Ryan Rehkow
{{Short description|American football player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Ryan Rehkow
| currentteam = Cincinnati Bengals
| number = 8
| position = Punter
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|9|11|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Veradale, Washington, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lb = 235
| high_school = Central Valley
(Spokane Valley, Washington)
| college = BYU (2020–2023)
| undraftedyear = 2024
| pastteams =
- Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2024}})*
- Cincinnati Bengals ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (2024)
- First-team All-Big 12 (2023)
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Punts
| statvalue1 = 53
| statlabel2 = Punting yards
| statvalue2 = 2,603
| statlabel3 = Average punt
| statvalue3 = 49.1
| statlabel4 = Longest punt
| statvalue4 = 80
| statlabel5 = Inside 20
| statvalue5 = 25
| pfr = RehkRy00
}}
Ryan Rehkow ({{Respell|REE|koh}}; born September 11, 1998) is an American professional football punter for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the BYU Cougars and was signed in 2024 by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent.
Early life
Rehkow grew up in Veradale, Washington and attended Central Valley High School where he lettered in football and basketball. Coming out of high school, Rehkow decided to commit to play college football for the BYU Cougars.{{cite web |last1=McDonald |first1=Ryan |title=BYU football receives commitment from Washington punter Ryan Rehkow |url=https://www.deseret.com/2016/8/2/20593139/byu-football-receives-commitment-from-washington-punter-ryan-rehkow |website=Deseret News |date=2 August 2016 |access-date=9 March 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Greg |title=Youth notebook: Rehkow commits to BYU |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/aug/08/youth-notebook-rehkow-commits-to-byu/ |website=The Spokesman-Review |date=8 August 2016 |access-date=9 March 2024}}
College career
Rehkow made his first punt in week one of the 2020 season against Navy which traveled 56 yards.{{cite web |last1=Drew |first1=Jay |title=Why BYU's new punter has to convince classmates he's not a tight end or a linebacker |url=https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/10/14/21515227/byu-football-houston-football-ryan-rehkow-ed-lamb-byu-kicker-lds-mormon-austin-rehkow-idaho-football/ |website=Deseret News |date=14 October 2020 |access-date=9 March 2024}} Rehkow finished the 2020 season punting 28 times for an average of 45.1 yards per punt and a rush for 49 yards.{{cite web |title=Ryan Rehkow 2020 Game Logs |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/ryan-rehkow-1/gamelog/2020/ |website=Sports Reference |access-date=9 March 2024}} In week three of the 2021 season, Rehkow set a BYU school record with an 83-yard punt versus Arizona State.{{cite web |last1=Gonzalez |first1=Norma |title=Punter Ryan Rehkow has etched his name into BYU's record book, but the Cougar offense hopes to keep him off the field |url=https://www.sltrib.com/sports/byu-cougars/2021/09/24/punter-ryan-rehkow-has/ |website=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=24 September 2021 |access-date=9 March 2024}} In the 2021 season, Rehkow punted 40 times for an average of 48.6 yards per punt, as he was on the Ray Guy Award watch list throughout the season.{{cite web |last1=Drew |first1=Jay |title='Unfinished business': Why Ryan Rehkow returned for 2023 season despite graduating last spring |url=https://www.deseret.com/2023/7/18/23797520/byu-punter-ryan-rehkow-returned-for-2023-season-despite-graduating-degree-big-12/ |website=Desert News |date=18 July 2023 |access-date=9 March 2024}} For his performance on the 2021 season, Rehkow was named the Pro Football Network independent punter of the year.{{cite web |last1=Drew |first1=Jay |title=Specialists Jake Oldroyd and Ryan Rehkow on their goals for 2022 season, prospects of returning in 2023 |url=https://www.deseret.com/2022/7/19/23268432/byu-football-kicker-jake-oldroyd-punter-ryan-rehkow-among-best-specialists-in-the-country/ |website=Deseret News |date=19 July 2022 |access-date=9 March 2024}} During the 2022 season, Rehkow punted 40 times for an average of 46.2 yards per punt and a long of 71.{{cite web |last1=Hunt |first1=Stephen |title=Central Valley grad Ryan Rehkow soaks in experience of Big 12 media days as member of BYU |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/jul/27/central-valley-grad-ryan-rehkow-soaks-in-experienc/ |website=The Spokesman-Review |date=27 July 2023 |access-date=9 March 2024}} In the 2023 season opener, Rehkow was named the co-Big 12 special team player of the week after punting nine times for an average of 53.2 yards, a long of 65, and four punts inside the 20-yard line, as he helped the Cougars to a 14-0 win over Sam Houston.{{cite web |last1=Harper |first1=Mitch |title=BYU Punter Ryan Rehkow Earns Big 12 Player Of The Week |url=https://kslsports.com/504427/byu-football-ryan-rehkow-big-12-player-of-the-week-sam-houston/ |website=KSL Sports |date=September 4, 2023 |access-date=9 March 2024}} During the 2023 season Rehkow punted 68 times for an average 48.3 yards, where for his performance on the season he was named second team all Big-12.{{cite web |last1=Payne |first1=Jackson |title=What Ryan Rehkow shared about being a missionary at NFL combine |url=https://www.deseret.com/sports/2024/03/03/ryan-rehkow-talks-lds-mission-nfl-combine/ |website=Desert News |date=3 March 2024 |access-date=9 March 2024}} After the conclusion of the 2023 season, Rehkow declared for the 2024 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Harper |first=Mitch |date=December 18, 2023 |title=BYU Punter Ryan Rehkow Declares For 2024 NFL Draft |url=https://kslsports.com/508962/ryan-rehkow-nfl-draft-byu-football-declares-punter/ |access-date=9 March 2024 |website=KSL Sports}}{{cite web |last1=Payne |first1=Jackson |title=This BYU all-conference talent is declaring for the NFL draft |url=https://www.deseret.com/2023/12/18/24007110/ryan-rehkow-declares-for-nfl-draft-byu/ |website=Deseret News |date=18 December 2023 |access-date=9 March 2024}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 4 3/8
| weight = 235
| arm span = 31 1/4
| hand span = 8 7/8
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/ryan-rehkow/32005245-4844-4793-9ffa-076d3440baa3 |title=Ryan Rehkow Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 28, 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1051897&DraftYear=2024 |title=2024 NFL Draft Scout Ryan Rehkow College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=March 28, 2024}}
}}
=Kansas City Chiefs=
Rehkow was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent after the 2024 NFL draft.{{cite web|title=Chiefs Announce Roster Moves|url=https://www.chiefs.com/news/chiefs-announce-roster-moves-x9527|website=Chiefs.com|date=May 4, 2024}} Rehkow was released by the Chiefs on June 13, 2024.https://x.com/AaronWilson_NFL/status/1801318610087879071
=Cincinnati Bengals=
On July 26, 2024, Rehkow signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.{{cite web |title=Bengals Sign Three Free Agents |url=https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-sign-three-free-agents |website=bengals.com |access-date=27 July 2024}} Rehkow, an undrafted rookie free agent, won the starting punter job and made the Bengals' 53 man roster. In his professional debut on September 8, Rehkow set the NFL record for gross punt average in a game, with a 64.5 yard average on four punts, breaking the previous mark of 63.6 set by AJ Cole III in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Morrison |first=Jay |date=2024-09-09 |title=Bengals Rookie Punter Bombs Away To Take Lead in Ongoing Battle |url=https://www.profootballnetwork.com/bengals-rookie-punter-ryan-rehkow-states-starting-case-week-1-2024/ |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=Pro Football Network}} Furthermore, Rehkow's long of 80 yards in his debut was the longest punt in Bengals franchise history.{{cite web | last=Clark | first=Dave | title=Ryan Rehkow's 80-yard punt in first NFL game is longest in Cincinnati Bengals history | website=Cincinnati Enquirer | date=2024-09-08 | url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2024/09/08/ryan-rehkow-80-yard-punt-first-nfl-game-longest-cincinnati-bengals-history/69830344007/ | access-date=2024-10-08}} He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.{{cite web | last=Marcum | first=Jason | title=Ryan Rehkow named to PFWA All-Rookie Team after breaking multiple Bengals records | website=Cincy Jungle |publisher=SB Nation| date=2025-01-21 | url=https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/1/21/24348963/ryan-rehkow-pfwa-all-rookie-team-bengals-punting-records | access-date=2025-04-04}}
On February 18, 2025, Rehkow and the Bengals agreed to a two-year contract extension.{{Cite web|title=Cincinnati Bengals announce extension with punter Ryan Rehkow|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2025/02/18/cincinnati-bengals-contract-extension-ryan-rehkow/79075240007/|access-date=February 18, 2025|website=cincinnati.com|language=en}}
Personal life
Rehkow is the younger brother of former NFL kicker, Austin Rehkow.{{cite web |last1=Greene |first1=Brenna |title='It's a dream come true': Central Valley's Ryan Rehkow thriving as BYU's punter |url=https://www.krem.com/article/sports/high-school/hs-football/its-a-dream-come-true-central-valleys-ryan-rehkow-thriving-as-byus-punter/293-c046b5b8-6507-481e-8f40-0f558a883cc8 |website=KREM.com |date=26 October 2020 |access-date=9 March 2024}}{{cite magazine |last1=Miller |first1=Lucas |title=BYU's Ryan Rehkow Is an Elite-Level Punter |url=https://www.si.com/college/byu/football/this-byu-standout-does-his-job-better-than-most-spoiler-its-the-punter |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=22 October 2021 |access-date=9 March 2024}} His youngest brother, Cameron Tyler Rehkow, had leukemia at the age of 11.{{cite web |date=12 Nov 2016 |title=NCAA Football Team Cheers Up LDS Boy with Cancer in Sweetest of Ways |website=ldsliving.com |url=https://www.ldsliving.com/ncaa-football-team-cheers-up-lds-boy-with-cancer-in-sweetest-of-ways/s/83682 |access-date=12 Oct 2024 }} He married his wife Hadlee in 2022.{{cite web | last=Drew | first=Jay | title=NFL draft: Here's what BYU punter Ryan Rehkow is expecting on Saturday when the NFL draft reaches its later rounds | website=Deseret News | date=2024-04-25 | url=https://www.deseret.com/sports/2024/04/25/byu-football-ryan-rehkow-punter-nfl-draft-prospect-2024/ | access-date=2024-07-30}}
Rehkow is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,{{cite web | last=Toone | first=Trent | title=2 Latter-day Saint Returned Missionaries Selected in NFL Draft | website=Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints | date=2024-04-30 | url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/2-latter-day-saint-returned-missionaries-selected-in-nfl-draft | access-date=2024-11-03}} and he served a mission for the church in London, England, United Kingdom of Great Britain.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.bengals.com/team/players-roster/ryan-rehkow/ Cincinnati Bengals bio]
- [https://byucougars.com/athlete/football/1292667/ryan-rehkow BYU Cougars bio]
{{Cincinnati Bengals roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rehkow, Ryan}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Players of American football from Spokane County, Washington
Category:American football punters
Category:BYU Cougars football players