Western Michigan University Athletics

CAREER: Lettered four seasons (2016-17-18-19) … one of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award in 2019, presented annually to the top tight end in the country … third team All-Mid-American Conference honoree in 2018 and a first-team pick in 2019 … four-time Academic All-MAC selection … in 45 career games (21 starts), caught 98 passes for 1,114 yards (11.37) and 11 touchdowns ... finished with 2+ receptions in 21 games including a career-high eight at Syracuse in 2019 ... reached 20+ receiving yards in 22 games including a personal-best 105 at Syracuse in 2019 ... totaled 50+ receiving yards in 10 contests … career-long reception of 47 yards came against Delaware State in 2018 ... ended the 2019 campaign tied for third nationally among tight ends with eight TDs … received the Iron Bronco Award in 2019 for having played the most snaps during the regular season … transitioned from wide receiver to tight end during the spring of 2018 … represented the Broncos at the East-West Shrine Bowl in St. Petersburg, Fla., in January, 2020.
 
2019: One of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award, presented annually to the top tight end in collegiate football … first team All-MAC and an Academic All-MAC selection … received the program’s Iron Bronco Award for having played the most snaps during the regular season … started all 13 games … caught 51 passes for 642 yards (12.59) and eight TDs ... tied for the team lead in receptions and finished second on the squad in receiving yards … tied for the lead in the MAC, and 40th nationally, in receiving touchdowns … among tight ends nationally, tied for third in receiving TDs … caught two TD passes versus Monmouth and Ohio and had one score against Michigan State, Syracuse, Central Michigan and Toledo … had 2+ receptions in 11 games and 4+ receptions in eight games with a personal-best eight grabs at Syracuse … also had a career-best 105 receiving yards versus the Orange ... season-long catch covered 43 yards versus Central Michigan ... started year with five catches for 97 yards and two TDs versus Monmouth … finished two games against Power 5 opponents (Michigan State & Syracuse) with 14 receptions for 158 yards and two TDs … helped WMU to an overtime victory at Ohio with four receptions for 27 yards and two touchdowns … on the field for 981 snaps.
 
2018: Third team All-MAC … Academic All-MAC … played in 12 games, missing only the Georgia State game, with three starting assignments ... caught 35 passes for 392 yards (11.20) and three TDs ... finished third on the team in receptions and receiving yards … had 2+ receptions in seven games including a season-high seven versus Bowling Green and Ball State ... finished with 30+ receiving yards in seven contests … turned in a season-high 77 receiving yards versus Delaware State … also had a year-long 47-yard grab and two receiving TDs versus the Hornets ... registered other TD reception at Ball State, catching a nine-yard pass from Kaleb Eleby with 1:48 left in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 35-35 … earlier in the final quarter against the Cardinals, caught a two-point conversion pass from Eleby to knot the contest at 28-28 ... on the field for 738 snaps.
 
2017: Academic All-MAC … played in six games and started five as a wide receiver before suffering season-ending injury at Buffalo ... caught 12 passes for 80 yards (6.67) ... had 2+ receptions in three games including a season-high seven catches against Idaho ... compiled a season-high 66 receiving yards versus Idaho and had a year-long grab of 21 yards in the contest ... first collegiate reception came versus Michigan State … turned in three grabs for 29 yards at Buffalo … on the field for 346 snaps.
 
2016: Academic All-MAC … played in all 14 games, primarily as a member of the special teams units … booked five tackles and one fumble recovery … registered a year-high two tackles against Illinois … recovered a fumble against Ohio in the Marathon MAC Championship Game … recovery set up WMU at the Bobcat 17-yard line and led to a Bronco field goal and a 6-0 lead … a member of one of the best teams in Western Michigan history as it captured the MAC West Division title and Marathon MAC Championship Game crown and made an appearance in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic … team finished the regular season with a 12-0 record and only loss was to Wisconsin in the bowl tilt.
 
2015: Did not see game action.
 
PRIOR TO WESTERN MICHIGAN: A multisport athlete who was a high school quarterback … led team to 2013 state championship and undefeated season.
 
PERSONAL: Born October 16, 1996 ... graduated from Western Michigan University in April, 2019, with a degree in finance … son of Tony and Deb Ricci.