Valparaiso University football redshirt freshman Ryan Ricketti (Rocky River, Ohio / Rocky River) was recognized for his big day on special teams in the team's game at FCS, scholarship foe Western Illinois on Saturday night.
 
While the Pioneer Football League does not officially recognize a Freshman of the Week, he was tabbed the league's top freshman for Week 3 and nominated by the league office for national Freshman of the Week honors. In addition, Ricketti was named Honorable Mention for FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week by STATS Perform.
 
Ricketti became the first FCS player with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown this season, part of a day where he had 149 kickoff return yards on three returns in Saturday's game at FCS scholarship opponent Western Illinois. Ricketti is just the third Division-I player (FBS and FCS) in the nation with a 100-yard kick return touchdown this season, joining Virginia's Cam Ross and Kent State's De'Realyst Clark. He became the first Valpo player with a kickoff return touchdown since Ollie Reese on Oct. 12, 2019 vs. Dayton (95 yards).
 
This was Valpo's longest kickoff return in over two decades. Currently, the longest possible credited kickoff return under NCAA rules is 100 yards. The Valpo record is 103 by Don Koehm on Nov. 8, 1947 vs. Wheaton. Ricketti currently leads the nation with a kickoff return average of 49.2.