Illinois long snapper Ethan Tabel is up for a national award

One Illinois special teams player is up for a national award this season.

This time, it is long snapper Ethan Tabel who is up for Nolan’s Long Snapper of the Year Award. Tabel, who was awarded a scholarship at the start of the season, is a redshirt junior.

He snapped for kicker James McCourt, who made 11-of-17 field goals and was 40-for-41 on extra points, and punter Blake Hayes. Most notably, Tabel snapped for McCourt’s game-winning kick to upset Wisconsin this season.

RELATED: Illinois lands commitment from 2020 dual-threat QB out of Florida

Nolan’s Long Snapping shared the announcement on Twitter with Tabel one of four finalists for the FBS/FCS award:

🏈𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗦 for the 2019 #NolansLSofTYAward! VOTE BELOW for the Best D1 FBS/FCS 𝗔𝗡𝗗 D2/D3/NAIA College #LongSnappers. Both Winners will be announced during Halftime of #MNF on 12/16!
🔗https://t.co/0ChRE85Ozx#LongSnapping #NolansDawgDen #LongSnap pic.twitter.com/BrGH3PrJo4

— Nolan's Long Snapping (@NolanOwenLS) December 10, 2019

Fans can also cast their vote for their favorite long snapper:

VOTE NOW for the 2019 D1 FBS/FCS Long Snapper of the Year!@StevenWirtel @CycloneFB @CamdenBoyle @SEMOfootball @ethan_tabel @IlliniFootball @ErikAbrell85 @NIU_Football

— Nolan's Long Snapping (@NolanOwenLS) December 10, 2019