BREAKING RECOGNITION: Michigan State’s Ryan Eckley Earns Prestigious Preseason All-American Honors from Walter Camp Football Foundation
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State redshirt junior punter Ryan Eckley has been named a second-team preseason All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Eckley led the Big Ten and ranked among the national leaders last season with his 47.9-yard average, which tied for the third-best average in MSU single-season history. A two-time Ray Guy Award Watch List honoree, Eckley has earned second-team All-Big Ten honors the past two seasons. He also ranked second in the Big Ten with 20 punts of 50-plus yards.
As a redshirt freshman in 2023, Eckley garnered Freshman All-America accolades after ranking second in the Big Ten and eighth in the FBS with his 46.8-yard punting average. In addition, he ranked second in the Big Ten in 50-plus yard punts (24) and fourth in punts inside the 20 (23).
A two-year letterwinner, Eckley has a career punting average of 47.2 yards per punt (99 punts for 4,677 yards), which would rank No. 1 in school history (current record: Bryce Baringer, 46.0 avg.). Eckley has booted 44 punts 50-plus yards (44 percent) and also has five career punts of 60-plus yards.
More News: Headline: Mountaineers Embrace 'Loose' Mindset as They Enter Clemson Regional Article: The West Virginia Mountaineers are set to kick off their 2025 NCAA Baseball Tournament journey in the Clemson Regional, facing the Kentucky Wildcats in the opening game. With a 41–14 overall record and a Big 12 Conference championship under their belt, the Mountaineers are entering the postseason with a renewed focus on playing "loose" and enjoying the game. Head coach Steve Sabins, in his first season at the helm, has emphasized the importance of maintaining a relaxed and confident approach as the team prepares for the regional tournament. "We want our players to feel the freedom to play their best without the pressure of expectations weighing them down," Sabins remarked. This mindset is especially crucial as the Mountaineers aim to advance to their second consecutive Super Regional. The Clemson Regional features a double-elimination format, with the Mountaineers opening against the Wildcats. The winner of this matchup will face the victor of the Clemson vs. USC Upstate game. The regional games are scheduled to take place from May 30 to June 2, with the winners advancing to the Super Regionals, set for June 6–9 . As the Mountaineers prepare for their postseason run, they are determined to embrace the challenge with a positive and relaxed mindset, aiming to make a deep run in the tournament.
