Michigan State’s Ryan Eckley Heads to Senior Bowl with Record-Setting Resume and NFL Dreams
EAST LANSING, Mich. - When it comes to flipping the field, few in college football have done it better than Michigan State’s Ryan Eckley. The 2025 Big Ten Punter of the Year is heading to Mobile, Alabama, this week to showcase his leg - and his NFL potential - at the Panini Senior Bowl.
Eckley will suit up for the National team at the 77th edition of the Senior Bowl, with practices running Tuesday through Thursday and the game kicking off Saturday, Jan. 31, at 2:30 p.m. ET from Hancock Whitney Stadium. The NFL Network will have wall-to-wall coverage throughout the week, giving scouts and fans alike a front-row seat to one of the most important pre-draft stages in the game.
For Eckley, it’s another milestone in a career that’s already etched into the Michigan State record books. He becomes the 90th Spartan to earn an invite to the Senior Bowl, joining a long line of MSU greats who’ve used the week in Mobile as a springboard to the NFL.
A Record-Breaking Career in East Lansing
Eckley didn’t just lead the nation in punting average in 2025 - he redefined what elite punting looks like. His 48.5-yard average as a redshirt junior not only topped the FBS but also stood as the second-best single-season mark in Michigan State history. That kind of consistency and field-flipping power earned him second-team All-America honors from ESPN and the AFCA, along with third-team recognition from the Associated Press.
He also made history in the Big Ten. Eckley became just the second Spartan ever to be named Big Ten Punter of the Year and was a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection, earning nods from the coaches, media, AP, and USA TODAY.
His combination of distance and placement was unmatched - 23 of his punts traveled 50 yards or more, and 20 were pinned inside the 20-yard line. Ten of those landed inside the 10, and four were downed at the 1-yard line.
That’s not just good punting - that’s game-changing special teams play.
His performance in the double-overtime win over Boston College in Week 2 turned heads nationwide. Eckley averaged a staggering 54.7 yards per punt that day, with all three attempts landing inside the 20 and two of them stopping at the 1. That earned him the Ray Guy Award’s National Punter of the Week - and likely a few more looks from NFL scouts.
By the end of his Spartan career, Eckley had done more than just rack up stats - he’d rewritten the record books. His career average of 47.6 yards per punt now stands as the best in Michigan State history, surpassing former standout Bryce Baringer (46.0). It’s also the top mark in Big Ten history, eclipsing Iowa’s Tory Taylor (46.3 from 2020-23).
And the dominance didn’t start in 2025. Eckley led the Big Ten in punting in 2024 with a 47.9-yard average, earning second-team all-conference honors. As a freshman in 2023, he burst onto the scene with a 46.7-yard average, 24 punts of 50-plus yards, and 23 downed inside the 20 - strong enough for Freshman All-American recognition.
From Florida to the NFL Draft
A native of Lithia, Florida, Eckley announced after the 2025 season that he would forgo his final year of eligibility and declare for the 2026 NFL Draft. It’s a move that makes sense for a player who’s done just about everything you can do at the college level. Now, it’s about proving to NFL teams that his elite production can translate to the next level.
The Senior Bowl: Where Draft Stock Rises
The Senior Bowl isn’t just another all-star game - it’s the first true step in the NFL Draft process. For more than seven decades, the event has served as a proving ground for top prospects, drawing over 900 NFL personnel and scouts each year.
In 2025 alone, 106 Senior Bowl alumni were selected in the NFL Draft - 40 percent of all picks. And when the NFL season kicked off, 561 former participants were on active 53-man rosters.
The numbers speak for themselves: the Senior Bowl is where college stars become draft risers. And for a specialist like Eckley, who doesn’t always get the same spotlight as skill position players, this week is golden. It’s a chance to show off his hang time, directional accuracy, and consistency under pressure - all while working directly with NFL coaching staffs.
A Spartan Legacy in Mobile
Eckley joins a long list of Spartans who’ve made the trip to Mobile over the years. From Hall of Famers like Morten Andersen to NFL starters like Kirk Cousins and Connor Heyward, Michigan State has a deep Senior Bowl legacy. Now, Eckley becomes the latest name etched into that tradition.
And if his college career is any indication, he’s not just there to participate - he’s there to impress.
The countdown to the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh is on. For Ryan Eckley, the road to the pros runs through Mobile - and he’s bringing one of the biggest legs in college football with him.