There’s just something special about A&M’s latest ‘12th Man’
COLLEGE STATION — Connor Choate, then a sophomore at Coppell High School in 2014, approached his coach with an unusual request for a gung-ho football player.
“I just want to be a long snapper,” Choate told Mike DeWitt.
“He was kind of shocked by that,” Choate recalled this week with a grin, adding that DeWitt first looked at him incredulously. “He had never had anyone come up to him and say that. Usually (it’s), ‘Hey, I want to be starting quarterback.’
“It kind of took off from there, because I realized that was my best chance to get on the field.”
Choate, Texas A&M’s steady as a Timex junior snapper, was named the program’s iconic “12th Man” this season as A&M also celebrates 100 years of the 12th Man tradition. The No. 7 Aggies (2-0) host New Mexico (2-0) at 11 a.m. Saturday.
“You’re talking about an outstanding human being, a guy who stands for all the right things,” A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said of why Choate was chosen to wear No. 12. “He truly loves Texas A&M. He left a scholarship to come here to walk on because he wanted to be at Texas A&M.”
E. King Gill, the original 12th Man who as an A&M student stood ready to enter the final game for the 1921 Aggies in the Dixie Classic if needed, no doubt would be impressed by Choate’s long route to No. 12.
Choate spent a year at Memphis on scholarship before heading back to his home state to play college football for free for his beloved Aggies.
Choate is now in his third season as the Aggies’ reliable snapper, and Fisher snapped the mold when he pegged Choate for the role of 12th Man. Typically it’s been a gunner type who hustles down the field on kickoffs to the roar of the Kyle Field crowd.
“In the special teams world there are some other guys who, just because they don’t cover kickoffs … (look), there’s not a more vital guy on our team,” Fisher said. “You ever hear his name? Nope. That’s a real good thing. That means there’s not a bad snap or a bad situation. He’s as good as anybody I’ve been around in snapping the football.
“He also bring an infectious energy to practice every day. He’s got juice, he’s fun to be around, and he’s always in a good mood. That’s what the 12th Man epitomizes.”
Choate said when Fisher called the team together during camp in August to announce the new 12th Man to succeed the graduated Braden White, he had no idea he was a worthwhile candidate.
“I was getting ready to cheer for whoever else was named 12th Man,” Choate said with a smile. “I was on the edge of my seat and getting ready, and then (Fisher) said, ‘Connor Choate.’ I go, ‘Whoa!’ I sat back in my chair and said, ‘Wow!’
“It still feels surreal when I see that No. 12 in my locker or on my pads.”
Choate’s decision seven years ago to focus on snapping at Coppell led to his starring role in A&M’s most well-known tradition.
“I don’t really look like a football player, so anything is possible at this point if I’m the 12th Man,” said the angular Choate in offering advice to children to chase their dreams. “It shows you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it.”
Putting one’s mind to it — possessing extreme discipline and the ability to practice seemingly endless repetition — is the biggest key to successful snapping, he added.
“You’re doing the same motion every week, and you don’t have to (prepare) for a different game plan,” Choate explained. “You’re going to have the same 14-yard snap for punts and the same 7½ -yard snap for field goals. You find a little comfort in that. You don’t have to worry about drawing up different plays to succeed.
“You have to be comfortable in the repetition and muscle memory and doing the perfect repetitions in practice each time, which leads to success.”
A&M punter Nik Constantinou, who’s averaging an SECbest 49 yards per punt two games in, said Choate makes his job less complicated.
“When you go out there as a specialist, you want to eliminate all forms of clutter,” Constantinou said. “Not worrying about the snap is one of the biggest things a punter can ever have. Knowing that the ball is going to come exactly where you want it — Choate is unbelievable at that.
“(And) I love seeing that No. 12 on him.”