Austin "AJ" Covan

Austin "AJ" Covan is currently a graduate student-athlete at Gardner-Webb University (GWU) in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, and is a member of the Runnin' Bulldogs football team. He recently graduated Summa Cum Laude in May 2022 from Limestone University with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education/Exercise Science with a minor in coaching.

AJ's father introduced him to long snapping in grade six when serving as a kicking and long snapping coach for the local high school and middle school football teams. While in high school, he earned the starting position at long snapper as a sophomore at the second largest high school in the state of South Carolina where he took every snap for three seasons. He earned multiple athletic and academic accolades, including being named as the first long snapper selected in the 81-year history of the NC-SC Shrine Bowl that celebrates the top 44 players in the state. Covan attended the Kohl's and Rubio camps throughout high school where he earned high rankings and an All-American status for two years at Prokicker.

After graduating high school, Covan earned a coveted scholarship as a long snapper for Limestone University in Gaffney, SC. He earned multiple offers to Division 1 football teams; however, he opted to stay closer to his family for personal reasons. He worked diligently to beat out three other snappers for the starting position as a freshman in the Fall of 2018. During his three seasons at Limestone, he took every snap for the Saints with 100% accuracy and earned four tackles and twice he earned an All-SAC (South Atlantic Conference) team designation. In August 2021, he was named as the #2 long snapper in the nation by College Football Network.

He was unable to play his senior season in the fall of 2021 due to earning two prestigious internships for his degree requirements. During the Fall of 2021 internship at Wofford College, he served as the assistant special teams football coach due to his extensive knowledge of long snapping and how to apply exercise science to the science of kicking, punting, and long snapping. Covan has the guidance, experience, and knowledge to coach at any level due to his role as a coach at multiple Kohl's camps and his exercise science education.

With two years of eligibility remaining, Covan entered the NCAA transfer portal in August 2021 - where he personally received 15 offers, two of them full scholarships, to continue his dream of playing college football. He elected to attend GWU to pursue a Master of Sport Education and remain closer to home.

To support AJ, check out his personalized series of merchandise HERE! 

Athletic Accolades:

• College Football Network Long Snapper List (ranked #2 in the nation) in August 2021
  
• South Atlantic Conference Pre-Season Football Watch List (as a long snapper) in August 2021
  
• Limestone University Football Starting Long Snapper from 2018-2021 (took all PAT/FG snaps)
  
• Kohl's Free Agent/College Camp Winner in July 2020
  
• Special Teams Player of the Week in October 2019
  
• Second-Team Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference in September 2019
  
• 81 st NC/SC Shrine Bowl Participant as Long Snapper (LS) in December 2017
  
• Dorman Football Special Teams Player of the Year
  
• Two-time Prokicker All-American Long Snapper from 2016 to 2018
  
• Rubio Top 12 Camp 2017
  
• Kohl's National Scholarship Camp Top Performer (highest charting score)
  
• Finalist in the Under Armour High School long snapping competition with Kohl's
  

Academic Accolades:

• Summa Cum Laude graduate of Limestone University with a 4.0 GPA
  
• Limestone University Excellence in Exercise Science Award in 2021 and 2022
  
• Top GPA Award Winner for Limestone University Football Team 2020 and 2021
  
• Conference Carolina Presidential Honor Roll from Fall 2018 to May 2021
  
• Limestone University Dean's List from Fall 2018 to May 2021
  
• Elite 27 Award Winner (Top GPA for football team) in 2020 and 2021
  
• Inducted into Alpha Chi Honor Society (Academics) in April 2020
  

Coaching Experience:

• Assistant Long Snapping Coach Kohl's Long Snapping Camps ~ Waukesha, WI June 2020 to Present
  

Assisted with instructing high school long snappers with technique and form as it pertains to the football position based on the principles of the company owner; operated stations during competition for up to 200 long snappers at local, regional, and national camps. Assisted in two National Scholarship camps and five regional camps.

• Basketball Intern at Dorman High School ~ Roebuck, SC (November 2021 to March 2022)
  

Served as assistant coach for the ninth grade and JV squads during practice and assisted the varsity basketball coach during practice and games. Won the region championship and went to the playoffs during this tenure.

• Football Intern at Wofford College ~ Spartanburg, SC (August 2021 to November 2021)
  

Performed all duties as assigned for a FCS Division I football team: meal prep for game day, setup/removal of sport equipment, laundry, uniform prep, field coaching, film analysis, and other duties as assigned as the assistant special teams coach/intern.

To support AJ, check out his personalized series of merchandise HERE! 

If you would like to schedule a lesson with AJ, please fill out the information below. The athlete's name, a good email to contact, and a message to describe the athletes current level of competition, current age, and a date that works best for you. You will hear back from a LSLS representative to follow up in 24 to 48 hours!