Ryan Eckley Chosen by Baltimore in Sixth Round of NFL Draft

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State All-American punter Ryan Eckley, the 2025 Big Ten Punter of the Year, was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round (No. 211 overall) of the NFL Draft on Saturday.

Just two picks earlier on Saturday, Spartan center Matt Gulbin was picked by the Washington Commanders in the sixth round (No. 209 overall).

Eckley becomes the seventh Spartan punter to be drafted in school history (1981: Ray Stachowicz, Packers, third round; 1985: Ralf Mojsiejenko, San Diego, fourth round; 1988: Greg Montgomery, Oilers, third round; 2002: Craig Jarrett, Seahawks, sixth round; 2007: Brandon Fields, Dolphins, seventh round; 2023: Bryce Baringer, Patriots, sixth round).

A native of Lithia, Florida, Eckley led the FBS in punting as a redshirt junior in 2025 with his career-high 48.5-yard average, which also ranked second best in an MSU single-season. He was named a second-team All-American by ESPN and the AFCA (American Football Coaches Association), and earned third-team honors from the AP. Eckley became the second Spartan to be named the Big Ten Punter of the Year and was also a first-team All-Big Ten honoree by the coaches, media, AP and USA TODAY.

He led the Big Ten with 23 punts of 50-plus yards and ranked third 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).

Eckley also led the Big Ten in punting in 2024 (47.9-yard average) to earn second-team all-conference honors. He was a Freshman All-American in 2023 after averaging 46.7 yards per punt, including 24 of 50-plus yards and 23 inside the 20.

Following his record-breaking 2025 season, Eckley announced that he was forgoing his senior season and entering the 2026 NFL Draft. He competed at the Senior Bowl in January and was invited to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.