undercenter

Under center is a term in gridiron football describing an offensive alignment in which the quarterback lines up directly behind the center to receive the snap. In this formation, the center snaps the ball to the quarterback, who hands off, passes, or runs from a short distance behind the line of scrimmage. The depth behind the center typically ranges from about one to two yards, varying by team and play call. This contrasts with the shotgun formation, in which the quarterback stands several yards behind the center, receiving a snap from a planted ball.

The under-center approach is common in short-yardage and goal-line situations, as well as in many traditional running offenses and play-action passing schemes. It offers advantages such as firmer handoffs for running plays, tighter pocket protection for the quarterback on passing plays, and the ability to execute quarterback sneaks on very short distances. It also supports more direct and compact blocking schemes.

Disadvantages include slower tempo compared with shotgun-based offenses, greater predictability on certain plays, and a higher risk of mis-snaps or fumbles on the snap exchange. It can also be less conducive to spread formations and quick-pass concepts that rely on more space and longer drops.

In modern football, teams frequently employ a mix of under-center and more spread-oriented sets within a drive, choosing the alignment based on personnel, play design, and field position. Some offenses use under center specifically for short-yardage carries or goal-line sequences, then switch to shotgun for passes or tempo.