Ryan Lankford
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1991)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Ryan Lankford
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team =
| number = 84, 85
| position = Wide receiver / Return specialist
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|12|9}}
| birth_place = Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lbs = 176
| high_school = Jacksonville (FL) Paxon
| college = Illinois
| undraftedyear = 2014
| pastteams =
- Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2014}})*
- Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2014}}–{{NFL Year|2015}})*
- Saskatchewan Roughriders ({{CFL Year|2015}}–{{CFL Year|2016}})
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers ({{CFL Year|2017}}–{{CFL Year|2018}})
- Ottawa Redblacks ({{CFL Year|2019}})
- BC Lions ({{CFL Year|2019}})
| status =
| cflstatus = International
| cfl = ryan-lankford/160891/
}}
Ryan Lankford (born December 9, 1991){{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/ryanlankford/2550492/profile|title=Ryan Lankford, WR for the Indianapolis Colts|work=NFL.com|accessdate=March 11, 2015}} is a former Canadian football wide receiver. He played college football for Illinois and signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He has been a member of the Indianapolis Colts, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Ottawa Redblacks, and BC Lions.
High school and college
Lankford played wide receiver, defensive back, kicker, punter, and also served as a kickoff and punt returner for Paxon School for Advanced Studies. He also lettered in track and field.{{cite web|url=http://www.colts.com/team/roster/Ryan-Lankford/f29b6031-43f1-4044-8746-63210778d443|title=Indianapolis Colts: Ryan Lankford|work=colts.com|accessdate=March 11, 2015}} Lankford then attended the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, where he played 43 games and recorded 70 receptions for 1,014 receiving yards. He also played as a punter, averaging 39.4 yards on 19 punts. As a junior in 2012, Lankford led the team in receiving yards (469) and touchdowns (5).
Professional career
= Miami Dolphins =
After going undrafted in 2014 Lankford signed with the Miami Dolphins on May 11, 2014, and was waived four days later.{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2014-05-15/sports/sfl-dolphins-sign-ryan-lankford-son-of-exdolphins-star-paul-lankford-20140511_1_ex-dolphins-miami-dolphins-son|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402103206/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2014-05-15/sports/sfl-dolphins-sign-ryan-lankford-son-of-exdolphins-star-paul-lankford-20140511_1_ex-dolphins-miami-dolphins-son|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 2, 2015|title=Dolphins release Ryan Lankford, son of ex-Dolphins CB Paul Lankford|last=Lerner|first=Keven|work=Sun Sentinel|date=May 15, 2014|access-date=March 11, 2015}}
= Indianapolis Colts =
On May 18, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts.{{cite web|url=http://www.profootballrumors.com/bears-release-drew-butler/|title=Minor Moves: Sunday|last=Parks|first=Rory|work=profootballrumors.com|date=May 18, 2014|accessdate=March 11, 2015}} He was waived on August 30, and resigned to the practice squad on September 1. On January 19, 2015, he signed a reserve/future contract with the Colts. He was released by the Colts on August 31, 2016.{{Cite news|url=http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2015/08/31/indianapolis-colts-donald-thomas-pup-cut-release-injury-offensive-line/71448476/|title=Oft-injured Donald Thomas among first wave of Colts cuts|newspaper=Indianapolis Star|language=en|access-date=2017-01-24}}
= Saskatchewan Roughriders =
Lankford signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on November 7, 2015.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cfl.ca/transactions-2015/|title=Transactions – 2015 – CFL.ca|newspaper=CFL.ca|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-24|archive-date=2016-02-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222041205/http://www.cfl.ca/transactions-2015/|url-status=dead}} He played in one game during their 2015 season. In his second season in the CFL Lankford saw more playing time, playing in 9 games, catching 19 passes for 165 yards. Despite the increased play time he was on, and off the practice roster multiple times during the season, and was ultimately released on October 25, 2016.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/new-mosaic-stadium-durant-oct-25-2016-1.3821578|title=New Mosaic Stadium: 'The house that Durant built?'|newspaper=CBC News|language=en|access-date=2017-01-24}}
= Winnipeg Blue Bombers =
On January 24, 2017, Lankford signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL).{{Cite news|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/3200459/winnipeg-blue-bombers-sign-three-internationals/|title=Winnipeg Blue Bombers sign three internationals|last=Hobson|first=Russ|newspaper=Global News|language=en|access-date=2017-01-24}}
= Ottawa Redblacks =
Lankford signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on February 13, 2019, at the start of free agency.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2019/02/13/redblacks-sign-trio-free-agents/|title=REDBLACKS sign trio of free agents|date=2019-02-13|website=Ottawa REDBLACKS|language=en|access-date=2019-07-15}} He played in three of the first four games of the season for Ottawa, but made a costly error on a punt return in Week 4 which lead to being dismissed from the team.{{Cite web|url=https://3downnation.com/2019/07/08/redblacks-release-ryan-lankford-after-return-gaffe/|title=Redblacks release Ryan Lankford after return gaffe {{!}} 3DownNation|last=Staff|first=3Down|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-15}}
= BC Lions =
On July 15, 2019, it was announced that Lankford had signed with the BC Lions.{{cite news|url=https://www.bclions.com/2019/07/15/lions-sign-wide-receiver-returner-ryan-lankford/|title=Lions Sign Wide Receiver/Returner Ryan Lankford|date=July 15, 2019}}
Personal
Lankford's father, Paul, played cornerback for the Miami Dolphins from 1982 to 1991.
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.bclions.com/players/ryan-lankford/160891/ BC Lions profile]
- [http://www.colts.com/team/roster/Ryan-Lankford/f29b6031-43f1-4044-8746-63210778d443 Ryan Lankford profile at Colts.com]
- [http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/lankford_ryan00.html Ryan Lankford at FightingIllini.com]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lankford, Ryan}}
Category:Players of American football from Jacksonville, Florida
Category:Paxon School for Advanced Studies alumni
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Canadian football wide receivers
Category:Players of Canadian football from Jacksonville, Florida
Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football players
Category:Miami Dolphins players
Category:Indianapolis Colts players
Category:Saskatchewan Roughriders players
Category:Winnipeg Blue Bombers players
Category:Canadian football return specialists