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. – 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.
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.
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.
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.
"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."
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.
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).
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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."
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.
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).
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.
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
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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