Florida Gators long snapper turned air guitar prodigy

Ryan Farr may look like a typical college long snapper at first glance, but take a closer look and you will see he is so much more than that.

After high school, he traded in his real guitar for an air guitar. Now, his performances are a sensation that’s sweeping the nation.

Farr and the rest of the Florida Gators specialists have a lot of time on their hands. They’re only on the field for certain portions of practice and just a few times throughout a given game, so they have to find something to do with all that free time.

Instead of sitting on the bench waiting for punts and field goals, Farr tries to find anything and everything to do to bring energy to the sidelines.

“We just go out there and try to have fun,” Farr said. “I mean, I only snap and I do like punts and field goals, so you really can’t bring much juice. So, we’re just trying to have fun and bring other kids on the sidelines up and just kind of get the fans excited, too.”

His latest claim to fame came when the SEC Network camera crew caught him playing the air guitar along with the rest of his air band during Florida’s tribute to Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” between the third and fourth quarters of the South Carolina game.

The video of him shredding it blew up over the weekend, but it turns out Farr and his crew have been jamming out all season. It’s become a real fan favorite.

“I didn’t notice the camera,” he said. “I was just kind of like shredding and all of a sudden, like, I look up and somebody was pointing at it. I was like, ‘Oh, it’s game time now. I better start really performing.’ And then after they come up to me and I blew a kiss at the end.”

The commentators of the game said that Dan Mullen probably wouldn’t be pleased with the crazy antics happening on the sidelines as the Gators were down 31-21 at that point. Actually, to the contrary, Mullen wants his guys to stay hyped up in those situations.

As long as they’re doing their jobs when they get on the field, he is all for it. He was not a huge fan of Farr’s behind the back move with the air guitar though, so that part may still need some fine tuning.

Since the video came out, Farr has been accused of practicing his moves in the mirror by people of the Twitter universe, but he makes the whole routine up on the spot.

He said he may have to amp things up this week with some choreography for Senior Day considering everyone is expecting a show now.

It’s a bittersweet feeling knowing it will be his final curtain call in The Swamp.

“I’m just trying to have fun while I’m out here,” Farr said. “It’s a business, but I like to enjoy myself, especially because I’m coming up on my last three games including the bowl game. While I’m still here, I’m just trying to have a good time.”

Bailiegh Carlton
A lifelong sports fan, Bailiegh Carlton knew from a young age that she wanted to work in sports in some capacity. Before transferring to the University of Florida to study journalism, she played softball at Gulf Coast State College. She then interned for Gator Country for three years as she worked toward her degree. After graduation, Bailiegh decided to explore other opportunities in the world of sports, but all roads led her right back here. In her time away, she and her husband welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world. When she isn't working, she can almost always be found snuggled up with sweet baby Ridley, Cody and her four fur babies.