Ryan Eckley Named AFCA Second-Team All-American
12/16/2025 11:03:00 AM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State redshirt junior Ryan Eckley, the 2025 Big Ten Punter of the Year, has been named a second-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association. He previously garnered third-team All-America honors from The Associated Press on Monday.
Eckley currently ranks first in the Big Ten and second in the FBS with his career-high 48.5-yard punting average, which also ranks second best in an MSU single-season. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media, and has also earned first-team All-Big Ten accolades by The Associated Press and USA TODAY.
Eckley led the Big Ten in the regular season with 23 punts of 50-plus yards, and ranked tied for second in the conference with 20 punts inside the 20, including 10 inside the 10 and four downed at the 1-yard line. He was named the Ray Guy Award National Punter of the Week following his performance in Week 2 in the double-overtime win over Boston College in which he averaged 54.7 yards per punt with all three punts downed inside the 20 and two at the 1.
Eckley's career punting average of 47.6 yards per punt not only ranks No. 1 in school history, surpassing Bryce Baringer (46.0 avg.), but also No. 1 in Big Ten history (previous: Tory Taylor of Iowa with 46.3-yard average from 2020-23).
A native of Lithia, Florida, Eckley announced after the season that he is forgoing his senior season and entering the 2026 NFL Draft. He has already accepted an invitation to the 2026 Senior Bowl on Jan. 31 in Mobile, Alabama.
Eckley currently ranks first in the Big Ten and second in the FBS with his career-high 48.5-yard punting average, which also ranks second best in an MSU single-season. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media, and has also earned first-team All-Big Ten accolades by The Associated Press and USA TODAY.
Eckley led the Big Ten in the regular season with 23 punts of 50-plus yards, and ranked tied for second in the conference with 20 punts inside the 20, including 10 inside the 10 and four downed at the 1-yard line. He was named the Ray Guy Award National Punter of the Week following his performance in Week 2 in the double-overtime win over Boston College in which he averaged 54.7 yards per punt with all three punts downed inside the 20 and two at the 1.
Eckley's career punting average of 47.6 yards per punt not only ranks No. 1 in school history, surpassing Bryce Baringer (46.0 avg.), but also No. 1 in Big Ten history (previous: Tory Taylor of Iowa with 46.3-yard average from 2020-23).
A native of Lithia, Florida, Eckley announced after the season that he is forgoing his senior season and entering the 2026 NFL Draft. He has already accepted an invitation to the 2026 Senior Bowl on Jan. 31 in Mobile, Alabama.
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