play with a tackle. That’s what Julian enjoys. He prides himself on that. He works on that part of his game. And so, it’s not just about his snapping and his protection. It’s also about his ability to get down the field and actually be a factor in the tackle as well."
But it doesn't end there. The Patriots are also getting someone who looks to be close with each and every member of the team, while also giving back to the community.
“He did a high, high amount of community service, and led a lot of community service opportunities here at Vanderbilt. And in only a short amount of time here, was really a spokesperson for us on campus as well and the things that we were trying to get done. So, Julian’s a great asset for a franchise," LePak said. "I think that’s something that attracted the Patriots as well, is a high character person that they’re getting. You’re not going to find a better person than Julian Ashby, and so he’s going to fit into that locker room.”
