Ball State University Athletics
Photo by: Baltimore Ravens
Snead has been quite a catch for the Ravens
November 15, 2018 | Football
Undrafted out of Ball State, the NFL wideout has had staying power after trying rookie season
OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Even after putting up big-time numbers at Ball State, wide receiver Willie Snead IV went undrafted by the NFL.
"I felt like I was a high-caliber receiver. Being undrafted made me a more hungry player, that is for sure," said Snead, 26, now in his first season with the Baltimore Ravens.
But that snub four years ago wasn't the end of his challenges, as Snead was part of three teams in his first NFL season before finding some stability with the New Orleans Saints.
"I think the most difficult thing knowing you are never safe," he said after a morning practice here Wednesday. "At any moment you could be released or let go. That is a scary part. You want to get settled with your team; you have to know that is a business. Sometimes business decisions are made not because you are a bad player but something happens on a team and they need to move bodies around. That is the biggest thing; you try not to take it personally."
Now in his fourth NFL season, Snead continues to post consistent numbers as one of the top receivers for the Ravens. His rookie year in 2014 saw him never see the field as a practice squad player, spending time with Cleveland, Carolina and New Orleans.
He has 45 catches for 448 yards and one touchdown this season, posting a season-high seven catches on October 14 against Tennessee and November 4 versus bitter rival Pittsburgh.
Snead, with five catches per game, is on pace to better the career-high 72 catches he had with New Orleans in 2016. The year before that he had 69 catches with the Saints.
Does the mindset of Snead rub off on teammates?
"There's no doubt. When a guy comes in and is able to impact the game the way he's been able to do it, and with the toughness he's been able do it – even if you watch some of his downfield blocks – it definitely gets guys going," Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco told reporters. "There's no question about it."
His stellar season comes after he had just eight catches in 11 games last year with the Saints and quarterback Drew Brees, who led New Orleans to the Super Bowl title in 2010.
Now this year Snead has been catching passes from Flacco, a Super Bowl winner with the Ravens after the 2012 season.
"It has been awesome transition. You go from one Super Bowl winning quarterback to another," said Snead, who signed a two-year offer sheet from Baltimore as a restricted free agent on April 20, 2018. "I am just happy to be in the building. The Ravens organization is top notch. They have been great to me ever since I came here. Hopefully we can get over that hump and get to the playoffs."
Snead is the son of Willie Snead III, who played at the University of Florida, was drafted by the New York Jets in 1989 and later played for the Houston Oilers.
The younger Snead was born in Winter Park, Florida and then moved with his family to Michigan, where he went to high school.
"I got mostly MAC looks. I played quarterback in high school; Ball State looked at me as a receiver because I played receiver my 10thgrade year. I had a great day at camp; I loved the campus, I loved the opportunity it presented. The rest is history," he said.
Snead enjoyed playing on weeknight MAC games on national television, despite the challenges.
"You are used to playing Saturdays then you get a week and half off before your next game," he said. "The temperatures outside are crazy. The atmosphere is great; you get the prime time. I think it is great for the MAC itself, just for Ball State and every MAC team in it."
Another highlight over the years has been his involvement as a counselor at the Manning Passing Academy, something he has done in college and as a pro four times.
He said former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, the father of Peyton and Eli, is one of his biggest supporters.
"Archie is a great guy. They are just a great family; they are very humble. They are very open to helping a lot of people," Snead said. "They do a great job every year and the kids love it."
Snead has been trying to help on the field this year. He and wideout teammate Michael Crabtree are trying to take some of the load off of John Brown, another Baltimore wide receiver.
"When the ball comes our way, that's our opportunity to make big plays," Snead said. "Once teams do that, we have to do something else. 'We have to go over to Willie, or we have to go over to "Crab,"' and that's when 'Smoke' [John Brown] makes his plays. We do have that mindset. We do have to take a load off his shoulders, but at the same time, we have to control what we can control, and that's catching passes and getting 'Y.A.C.' [yards after catch]."
Flacco has been dealing with a hip injury and may not start Sunday at home against the Cincinnati Bengals.
His possible replacements are a pair of Heisman Trophy winners: Lamar Jackson, who won the award last season with Louisville, and Robert Griffin III, the former Baylor star who was the offensive rookie of the year in 2012 with the Redskins.
The Ravens won three of their first four games this year but have lost three in a row going into Sunday's home game with the Bengals.
Baltimore (4-5) scored just 60 points in those three losses.
"We just have to be consistent in what we're doing," Snead said. "We'll have a great drive here and there, but we just have to do it every drive, and that's just correcting mistakes and doing the little things right in that area. But, it's good to see that, because it's something we have to get better at. We're constantly getting better, and this week is a great opportunity for us to get over this hump that we're going through. I'm just excited and ready for the opportunity."
Editor's note: David Driver is a free-lance writer from Maryland who has contributed to several Division I websites and alumni magazines, as well as the Boston Globe, Philadelphia Daily News, The Sports Exchange and The Washington Times. He can be reached at www.davidsdriver.com
"I felt like I was a high-caliber receiver. Being undrafted made me a more hungry player, that is for sure," said Snead, 26, now in his first season with the Baltimore Ravens.
But that snub four years ago wasn't the end of his challenges, as Snead was part of three teams in his first NFL season before finding some stability with the New Orleans Saints.
"I think the most difficult thing knowing you are never safe," he said after a morning practice here Wednesday. "At any moment you could be released or let go. That is a scary part. You want to get settled with your team; you have to know that is a business. Sometimes business decisions are made not because you are a bad player but something happens on a team and they need to move bodies around. That is the biggest thing; you try not to take it personally."
Now in his fourth NFL season, Snead continues to post consistent numbers as one of the top receivers for the Ravens. His rookie year in 2014 saw him never see the field as a practice squad player, spending time with Cleveland, Carolina and New Orleans.
He has 45 catches for 448 yards and one touchdown this season, posting a season-high seven catches on October 14 against Tennessee and November 4 versus bitter rival Pittsburgh.
Snead, with five catches per game, is on pace to better the career-high 72 catches he had with New Orleans in 2016. The year before that he had 69 catches with the Saints.
Does the mindset of Snead rub off on teammates?
"There's no doubt. When a guy comes in and is able to impact the game the way he's been able to do it, and with the toughness he's been able do it – even if you watch some of his downfield blocks – it definitely gets guys going," Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco told reporters. "There's no question about it."
His stellar season comes after he had just eight catches in 11 games last year with the Saints and quarterback Drew Brees, who led New Orleans to the Super Bowl title in 2010.
Now this year Snead has been catching passes from Flacco, a Super Bowl winner with the Ravens after the 2012 season.
"It has been awesome transition. You go from one Super Bowl winning quarterback to another," said Snead, who signed a two-year offer sheet from Baltimore as a restricted free agent on April 20, 2018. "I am just happy to be in the building. The Ravens organization is top notch. They have been great to me ever since I came here. Hopefully we can get over that hump and get to the playoffs."
Snead is the son of Willie Snead III, who played at the University of Florida, was drafted by the New York Jets in 1989 and later played for the Houston Oilers.
The younger Snead was born in Winter Park, Florida and then moved with his family to Michigan, where he went to high school.
"I got mostly MAC looks. I played quarterback in high school; Ball State looked at me as a receiver because I played receiver my 10thgrade year. I had a great day at camp; I loved the campus, I loved the opportunity it presented. The rest is history," he said.
Snead enjoyed playing on weeknight MAC games on national television, despite the challenges.
"You are used to playing Saturdays then you get a week and half off before your next game," he said. "The temperatures outside are crazy. The atmosphere is great; you get the prime time. I think it is great for the MAC itself, just for Ball State and every MAC team in it."
Another highlight over the years has been his involvement as a counselor at the Manning Passing Academy, something he has done in college and as a pro four times.
He said former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, the father of Peyton and Eli, is one of his biggest supporters.
"Archie is a great guy. They are just a great family; they are very humble. They are very open to helping a lot of people," Snead said. "They do a great job every year and the kids love it."
Snead has been trying to help on the field this year. He and wideout teammate Michael Crabtree are trying to take some of the load off of John Brown, another Baltimore wide receiver.
"When the ball comes our way, that's our opportunity to make big plays," Snead said. "Once teams do that, we have to do something else. 'We have to go over to Willie, or we have to go over to "Crab,"' and that's when 'Smoke' [John Brown] makes his plays. We do have that mindset. We do have to take a load off his shoulders, but at the same time, we have to control what we can control, and that's catching passes and getting 'Y.A.C.' [yards after catch]."
Flacco has been dealing with a hip injury and may not start Sunday at home against the Cincinnati Bengals.
His possible replacements are a pair of Heisman Trophy winners: Lamar Jackson, who won the award last season with Louisville, and Robert Griffin III, the former Baylor star who was the offensive rookie of the year in 2012 with the Redskins.
The Ravens won three of their first four games this year but have lost three in a row going into Sunday's home game with the Bengals.
Baltimore (4-5) scored just 60 points in those three losses.
"We just have to be consistent in what we're doing," Snead said. "We'll have a great drive here and there, but we just have to do it every drive, and that's just correcting mistakes and doing the little things right in that area. But, it's good to see that, because it's something we have to get better at. We're constantly getting better, and this week is a great opportunity for us to get over this hump that we're going through. I'm just excited and ready for the opportunity."
Editor's note: David Driver is a free-lance writer from Maryland who has contributed to several Division I websites and alumni magazines, as well as the Boston Globe, Philadelphia Daily News, The Sports Exchange and The Washington Times. He can be reached at www.davidsdriver.com
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