Jaguars long snapper Ross Matiscik earns AP first-team All-Pro nod

Jacksonville Jaguars long snapper Ross Matiscik has been named an Associated Press (AP) first-team All-Pro for his performance throughout the 2023 season. Matiscik is the Jaguars' first, first-team AP All-Pro player since 2017 when CB Jalen Ramsey and DL Calais Campbell both earned the honor.

The AP All-Pro team is voted on by a national panel of 50 media members.

Matiscik was named to the Pro Bowl and also the NFLPA All-Pro team. The NFLPA honor is voted on by the players and is in the second year of its creation.

Matiscik was one of the best special teams players in the league this season, collecting eight tackles (team-high, league-high for long snappers), one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The latter happened on one play as Matiscik ran down Titans returner Eric Garror, made the tackle, the strip and the recovery, giving the Jaguars the ball on the Titans' 36-yard line, allowing Jacksonville to score nine plays later, extending their lead.

“We work really hard on it … I think we’ve got the best punt coverage team in the world,” Matiscik said at the time. “It’s really cool to be able to get down there and make plays.”

Matiscik was signed by the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent out of Baylor. He was moved to long snapper during his collegiate career at Baylor, playing as a reserve linebacker as well. After earning a Pro Bowl bid, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson gave a rave review about his team's long snapper.

"Just the accuracy on his snaps, his willingness and desire, running down the field, he caused a fumble last time. His tackling and things of that nature, it stands out when other teams are watching and looking, other players are looking," Pederson said earlier this month. "He stands out, so it’s a credit to him and his effort.”

Jaguars AP All-Pro history

Not including Matiscik, the Jaguars have had seven player named an AP first-team All-Pro, including Hall of Fame LT Tony Boselli (1997,1998, 1999), punter Bryan Barker (1997), LB Kevin Hardy (1999), CB Rashean Mathis (2006), RB Maurice Jones-Drew (2011), Campbell (2017) and Ramsey (2017).

Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars' Ross Matiscik named an AP first-team All-Pro