18   Ryan Neir
	Class: RS Senior Hometown: Roscoe, IL High School: Hononegah Height / Weight: 6-3 / 208 Position: P Experience: 1L

2011: The Huskies' starting punter and holder for all placekicks. Punted 62 times for a 35.7 average, placing 19 inside the opponent's 20-yard line. Forced opponents to call a fair catch on 36 of his 62 punts. Only two punts were returned for positive yardage during the season. Did not have any punts blocked. Launched four 50-plus-yard punts on the year. Averaged 35 yards or more in eight games. Won the team Scholar-Athlete Award with the top undergraduate GPA on the squad. Had a career day with nine punts for a 34.9-yard average against Wisconsin (9-17), placing three inside the 20 and garnering NIU Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Averaged a career-best 41.2-yards on eight punts at Buffalo (10-22) to get Special Teams Player of the Week recognition. Kicked seven times for 252 yards against Eastern Michigan (11-25) to average 36 yards, earning his third Special Teams Player of the Week honor. Placed a career-long 54-yard punt at the Eagles' one-yard line, which resulted in a safety on the next play, and had a 51-yarder later in the game. Punted five times for a 39.2-yard average in the MAC Championship game versus Ohio (12-2) and placed two kicks inside the 20. Holder for the last-second, game-winning field goal to win the MAC. Completed a four-yard shovel pass on a fake field goal against Arkansas State (1-8) to give NIU a key first down. Punted in every game except the Western Michigan (10-15) contest.

2010: Did not get into any game action as a back-up to starter Josh Wilber.

2009: Redshirted

2008: Did not see any action as reserve punter.

High School: Punted 47 times for 1,603 yards in his two-year varsity career. Won the George Kelsey Award as the most outstanding senior athlete at Hononegah. Named the special teams MVP his senior year. As a wide receiver, caught seven passes for 81 yards. Three-year varsity letterman in tennis where he was first team all conference and team MVP as a junior. Also a two-year varsity letterman in basketball. Helped the tennis team set school record for most wins in a season at 28-3 his senior year.

Personal: Son of Dan and Peg Neir. Born October 29, 1989 in Waterloo, Iowa. Majoring in finance. Victory Scholar holds a 4.0 GPA. Enjoys playing tennis and golf. Fan of Rafael Nadal and Tiger Woods.