Ryan Eckley – Syndication Server

Michigan State football punter named to Ray Guy Award watch list

Michigan State football punter named to Ray Guy Award watchlist

Michigan State football is starting to develop a bit of a reputation for having great punters. It helps when you go from Bryce Baringer to Ryan Eckley. Eckley seamlessly picked up where Baringer left off, impressing in his first season as the starter in 2023.

For his efforts, Eckley has been named to the 2024 Ray Guy Award Preseason Watch List. The Ray Guy Award is given to the top punter in college football.

https://twitter.com/RayGuyAward/status/1819402791120765417

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster.

Two Michigan State football players receive preseason All-Big Ten honors

The college football season is quickly approaching, which means it’s time for preseason teams to be announced. The preseason Big Ten media poll came out on Monday, and Michigan State football did have two players receive honors on the media’s All-Big Ten teams.

Those players were:

Punter Ryan Eckley, who was officially named to the All-Big Ten team
Linebacker Cal Haladay, who did not make the team, but received votes

Michigan State punter Ryan Eckley named to Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-American Team

Another week, another accolade for Michigan State football punter Ryan Eckley. On Tuesday, the Spartans’ punter was recognized by the Football Writers Association of America, being named to their prestigious Freshman All-American Team after a huge first season replacing MSU legend Bryce Baringer.

Eckley booted 56 punts last year for an average of 46.7 yards per punt.

Here's our 2023 Freshman All-America Team, featuring 34 first-year standouts and presented by @ChrisDoering Mortgage. https://t.co/agLnOcoZla pic.twitter.com/LXoVju4uMP

— Football Writers Association of America (@TheFWAA) January 16, 2024

Michigan State football P Ryan Eckley named a Freshman All-American by The Athletic

Michigan State punter Ryan Eckley named a Freshman All-American by The Athletic

Michigan State football might as well start their official rebrand to ‘Punter U.’ The Spartans have started to become known for having some amazing punters, and that trend is continuing with the stellar play of freshman Ryan Eckley.

On Monday, The Athletic named Eckley to their Freshman All-American team after he averaged 46.8 yards per punt in the 2023 season.

The Athletic named @RyanEckley1 to its Freshman All-American team!

His 46.8-yard punting average ranked 2nd in the Big Ten and 7th in the FBS. #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/EM1z8HfiKE

— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) December 18, 2023

Michigan State football P Ryan Eckley named Freshman Punter of the Year by College Football Network

Ryan Eckley named Freshman Punter of the Year by College Football Network

Michigan State football lost one of the best punters in the world last year when Bryce Baringer left to the NFL. Remarkably, they’ve replaced him with another excellent punter in freshman Ryan Eckley.

On Wednesday, Eckley earned another accolade when he was named the Freshman Punter of the Year by College Football Network. Eckley was the only Spartan on their All-American team, although linebacker Jordan Hall received an honorable mention.

Adding to the list 😤 @RyanEckley1 pic.twitter.com/ji4be7s4Hs

— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) December 7, 2023

Michigan State football punter Ryan Eckley named to All-Big Ten team

Is Michigan State University becoming Punter U? On Tuesday, the All-Big Ten teams were released, and Michigan State football punter Ryan Eckley made the Second Team.

Eckley was the only MSU player on defense or special teams to make an All-Big Ten team this year.

Eckley punted the ball 56 times this year for an average of 46.7 yards-per-punt and 24 punts inside the 20-yard line.

Michigan State punter Ryan Eckley has been named second-team All-Big Ten (coaches and media).

No other Spartans on the defense/special teams all-conference teams.

— Stephen Brooks (@StephenM_Brooks) November 28, 2023

Michigan State football punter Ryan Eckley named to Ray Guy Award final watchlist

Ryan Eckley named to Ray Guy Award final watchlist

It’s been a wild season for Michigan State football, but one of the bright spots has been with the kicking and punting units. In particular, Ryan Eckley, who has had to fill the big cleats of Bryce Baringer, has been one of the best punters in the Big Ten conference this year.

For his efforts, Eckley has been named to the Ray Guy Award’s final watchlist of the 2023 season.

Eckly is averaging 45.2 yards per punt, with 15 punts being inside the 20-yard line.

Mel Tucker reveals starting kicker and punter for Michigan State football on radio show

Mel Tucker seemingly reveals starting kicker and punter for Michigan State football

While we all wait to see who Michigan State football’s starting quarterback will be tomorrow, Mel Tucker did give some clarity about the special teams unit starters on his radio show this week.

Mel Tucker referred to Jonathan Kim as kicker and Ryan Eckley as punter on the show, which seems to confirm that they are the starters, officially.

Jonathan Kim is a transfer from North Carolina who was considered to be one of the best kick off specialists in college football, He transferred to Michigan State to show what he can do as a place kicker and it looks like he will get that chance.

Eckley is a former 5-star punter who joined the team as a preferred walk-on in 2022.

Mel Tucker on his radio show mentions Jonathan Kim as K and Ryan Eckley as P. None of the other competitors for those jobs.

— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) August 30, 2023

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

2022 5-star punter Ryan Eckley commits to Michigan State football as PWO

[mm-video type=video id=01fnsm921hb17dad8120 playlist_id=01eqbz825g32p3akwt player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fnsm921hb17dad8120/01fnsm921hb17dad8120-220da62917430006b89dc8b1abd6726e.jpg]

Bryce Baringer was a revelation for Michigan State football this season at the punter position, but who will be the punter of the future after he leaves the program? Enter Ryan Eckley, a 5-star punter from Florida in the 2022 class, who committed to the Spartans on Wednesday as a preferred walk-on (PWO).

If Eckley proves himself, he will likely takeover Baringer’s scholarship after the current punting standout leaves MSU.

COMMITTED🟢⚪️@MSU_Football @CoachEls_MSU @LetitRide19 @CoachDGibson pic.twitter.com/FDmxSQ9oLZ

— Ryan Eckley (@RyanEckley1) December 1, 2021

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]