Photo by: John Peterson
Anderson Named Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year
Nov 30 | Football
Fifth-year senior led the Big Ten in punting average
PISCATAWAY, N.J. ā After previously being named First Team All-Big Ten in both the coaches' and media vote, Rutgers football fifth-year senior Ryan Anderson was honored as the Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year on Thursday. The individual award is the first earned by a Scarlet Knight since joining the conference.
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Anderson paced the league and ranked No. 13 nationally with an average of 44.4 yards per attempt to establish a single-season program record. A member of the Ray Guy Award watch list, he booted 27 attempts at least 50 yards and seven of 60 or more yards, including a 70-yard kick at Indiana that ranked as the fifth-longest in school history. Anderson also pinned 20 inside the 20-yard line and helped RU improve 82 spots in the national rankings in net punting from a season ago.
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Additionally, Anderson was first in Big Ten games with a 45.0 average. That included a 12-punt versus Purdue that helped RU control field position in a 14-12 victory.
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Anderson joined the Scarlet Knights as a graduate transfer from Division III Olivet College after starting his collegiate career at Division II Saginaw Valley State. A native of DeWitt, Michigan, he arrived at Rutgers this past summer.
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"My first positive impression was meeting Chris Ash and his coaching staff," Anderson said in an interview earlier this season. "Everyone has a program to sell, but I looked at them as human beings rather than a selling pitch, and I was sold right away. They were straightforward and honest, and spoke about the support the community and school provides. The facilities here were a cherry on top, but I came here for the people."
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Anderson is working on a master's degree in communication and information studies with a concentration in strategic organizational communication as a graduate student at Rutgers. He previously earned his bachelor's degree in May 2017 with a 4.0 GPA at Olivet College as a business administration major with a management concentration and a minor in sports/recreation management. An Academic All-District II First Team selection, he is up for CoSIDA Academic All-America status, which recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performance on the field and in the classroom.
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The top punter in the Big Ten has been awarded the Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year since 2011. It is named for Illinois' Dike Eddleman (1946-48) and Michigan State's Brandon Fields (2003-06).
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Under the direction of head coach Chris Ash, Rutgers doubled its win total in 2017 and won three Big Ten games to match its high since joining the conference.
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Rutgers Football Big Ten Honors
Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year/First Team (Coaches & Media): P Ryan Anderson
Honorable Mention Coaches: OL Tariq Cole, RB Gus Edwards, DB Kiy Hester, DL Sebastian Joseph, OL Dorian Miller
Honorable Mention Media: OL Tariq Cole, DB Damon Hayes, DB Kiy Hester, OL Dorian Miller, LB Trevor Morris
Sportsmanship Award: DL Sebastian Joseph
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Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding football, follow the program on Twitter @RFootball.
Ā
Anderson paced the league and ranked No. 13 nationally with an average of 44.4 yards per attempt to establish a single-season program record. A member of the Ray Guy Award watch list, he booted 27 attempts at least 50 yards and seven of 60 or more yards, including a 70-yard kick at Indiana that ranked as the fifth-longest in school history. Anderson also pinned 20 inside the 20-yard line and helped RU improve 82 spots in the national rankings in net punting from a season ago.
Ā
Additionally, Anderson was first in Big Ten games with a 45.0 average. That included a 12-punt versus Purdue that helped RU control field position in a 14-12 victory.
Ā
Anderson joined the Scarlet Knights as a graduate transfer from Division III Olivet College after starting his collegiate career at Division II Saginaw Valley State. A native of DeWitt, Michigan, he arrived at Rutgers this past summer.
Ā
"My first positive impression was meeting Chris Ash and his coaching staff," Anderson said in an interview earlier this season. "Everyone has a program to sell, but I looked at them as human beings rather than a selling pitch, and I was sold right away. They were straightforward and honest, and spoke about the support the community and school provides. The facilities here were a cherry on top, but I came here for the people."
Ā
Anderson is working on a master's degree in communication and information studies with a concentration in strategic organizational communication as a graduate student at Rutgers. He previously earned his bachelor's degree in May 2017 with a 4.0 GPA at Olivet College as a business administration major with a management concentration and a minor in sports/recreation management. An Academic All-District II First Team selection, he is up for CoSIDA Academic All-America status, which recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performance on the field and in the classroom.
Ā
The top punter in the Big Ten has been awarded the Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year since 2011. It is named for Illinois' Dike Eddleman (1946-48) and Michigan State's Brandon Fields (2003-06).
Ā
Under the direction of head coach Chris Ash, Rutgers doubled its win total in 2017 and won three Big Ten games to match its high since joining the conference.
Ā
Rutgers Football Big Ten Honors
Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year/First Team (Coaches & Media): P Ryan Anderson
Honorable Mention Coaches: OL Tariq Cole, RB Gus Edwards, DB Kiy Hester, DL Sebastian Joseph, OL Dorian Miller
Honorable Mention Media: OL Tariq Cole, DB Damon Hayes, DB Kiy Hester, OL Dorian Miller, LB Trevor Morris
Sportsmanship Award: DL Sebastian Joseph
Ā
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding football, follow the program on Twitter @RFootball.
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