01/14/26 Small-Town Roots, Big-Time Standard: The Javis Underwood Story

Jan 14

Small-Town Roots, Big-Time Standard: The Javis Underwood Story

How Javis Underwood Is Redefining the LS Standard

Class of 2027 • Long Snapper • Oshkosh, Nebraska

Some athletes grow up in helmets.
Others learn the game before they ever touch one.

For Javis Underwood, football began on a living‑room couch in rural Nebraska. A kid sitting next to his dad, learning the game one rule at a time. What started as simple curiosity became something else entirely: a spark, a drive, and eventually a craft that would shape his identity.

A Class of 2027 long snapper from Garden County High School in Oshkosh, Nebraska, Javis embodies everything coaches expect from a Midwest athlete:

Toughness. Humility. Blue‑collar work ethic. Zero shortcuts.

Finding the Path and the People Who Opened the Door

As a freshman, Javis just wanted a way onto the field. Special teams was the quickest path.

But what happened next changed his trajectory.

Through a family connection, Javis traveled to Lawrence, Kansas to visit his cousin, a former KU punter Reis Vernon. Reis was staying in the same house where Luke Hosford, Emory Duggar, and kicker Tabor Allen. They took him to a local high school field and, in a single afternoon, introduced him to long snapping.

Something changed that day.

“I fell in love with snapping after that, and I’m so thankful for those boys.”

Passion was born and it hasn't faded.
It’s only grown hungrier.

The Moment It Got Real

After a strong freshman year, Javis realized this wasn’t just a skill, it was an opportunity he could chase.

He went all in:

More reps. More training. More lifts. More discipline.

His proudest moment didn’t happen in ideal conditions. It happened on a freezing, rainy, snowy November night — second round of the playoffs. Mud, wind, pressure. One extra-point attempt separated Garden County from the end of their season.

Snap. Hold. Kick. Good.

The only extra point made by either team.

And it won the game.

That’s long snapping — invisible until everything depends on you.

An Uncommon Workload

Small school? Sure.
Small workload? Never.

Javis trains like someone pushing for a college roster, not just a high-school letter.

Monday / Wednesday / Friday

Early morning lift (Zero Hour) (one of only few kids in school doing it)
Midday weights class — core, mechanics, plyos
Night snapping after football, basketball, or track

Tuesday / Thursday

Lift at Weights Class
Snapping 6:00–7:00 or later

Saturday

Hour plus snap session
Core Work
Recovery work

Sunday

Full Recovery and Reset Day
Hot tub & full stretch

This isn’t random volume.
This is intentional obsession.

He understands what elite snappers already know:

Technique matters but movement separates you.

Built for Pressure

Pressure doesn’t rattle Javis, it steadies him.

Before big moments, he uses a breathing routine taught to him by close friends Nate and Paige: deep belly breathing, visualization, and controlled calm. Once he locks in, he’s unshakeable.

That mindset shows up everywhere in the weight room, in the snap count, and in how he handles expectation.

Currently Ranked #7 long snapper nationally in the Class of 2027 with Kohls, he knows none of it means anything unless he keeps earning it.

And he is.

The Iron That Sharpened Him

Javis doesn’t improve in isolation. He learns from those who’ve walked the path:

Walker Himebauch- (Colorado State) foundational development
Ryan Lanagan- proof that six-man athletes can play college ball
Brady Weeks- one camp tweak that changed everything
Jordan His Brother- accountability and motivation
Jess His Dad- Day-one supporter, catching snaps, seeing details

It’s not just training.
It’s a community shaping a competitor.

More Than a Football Player

In the classroom, Javis carries a 4.0 GPA, excelling in math and English. He’s everywhere on campus: basketball, track, speech, one-act, FFA, NHS — and of course, the demands of six-man football.

Off the field, he’s grounded: family, hunting, long walks with his dog Rider, and if you want to catch and bite to eat and catch up with him, he is always ready for Runza, because he is a true Nebraskan.

Eyes Forward

Short-term, the mission is simple:
Become so athletic and consistent that colleges can't ignore him.

Long-term, the vision is crystal clear:

Play college football
Earning a degree in sports administration
Pursing professional football
If or when the pro door closes: become an Athletic Director and impact on the next generation

This isn’t a dream without a plan.
Its purpose in motion.

Message to Coaches

Here’s your handshake moment with Javis Underwood

He’s coachable.
He’s consistent.
He’s mentally tough.
He’s reliable.

You correct him once, he adjusts.
He elevates teammates.
He earns trust.

On the field, he brings precision.
Off the field, he brings character.

That combination travels.

Verified Performance