Two former Michigan State football players, Taybor Pepper and Bryce Baringer, currently lead their positions in Pro Bowl votes.
On Wednesday, Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate on X) revealed the top vote-getters for Pro Bowl nods, and two ex-Michigan State football special teamers were at the top of their respective positions. NFC long snapper Taybor Pepper and AFC punter Bryce Baringer have garnered the most overall votes for players in their position and division.
Taybor Pepper hasn’t had an easy route to the NFL, let alone the Pro Bowl
Taybor Pepper was the long snapper for some of the most successful Spartans teams of all time. He served as long snapper when the Spartans won the Rose Bowl (where he recorded a tackle, by the way), Cotton Bowl, and his last career game was the Spartans’ bid in the College Football Playoff.
Despite this, he went undrafted and unsigned for the 2016 NFL season. He was picked up by the Packers, then dropped and picked up by the Ravens for four days. Pepper was again cut and then signed with the Packers, again, where he got to start for the first time. Naturally, Pepper suffered a broken foot in practice and was done for the season. Then, he was out of the NFL for the 2018 season. In 2019, he resurfaced, serving as the Dolphins long snapper for the season. He was waived in April 2020. In September, he signed with the 49ers, and the rest is history.
If you are on X and a fan of Michigan State football or 49ers football, Taybor Pepper is a must-follow. He is active with the fans and has quickly become arguably the most popular long snapper in recent memory. What other long snapper can become part of national news for delivering an NSFW message in sign language to Seattle Seahawks star receiver DK Metcalf? He also is quite willing to clap back at Wolverine Twitter, something us Spartan fans can appreciate.
On top of his popularity, Pepper is pretty dang good, too. It is hard to rank long snapping, with no real statistical categories outside of tackles, but it is hard to think of a 49er long-snapping gaffe. Additionally, Pepper averages the 11th-highest salary for a long snapper in the NFL. Between his antics, personality, and skill, Pepper is the most recognizable long snapper and well deserving of being the current leader in votes.
Bryce Baringer has gone from being cut twice to potentially earning Pro Bowl nod as a rookie
Bryce Baringer’s route to the NFL was anything but easy, as well. The punter transferred from Illinois, and he was cut from the Spartans. He was then asked to rejoin the team after an accidental blow broke then-punter Jake Hartbarger’s leg. Baringer’s first chance came when the next backup, Tyler Hunt, tore his ACL. He was anything but special. Following the season, Bryce got cut, again. He briefly entered the portal after Mark Dantonio’s retirement but earned a spot back on the team for 2020. Baringer started turning things around, and then he became a force of nature.
In 2021, Baringer was put on scholarship. He rewarded this choice by being one of the best forces for the Spartans when Kenneth Walker’s legs or Jayden Reed and Jalen Nailor’s hands could not get the Spartan offense moving. He was given the honor of second-team all-conference, behind first-teamer Adam Korsak. With two of those weapons gone and Jayden Reed often battling injury, Baringer was relied on more than ever. His response? He became the best punter in the nation. Baringer was top three in nearly every punting statistic in the 2022 season, with a punt coverage unit that was the least effective of the Ray Guy Award specialists.
Since things are never that simple for Baringer, he was snubbed for the award in favor of none other than Rutgers punter Adam Korsak who was named second-team All-Big Ten in 2022 and did not earn the award for Big Ten Punter of the Year. He also went undrafted and did not make the league this year. Currently, he plays in the Canadian Football League. Baringer was “relegated” to All-Big Ten First Team, Big Ten Punter of the Year, and a Consensus All-American nod.
Baringer was drafted by the New England Patriots and has been a lone bright spot in the Patriots’ horrid season. He currently leads the league in punts inside of the 20 and ranks fourth in punting yards. He also boasts the third-longest punt in the NFL this season, with a booming punt of 79 yards. Bryce Baringer is the definition of a player who never gave up. Remember that story of Michael Jordan not making his basketball team? Baringer is that, but MJ’s chance came after his basketball team got suspended, only for MJ to get cut again the next season.
Both of these players are at the top of their games and are getting deserved rewards for their efforts. They have represented the green and white well in all aspects. Baringer’s predecessor, Ryan Eckley, was named a Freshman All-American recently. The Spartans are officially Special Teams U.
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