Once again, Michigan State proved to be “Punter U” on Saturday afternoon as yet another Spartan punter was drafted in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Ryan Eckley was selected in the sixth round by the Baltimore Ravens, just two picks after Matt Gulbin went to the Washington Commanders. Two Spartans went in three picks in the sixth round on Saturday afternoon after not having a single player selected in the first five rounds.
It wasn’t the most successful draft for Michigan State, but it extended the streak to five years after that 80-year streak was snapped in 2021 a year after Mel Tucker took over.
However, if you’re an elite punter, how are you not committing to Michigan State at this point?
While it’s clearly not coach-specific, Michigan State has found a way to produce elite punters year after year and this cycle was no different with Eckley going to the Ravens. With the selection, Michigan State now ties Tennessee as the schools with the most punters selected in NFL drafts all time. The Spartans have also had four punters drafted since the 2002 class.
It started with Craig Jarrett going to the Seattle Seahawks in the 2002 NFL Draft followed by Brandon Fields getting selected by the Miami Dolphins in 2007. In 2023, Bryce Baringer was selected in the sixth round by the New England Patriots and Eckley followed in those footsteps this season by going No. 211 overall to the Ravens.
Out of those four Michigan State punters who’ve been drafted since 2002, Eckley was drafted third-highest. Both Jarrett and Baringer were selected in the top 200.
We also can’t forget the late great Mike Sadler who was also an All-American.
I think we can officially call Michigan State ‘Punter U’ after the 2026 NFL Draft.
Rhys Dakin has some big shoes to fill
Michigan State has now had two straight punters selected in the NFL draft as Baringer went in 2023 and his replacement, Eckley, was selected on Saturday.
New Spartan punter Rhys Dakin probably feels the pressure of filling some massive shoes and also not becoming the punter that breaks the draft streak. Having two straight punters drafted is impressive, but Dakin will attempt to make it three after transferring to Michigan State from Iowa.
Dakin had a solid first two seasons at Iowa, averaging over 43 yards per punt and downing 47-of-106 career kicks inside the 20. Having a punter who played for a program that glorifies the position and who’s following his special teams coach to East Lansing should play into the ‘Punter U’ narrative.
Following Eckley won’t be easy, but Dakin has the leg to be the next Spartan punter drafted in two years. If that happens, Michigan State will be alone atop college football programs with the most punters selected all time (7).
Let’s revisit this in two years. For now, I think the ‘Punter U’ label is safe.
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