Long Winding Road Brings Brandon Sneh To Birmingham And UAB OL

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - August 22, 2025

Might be a good idea to break out a road map to chart the athletic path of UAB offensive tackle Brandon Sneh.

It starts with college basketball hopes as a 6-foot-6, 300-plus pound post player in Wilmington, Delaware and continued in a Covid-blocked senior season on the gridiron at traditional football power Neumann-Goretti High in Philadelphia. He detoured to Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia before beginning his college career with two seasons at D2 Elizabeth City State in North Carolina. He hopped up to Division I while playing at FCS participant Wagner College in New York and spent three months in the Kansas State football program this past spring. He spent the summer in Birmingham and has apparently worked his way to the top of the offensive line depth chart at left tackle during fall camp.

Sneh wouldn’t ask for it to change.

“I like it because like, I've been through every level,” Sneh said. “I’ve been on the bench, I’ve started, I've done it all. I just like the way it molded me.”

Officially, Sneh played just one season of high school football. He had basketball recruiting interest from Division II teams but was coaxed to play football by his friends during his junior year. He transferred to Neumann-Goretti before his senior season to chase a future on the football field. However, his senior season at Neumann-Goretti never got underway.

“It was very frustrating, because I had just transferred schools,” Sneh said. “It was one of the top nationally ranked programs. I'm getting ready to think I'm about to get a whole bunch of Division I offers after a great season and it got taken away. It’s all God’s plan.”

Sneh succeeded at every step of the plan but always found himself wanting more.

“I really started seeing the progression in my second season at Elizabeth City,” Sneh said. “I really just got a lot of reps in the spring and in camp. By the time the season came around, I was comfortable.”

A change at the offensive coordinator position helped Sneh decide to move on in search of a Division I opportunity. He found that at Wagner, where he started in 11 games during the 2024 season.

“Had a great season there (at Wagner), gave up zero sacks, had a 81 PFF (pass) grade,” Sneh said.

He entered the portal once again and landed at Kansas State with the plan of earning a starting spot. He chose to leave after spring practice.

“I think that was very helpful in showing me that everything doesn't go your way,” Sneh said. “And when it doesn't go your way, are you going to keep working?”

He had plenty of options after leaving Kansas State. Reported offers included Buffalo, Southern Miss, Missouri State, North Texas, Akron, Washington State and New Mexico State. Sneh estimated that he had between 10 and 15 offers overall. His connection with UAB offensive line coach Matt McCants was a critical reason that he chose the Blazers. Part of that connection came from hearing McCants college football journey at UAB. Like Sneh, McCants played just one season of football at Mobile’s Williamson High. He was a starter as a true freshman an turned his opportunity at UAB into a NFL career.

Just like McCants, Sneh, who has grown to 6-6 ½ and 320 pounds, came into his first camp at UAB having to earn his spot on the field. He spent the first two weeks working the second offensive line at left tackle. It wasn’t until the third week that he moved into the left tackle spot with the first offensive line. Now, with the Aug. 28 opener against Alabama State quickly approaching, he seems to be a fixture at the left tackle position. Logan Moore began fall camp playing left tackle but has slid over to right tackle with the first group.

“I texted (Sneh) the other day and I'm like, ‘Listen man, it's really awesome to see you just come in here and put your head down and work,’” said UAB head coach Trent Dilfer. “ He’s a man of very few words, but his words count. He's integrated well into the O-line room, which is kind of like their own cult anyways. And he's continued to get better. Like he was already a talented player, a talented athlete. I think he's honing his craft. He's a one-mistake guy, which I really like. We're all gonna make mistakes, especially in the offensive line when you’re new to a system. But he makes it once, learns from it. You don't see a lot of repeat mistakes from him on the same thing.”

Sneh is clear about what he wants from his first season at UAB. He wants to give up zero sacks and play in a bowl game. He’s also clear on how he plans on plans on playing the game.

“I’d describe myself as long, violent and aggressive,” Sneh said.