Ryan Eckley took a gamble on entering the 2026 NFL Draft with a year of eligibility remaining. It paid off and continued Michigan State football's lineage of punters going pro.
Eckley was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in Round 6 on Saturday with the pick No. 212.
The selection of Eckley was the second this year for MSU, but only barely; teammate Matt Gulbin went to the Washington Commanders at pick No. 209. A Spartan has been picked in 85 of the 86 NFL drafts. MSU’s 80-year streak ended in 2021.
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After the Spartans’ 4-8 season finished, Eckley announced in December that he would forego his final year to enter the draft.
The 6-foot-2, 207-pound native of Lithia, Florida, arrived at MSU in 2022 and emerged as one of the nation’s best punters over the past two seasons under former coach Jonathan Smith. Eckley averaged 48.5 yards last season to rank first in the Big Ten and second among FBS-level punters. He moved into second place in MSU’s record book behind Bryce Baringer's 49-yard average in 2022 and ahead of Baringer's 48.4-yard average in 2021.
After taking over for Baringer in 2024, Eckley led the Big Ten at 47.9 yards per punt, which is tied for the fourth-best average in school history. He earned second-team All-Big Ten by coaches and third-team from media while booting 20 punts of at least 50 yards.
Eckley is the sixth MSU punter ever drafted, and second in the past four drafts. Baringer was a sixth-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2023 at pick No. 192 overall.
Ray Stachowicz in 1981 is MSU's highest-drafted punter (third round, 62nd overall pick), while Greg Montgomery went in the third round of the 1988 draft to Houston at pick No. 72. Ralf Mojsiejenko went in the fourth round and 96th overall pick in 1985.
Craig Jarrett in 2002 was taken in the sixth round with the 194th pick, while Brandon Fields went in the 2007 seventh round to Miami with the 225th overall pick.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football P Ryan Eckley goes to Ravens in 2026 NFL Draft