Michigan State punter Ryan Eckley drafted by Baltimore Ravens
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Michigan State punter Ryan Eckley drafted by Baltimore Ravens
Ryan Eckley of the Michigan State Spartans punts the football in the second half against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sept. 20, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Eckley, who was arguably the best pound-for-pound player onMichigan State's roster last year (this seems like a dig at the roster, and it kind of is, but he is also legitimately elite), will have an opportunity to come in and immediately compete for the starting job. The Ravens just let All-Pro punterJordan Stoutsign with theNew York Giantsand signedLuke Elzinga to a deal.
Ryan Eckley of the Michigan State Spartans punts the football in the second half against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sept. 20, 2025 in Los Angeles.
(Corine Solberg, Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA - OCTOBER 4: Jamir Conn #13 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers blocks the punt of Ryan Eckley #96 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Memorial Stadium on October 4, 2025 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
(Steven Branscombe, Getty Images)
Michigan State's Ryan Eckley punts the ball against Penn State during the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Oct 25, 2025; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans punter Ryan Eckley (96) punts the ball against the Michigan Wolverines during the first half at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Mullin-Imagn Images
(Brendan Mullin, Brendan Mullin-Imagn Images)
Michigan State's Ryan Eckley celebrates after a deep punt against Boston College during the fourth quarter on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Michigan State's Ryan Eckley, left, punts as Khris Bogle looks to block during the game against Prairie View A&M on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Michigan State's Ryan Eckley kicks during the opening day of MSU's football fall camp on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in East Lansing.
(Spartans Wire)
Michigan State's Ryan Eckley punts against Washington during the second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
(Spartans Wire)
Michigan State's Ryan Eckley kicks during the opening day of MSU's football fall camp on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in East Lansing.
(Spartans Wire)
Feb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ryan Eckley of Michigan State punts the ball during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
Feb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State place kicker Ryan Eckley (PK02) speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
Feb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ryan Eckley of Michigan State punts the ball during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
Feb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa place kicker Drew Stevens (PK04) kicks the ball out of the hold of Ryan Eckley of Michigan State during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
Feb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa place kicker Drew Stevens (PK04) kicks the ball out of the hold of Ryan Eckley of Michigan State during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
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Gallery: Photos of MSU football, Baltimore Ravens drafted punter Ryan Eckley
Ryan Eckley of the Michigan State Spartans punts the football in the second half against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sept. 20, 2025 in Los Angeles.
(Corine Solberg, Getty Images)
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Gallery: Photos of MSU football, Baltimore Ravens drafted punter Ryan Eckley
Ryan Eckley of the Michigan State Spartans punts the football in the second half against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sept. 20, 2025 in Los Angeles.
(Corine Solberg, Getty Images)
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Gallery: Photos of MSU football, Baltimore Ravens drafted punter Ryan Eckley
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA - OCTOBER 4: Jamir Conn #13 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers blocks the punt of Ryan Eckley #96 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Memorial Stadium on October 4, 2025 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
(Steven Branscombe, Getty Images)
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Gallery: Photos of MSU football, Baltimore Ravens drafted punter Ryan Eckley
Michigan State's Ryan Eckley punts the ball against Penn State during the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Gallery: Photos of MSU football, Baltimore Ravens drafted punter Ryan Eckley
Oct 25, 2025; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans punter Ryan Eckley (96) punts the ball against the Michigan Wolverines during the first half at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Mullin-Imagn Images
(Brendan Mullin, Brendan Mullin-Imagn Images)
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Gallery: Photos of MSU football, Baltimore Ravens drafted punter Ryan Eckley
Michigan State's Ryan Eckley celebrates after a deep punt against Boston College during the fourth quarter on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Gallery: Photos of MSU football, Baltimore Ravens drafted punter Ryan Eckley
Michigan State's Ryan Eckley, left, punts as Khris Bogle looks to block during the game against Prairie View A&M on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal, Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Gallery: Photos of MSU football, Baltimore Ravens drafted punter Ryan Eckley
Michigan State's Ryan Eckley kicks during the opening day of MSU's football fall camp on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in East Lansing.
(Spartans Wire)
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Gallery: Photos of MSU football, Baltimore Ravens drafted punter Ryan Eckley
Michigan State's Ryan Eckley punts against Washington during the second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
(Spartans Wire)
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Gallery: Photos of MSU football, Baltimore Ravens drafted punter Ryan Eckley
Michigan State's Ryan Eckley kicks during the opening day of MSU's football fall camp on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in East Lansing.
(Spartans Wire)
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Gallery: Photos of MSU football, Baltimore Ravens drafted punter Ryan Eckley
Feb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ryan Eckley of Michigan State punts the ball during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
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Gallery: Photos of MSU football, Baltimore Ravens drafted punter Ryan Eckley
Feb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State place kicker Ryan Eckley (PK02) speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
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Gallery: Photos of MSU football, Baltimore Ravens drafted punter Ryan Eckley
Feb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ryan Eckley of Michigan State punts the ball during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
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Gallery: Photos of MSU football, Baltimore Ravens drafted punter Ryan Eckley
Feb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa place kicker Drew Stevens (PK04) kicks the ball out of the hold of Ryan Eckley of Michigan State during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
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Gallery: Photos of MSU football, Baltimore Ravens drafted punter Ryan Eckley
Feb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa place kicker Drew Stevens (PK04) kicks the ball out of the hold of Ryan Eckley of Michigan State during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
Eckley was the 2025 Big Ten Punter of the Year, no easy feat in a conference known for some exceptional special teams units, and should have a long career in the NFL. He follows formerMSU punter Bryce Baringerto the NFL, as MSU is starting to earn a reputation for putting strong punters in the league.
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X, and like our page onFacebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster.
