NC State holder, long snapper take pride in roles even when overlooked
Ask anyone to name their favorite football player and the answer will vary among position groups. They’re often Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks or running backs, or even hard-hitting defenders. It’s rare to hear someone mention a specialist.
Maybe that shouldn’t be the case. Specialists don’t get a lot of attention in the sport, but teams rely heavily on their skills.
Just look at N.C. State’s long snapper Joe Shimko and punter/holder Caden Noonkester.
“I love it, to be honest,” Shimko said. “I still get to go out there. I get to play the game. I get to be out in front of all the fans. I get to be with my teammates … I just love being a part of this team.”
Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren said this week the new NCAA clock rules reduce games by approximately 15 plays, meaning every possession carries more significance than before. That seems especially true for the specialists.
His special teams guys need to create a short field for the offense and a long one for the defense. They need to punt well, recover kicks, tackle and make field goals when necessary.
“All those things are critical,” Doeren said. “They were critical before, but each offensive team in the stadium is gonna get seven or eight fewer touches in the game. We all know the importance of one play.”
‘I can really change a game’
When a kicking squad takes the field, football fans often focus on the place kicker and the guys up front offering protection. It’s easy to unintentionally overlook the snapper and holder.
That shouldn’t be the case, though. The success of both roles can win games and impact careers.
“I take a lot of pride in it. I can really change a game, whether I have a bad snap or I have a good snap,” Shimko said. “I can dictate the end of the game, whether we make that field goal or not. It starts with me. To me, this is an extremely important position to take seriously.”
Noonkester, a redshirt sophomore, earned his starting job last November after Shane McDonough was injured mid-game against Wake Forest. Through four contests, Noonkester averaged 43 yards per punt, which would’ve ranked in the ACC’s top 10 had he finished with enough attempts.
His accuracy, along with Shimko’s, helped Christopher Dunn win the Lou Groza Award in 2022. Dunn was perfect on PATs through the entire season and missed just one field goal, which came against North Carolina.
“As a punter, I’m obviously my own holder. I drop the ball myself, so I take a lot of pride in my drop,” Noonkester said. “As the holder for the kicker, I feel like I should take as much pride in the hold for them, as well, to set them up for success. They work very hard and they deserve the best opportunity possible.”
Noonkester wasn’t highly recruited coming out of high school and joined the Wolfpack as a walk-on. He earned a scholarship in January after his success last fall, calling his early achievements a “pleasant surprise” to everyone.
Doeren praised Noonkester for the work he’s put in to improve and develop, citing the standard set by Trent Gill and A.J. Cole.
“I do think it helps when there’s a standard of what we expect in that room and you can point to it like, ‘Hey, if you come here and we see that you’re going to be the guy you’re going to be on scholarship,’ or, ‘If you come here and do what you’re supposed to do, you could be like our previous two punters that are starters in the NFL,’” Doeren said. “There’s a roadmap for those guys in that room. I’m proud of them for continuing it and look forward to seeing Caden. He’s got a lot of football here in front of him.”
Noonkester, however, credited Shimko. Having an elite standard to push for is great, having a friend and mentor – an All-American and Patrick Mannelly semifinalist, no less – makes those goals feel achievable. The sophomore called his teammate a “nitty gritty guy.”
“He taught me to be quiet, work hard. I do the dirty work: coming in to do jugs, stay after and stretch, see the trainers, come out on your own and kick…all the work that goes behind being great,” Noonkester said. “Joe’s a great long snapper. There’s a lot of work Joe does that I see that nobody else sees. It’s shown me the work that it takes to be great.”
Meanwhile, Shimko appreciates the relationship and trust he’s built with his younger teammate. They understand each other, their habits and locations.
It’s taken countless hours, reps and feedback to develop that bond. If a snap is wild or Shimko isn’t hitting his spot, Noonkester will let him know. The opposite is true for any errors on Noonkester’s side.
“Me and him have to have the most trust out of anyone in that group. We’re like the quarterback and wide receiver,” Shimko said. “Me and Caden have got to be with each other on the same page all the time. We’ve got to be close on the field and off the field to make sure that that happens.”
The Irish’s special teams connection to NC State
Everyone is excited for the Notre Dame game, but it’ll be especially fun for Noonkester.
He’s getting to show off his stuff in front of the home crowd and see an old friend: the Irish’s punter and holder Bryce McFerson. Noonkester said he and McFerson grew up together and punted together.
Even though he wants the Wolfpack to win, the second-year starter looks forward to seeing how his friend does at Carter-Finley. It won’t be weird.
“It’s almost like a privilege, like a reward,” Noonkester said. “The work that Bryce and I put in when we were younger – being able to see the reward and the fruit of our labor, if you will – to be able to see him on their sideline will be a nice feeling.”
The Wolfpack kicks off against Notre Dame at noon on Saturday for its home opener.
State fans should pay a little extra attention to the specialists like Shimko and Noonkester. Maybe they’ll develop a new favorite player.
If not, the duo will still be busy enjoying the chance to play college football. That itself is something worth watching.
This story was originally published September 8, 2023 at 7:00 AM with the headline "NC State holder, long snapper take pride in roles even when overlooked."
