Valparaiso University football redshirt freshman Ryan Ricketti (Ricky Rover, Ohio / Rocky River) was recognized as the Pioneer Football League Special Teams Player of the Week for his big day in the return game on Saturday vs. PFL preseason favorite San Diego.
 
Ricketti totaled 198 kickoff return yards on four returns including his second 100-yard kickoff return touchdown of the season. He finished with 256 all-purpose yards, the 13th most nationally in a single game this season as part of a day that also included a team-high six catches for 58 yards, with the six receptions marking a career best. He became the second different Valpo player in program history with multiple kickoff return touchdowns in a season and the third time total that feat has occurred (Bailey Gessinger in both 2016 and 2018).
 
Ricketti became the first FCS player nationally with multiple 100-yard kickoff return touchdowns in the same season since 2022. He is the only player in FCS with multiple 100-yard kickoff returns this season and one of two players in all of Division-I, joining Notre Dame's Abraham Williams. His 198 kickoff return yards are the most of any player nationally in FCS this season and the second most in all of Division-I in a single game this season (Western Michigan's Devin Miles, 218).
 
Ricketti ranks third in the nation and leads the PFL with 681 combined kick return yards and ranks fifth in FCS in kickoff return average at 30.4. He is one of four players nationally in FCS with multiple kickoff return touchdowns this season.
 
The Valpo return specialist was previously recognized with Honorable Mention FCS Special Teams Player of the Week and tabbed the PFL's top freshman for his Week-4 performance, which featured a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown against Western Illinois. This marks the team's second PFL weekly award this season and first since Week 1, when Gabriel Batres earned the defensive nod.
 
The Beacons will host Stetson for Senior Day on Saturday at noon. For ticket information, visit tickets.valpoathletics.com.