Ryan Switzer (2017) - Patterson Medal Winners - University of North Carolina Athletics

Ryan Switzer

Induction:
2017
Class:
2017

2017— Ryan Switzer: Football (Charleston, W.Va.)
Earned All-America and All-ACC honors as both a kick returner and wide receiver.

He set Carolina career records for receptions (244), receiving yards (2,907), punt return yards (1,082) and punt returns for touchdowns (7) and set the single-season school record in 2016 with 96 catches. Switzer was the ACC record-holder and was second in NCAA history in punt returns for touchdowns with seven. He set the single-season NCAA record with five punt returns for scores in 2013.

Switzer joined an illustrious list of Carolina football players who earned multiple first-team All-America honors – three-time honoree Dre’ Bly and two-time recipients Paul Severin, Charlie Justice, Art Weiner, Dave Drechsler, William Fuller and Julius Peppers.

Switzer joined Bly, Fuller, Pat Crowley and Greg Ellis as the only three-time first-team All-ACC honorees in UNC football history.

Switzer earned first-team All-America honors as a punt returner/specialist in 2013 and as an all-purpose player in 2015. He was first-team All-ACC as a specialist as a freshman and junior and wide receiver as a senior. He helped the Tar Heels win 19 games over the last two seasons. UNC won the ACC’s Coastal Division title in 2015 and played in post-season bowl games in each of his four seasons.

The Dallas Cowboys selected the Charleston, W. Va., native in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He played five seasons in the NFL.