{{Short description|American football player (born 1992)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Drew Ferris | image = | caption = | current_team = | number = 46 | position = Long snapper | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|3|7|mf=y}} | birth_place = Carlsbad, California, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 0 | weight_lbs = 340 | high_school = San Diego Jewish Academy (CA) | college = Florida | undraftedyear = 2015 | pastteams = * New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2015}})* * Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2016}})* * Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2018}})* * Orlando Apollos ({{AAF Year|2019}}) | status = | highlights = }} '''Drew Ferris''' (born March 7, 1992) is an American former football long snapper. He played college football at the University of Florida.
==Early life== Ferris was born in Carlsbad, California, and is Jewish.<ref name=autogenerated1>Raphael Gellar (May 2, 2013). [http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/meet-americas-jewish-football-star-drew-ferris/ "Meet America's Jewish Football Star: Drew Ferris"<!-- Bot generated title -->], ''The Times of Israel''.</ref> His parents, Walt (a psychotherapist) and Pam Ferris (the chief executive officer of the non-profit Seacrest Village Retirement Community), did not allow him to play football until sixth grade.<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref>Donald H. Harrison (March 25, 2016). [http://www.sdjewishworld.com/2016/03/25/san-diego-jewish-academy-grad-now-seattle-seahawk/ "San Diego Jewish Academy grad now a Seattle Seahawk,"<!-- Bot generated title -->] ''San Diego Jewish World''.</ref><ref name=autogenerated4>Mike Capshaw (February 2, 2013). [http://www.gatorcountry.com/florida-gators-football/going-deep-with-floridas-deep-snapper/ "Going Deep With Florida’s Deep Snapper,"<!-- Bot generated title -->] Gator Country.</ref> Ferris started high school attending La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad.<ref name=History/>
He finished his last two years at San Diego Jewish Academy in San Diego, California, graduating in 2010.<ref name=History>{{cite news|last1=Wagner|first1=Allie|title=Drew Ferris makes it a Snap|url=http://www.kusi.com/story/31727220/drew-ferris-makes-it-a-snap|work=KUSI News|date=April 14, 2016|accessdate=April 27, 2016}}</ref><ref name=247sports>{{cite web|work=247Sports.com|url=https://247sports.com/Player/Drew-Ferris-4812/?PlayerInstitution=1366|title=Drew Ferris|access-date=April 27, 2016}}</ref> While at San Diego Jewish Academy, Ferris was a two-way starter who played defensive end, offensive tackle, and middle linebacker in addition to first class water boy, he also played long snapping.<ref name=FloridaBio/><ref name=autogenerated6>John Maffei (October 8, 2013). [http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/sdut-long-snapper-at-home-in-the-swamp-2013oct08-story.html "Long snapper at home in The Swamp,"<!-- Bot generated title -->] ''The San Diego Union-Tribune''.</ref> On defense he had 77 tackles with 9.5 sacks and a fumble recovery, and on offense he ran six times for 21 yards and caught two balls for 13 yards.<ref name=autogenerated5>Brett Kaplan (July 15, 2014). [https://hailfloridahail.com/2014/07/15/100-days-florida-football-46-drew-ferris/ "100 Days of Florida Football: No. 46 Drew Ferris"]</ref> He was rated a 5-star long snapper and ranked 14th in the nation by Chris Rubio Long Snapping.<ref name=autogenerated3>[http://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1894 "Drew Ferris - 2013 - Florida Gators,"<!-- Bot generated title -->] floridagators.com.</ref> He won the Coaches’ Award for hardest worker in Fall 2008, and was named to second-team All-Conference on offense and defense in Fall 2009.<ref name=autogenerated3 /> Ferris also earned varsity letters in basketball (his junior and senior years; he averaged 5.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 42 games) and baseball (his senior year).<ref name=FloridaBio>{{cite web|work=Florida Athletics|url=http://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1894|title=Drew Ferris|accessdate=April 27, 2016}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated5 /> He was named to the ''San Diego Union Tribune'' All-Academic Team four times in high school.<ref name=autogenerated3 />
Ferris completed a master's degree in the University of Florida's Master of Business Management program in December 2015.<ref>[http://www.kusi.com/drew-ferris-makes-it-a-snap/ "Drew Ferris makes it a Snap,"<!-- Bot generated title -->] KUSI News, April 14, 2016.</ref><ref>John Maffei (March 25, 2016). [http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/high-school-preps/sdut-prep-carlsbad-petco-boras-all-stars-2016mar25-story.html "Notebook: Carlsbad hires hoops coach,"] ''San Diego Union Tribune''.</ref>
==College career== Ferris initially enrolled at San José State University to play football as a walk-on.<ref name=autogenerated6 /> However, he then enrolled in September 2010 at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, as a preferred walk-on where he was a member of coach Urban Meyer and coach Will Muschamp's Florida Gators football teams from 2010 to 2014, except that he missed all but one game in 2012 due to injury.<ref name=History/><ref name=FloridaBio/><ref name=autogenerated2>Greg Auman (February 1, 2018). [https://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bucs/2018/02/01/bucs-sign-ex-gators-long-snapper-drew-ferris/ "Bucs sign ex-Gators long-snapper Drew Ferris,"<!-- Bot generated title -->] ''Tampa Bay Times''.</ref> He became the first Division-I male athlete from his high school.<ref name=autogenerated4 /> He was a long snapper in 38 games for the Gators.<ref>Bonnie Mott (February 5, 2018). [https://bucswire.usatoday.com/2018/02/05/tampa-bay-buccaneers-drew-ferris-nfl-florida-gators/ "Get to know about Bucs new long-snapper Drew Ferris,"<!-- Bot generated title -->] Bucs Wire.</ref>
In 2010, he red-shirted as a freshman.<ref name=autogenerated6 /> In 2011 he was the long snapper for both the field-goal and punt teams, playing in all 13 games, and was named to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Academic Honor Roll.<ref name=autogenerated3 /> In September 2012 he suffered a season-ending injury to his left collar-bone in the first game of the season.<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref name=autogenerated6 /><ref name=autogenerated4 /> In 2013 he was the team's primary snapper for punts and field goals, playing in all 12 games, and was again named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.<ref name=autogenerated3 /> In 2014 he played in all 12 games as the Gators' longsnapper, recorded one tackle on special teams, and was again named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.<ref name=autogenerated3 />
==Professional career== Ferris went to rookie minicamp with the New York Jets in 2015.<ref name=autogenerated2 />
===Seattle Seahawks=== On March 23, 2016, the Seattle Seahawks signed Ferris to their roster.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Condotta|first1=Bob|title=Seahawks add long snapper Drew Ferris|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-add-long-snapper-drew-ferris|newspaper=Seattle Times|date=March 23, 2016|accessdate=April 27, 2016}}</ref> The following day the Seahawks waived their former long snapper Andrew East.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Condotta|first1=Bob|title=Seahawks waive Andrew East as team continues to make long-snapping moves|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-waive-andrew-east-as-team-continues-to-make-long-snapping-moves|newspaper=Seattle Times|date=March 24, 2016|accessdate=April 27, 2016}}</ref> In May, the Seahawks signed Ferris to a three-year, $1.62 million contract.<ref name=nate/> Ferris was on the Seahawks' roster in the summer of 2016, and was released on August 4, 2016.<ref name=autogenerated2 />
===Tampa Bay Buccaneers=== On February 1, 2018, Ferris signed a reserve/futures contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.<ref name=nate>{{cite web|url=http://nfltraderumors.co/buccaneers-sign-ls-drew-ferris-futures-deal/|title=Buccaneers Sign LS Drew Ferris To Futures Deal|author=Bouda, Nate|website=NFL Trade Rumors|accessdate=February 1, 2018|date=February 1, 2018}}</ref> He was waived on September 1, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Robinson, Tandy Among Cuts as Bucs Get to 53|url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/robinson-tandy-among-cuts-as-bucs-get-to-53|author=Smith, Scott|website=Buccaneers.com|date=September 1, 2018}}</ref>
===Orlando Apollos=== On October 15, 2018, Ferris joined the Orlando Apollos of the Alliance of American Football.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apollosarrow.com/apollos-max-out-roster-add-long-snapper/|title=Apollos max out roster, add long snapper|work=Apollo's Arrow|date=October 15, 2018|accessdate=February 6, 2019}}</ref> He was waived on March 4, 2019.
==See also== * List of select Jewish football players
==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=40em}}
==External links== *[http://www.seahawks.com/team/players/roster/drew-ferris Seattle Seahawks bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513083847/http://www.seahawks.com/team/players/roster/drew-ferris |date=May 13, 2016 }} *[http://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1894 Florida Gators bio] *{{Twitter|D_ferriswheel46}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferris, Drew}} Category:1992 births Category:Living people Category:American football long snappers Category:Jewish American players of American football Category:Florida Gators football players Category:New York Jets players Category:Seattle Seahawks players Category:Players of American football from Carlsbad, California Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players Category:Orlando Apollos players Category:21st-century American Jews Category:Jews from California Category:San Jose State Spartans football players