David Carney Jr. – Long Snapper – California of PA
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
David Carney Jr: I stand 5’11, weigh 230 pounds and run 4.95 seconds in 40-yard dash.
Alex Khvatov: Where will you be training for the NFL Draft?
David Carney Jr: I will be training at Area 56 gym in Windber, PA to work on my strength training and will be traveling to the Pittsburgh area on the weekends to train with my snapping coach Steve Terleskey through Kicking World which specializes in kicking, punting and long snapping.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
David Carney Jr: I had a few Division III schools show interest out of high school, but I was not highly recruited.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you choose Bloomsburg?
David Carney Jr: I went to Bloomsburg for academic reasons and decided to try out for the football team as a walk on. After a tryout against seven other snappers, I was a given a camp invite and earned a roster spot. Bloomsburg is a fantastic program with 20 straight winning seasons, and I was fortunate enough to be a part of four of them.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you transfer to Cal of PA?
David Carney Jr: I graduated with my degree in biology from Bloomsburg and still had one more semester of eligibility left. I was encouraged to stay at Bloomsburg to complete a Master’s degree, but I wanted a new experience so that I could learn under a different coaching staff. California University of Pennsylvania gave me that opportunity since they were in need of a long snapper. Also, my backup at Bloomsburg, Ben Frey, was a terrific long snapper and I felt it would be unfair to him to have him ride the bench for another year. Talented players need to be on the field and help contribute to their team.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
David Carney Jr: One of the biggest strengths I have is my mental toughness. My special teams’ coach at Bloomsburg, coach Ed Rush, helped me a lot with my mental game. I think it has helped me become a better snapper, athlete overall, student in the classroom as well as a person for all of my future endeavors.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
David Carney Jr: The main thing I am trying to work on before the draft is my accuracy on punt snaps. There is a strike zone that snappers have to aim for when snapping the ball for punts. I hit the strike zone about 90% of the time, but ideally, I would like that to be 100% to ensure a perfect snap every time.
Alex Khvatov: Describe your overall career.
David Carney Jr: I made the team at Bloomsburg as a walk on and was a back up for two years then became the starter. My first year starting, I broke my ankle in the tenth game of the season which was just devastating. Thankfully I was mentally tough and able to bounce back stronger than ever for my senior season at Bloomsburg University as I helped the team go 7-4, winning the last game of the season. I had the opportunity to do a graduate transfer year to California University of Pennsylvania where I went into camp as the third string snapper then worked my way up and became the starter for the first game of the season. I finished my career with a win over my former team, Bloomsburg. My career came full circle and could not have asked for a better way to go out.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
David Carney Jr: I had the opportunity this past fall to snap against Indiana University of Pennsylvania who was ranked second in the nation among all division II schools, and we beat them. They are Cal’s biggest rival and it was great to beat them in what is known as the Coal Bowl.
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?
David Carney Jr: Growing up in Western Pennsylvania, I am a huge Steelers fan.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
David Carney Jr: My favorite NFL player is Matt Overton. He is the long snapper for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He came from a small division II school and worked his way up to get to where he is now. Not only is he a great long snapper, but he is also a tremendous athlete.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for a LS?
David Carney Jr: I think the most important trait that a long snapper can have is to be athletic. Everyone at the professional level can snap a perfect ball, but great long snappers separate themselves by being players coaches can count on to cover downfield on a punt.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on next season?
David Carney Jr: One guy on Cal of PA next year is Lamont McPhatter II. He is a safety with closing speed that is unmatched. He was an All-American this year as well as super region 1 defensive player of the year. I have no doubt he will have a fantastic year next season and help the Vulcans make the division II national playoffs.
Alex Khvatov: Who is the best player that you have faced during your college career?
David Carney Jr: I have to put two players down for this question. The best long snapper I have ever seen play is Dennis Long from East Stroudsburg University. He snaps a fast ball with tight spirals every time. The best player I have ever faced would have to be Marcus Jones from Gannon University. I played against him three times, and he rushed for over 150 yards every game.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
David Carney Jr: There are a lot of things I enjoy about football, but probably the best thing I enjoy is the camaraderie that I have among my fellow teammates. It is a bond that is like no other I have ever experienced before. I have made lifelong friends through this sport and could not be more grateful for that.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
David Carney Jr: Outside of football I love to go golfing with my father. I am also a great juggler.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
David Carney Jr: I am currently in a Master’s program for Secondary Education with a certification in biology. I love biology and want to share my passion for biology with students and hopefully can make them fall in love with it like I did. I want to make an impact on future generations to come and I think that teaching is a great way to reach out to kids and prepare them for what life has to offer.
Alex Khvatov: What is the biggest lesson that you have learned in life so far?
David Carney Jr: I have learned that even though it is not easy, it is always better to walk away. Sometimes your ego or your pride can get to you, but you must walk away from certain situations to prevent yourself from getting into serious trouble. I have had teammates who could not walk away and I have seen how it affected their lives negatively as well as those around them.
Alex Khvatov: What is your definition of a leader?
David Carney Jr: There are many different types of leaders. A few words that I would use to describe a great leader are: motivating, approachable, visionary and improving. A great leader is someone that people can get behind and support with what they are trying to do. A leader is easy to talk to and can be a platform to help you better yourself as well as the team. Leaders can see the whole picture and what the end goal is. You have to get better as a group each and every day to achieve the ultimate goal you are trying to obtain.
Alex Khvatov: What five words best describe you?
David Carney Jr: Five words that describe me are: hard-working, coachable, passionate, reliable and unassuming.
Alex Khvatov: Who will win the National Championship in CFB this year?
David Carney Jr: That is a very tough question, all of the teams deserve to be in the college football playoff this year and anyone of them could win it. If I had to choose one team, I will have to go with the Clemson Tigers. The way coach Dabo Swinney prepares his team every week is amazing. It seems as though all of his players have bought in to what they are doing down there and it shows up every Saturday.
Alex Khvatov: Who will win Super Bowl LIII in February?
David Carney Jr: The beauty of the NFL is that it is usually a different team competing for the Super Bowl every year. I honestly do not know who will win it this year, but I look forward to watching it.
