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Ryan Kerrigan Accepts Senior Bowl Invite
Photo - DE Ryan Kerrigan - Purdue
The North roster for next month’s Under Armour Senior Bowl just got a whole lot better. Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan, the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, has officially accepted an invitation to the 2011 game, it was announced today. The 62nd game is scheduled for 3pm (CT) on Saturday, January 29th in Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The game will be televised live by NFL Network.
“Ryan has proven to be one of the most dominant pass rushers in the nation,” said Senior Bowl President and CEO Steve Hale. “He is an outstanding prospect and a player that I think will really turn some heads down here in Mobile.”
In addition to claiming Big Ten Defensive Player of the year honors this season, Kerrigan was also named the Big Ten’s Defensive Lineman of the Year and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection. He was also a semifinalist for the Lombardi, Lott and Bednarik awards this season. The unanimous first-team All-American (Walter Camp, AP, FWAA, Sporting News, AFCA Coaches) leads the Big Ten and ranks third in the country with 12.5 sacks on the season and is fifth on his team with 70 tackles—including 50 solo stops.
Ryan Kerrigan was ranked #15 among our Top 160 senior Pro Prospects in the December newsletter. He was also named for the first team All-American defensive team by DraftInsiders.com
“Seeing all of the great players that have come through and played in the Senior Bowl it really is an honor to be invited to this game and to be able to participate in it,” Kerrigan said. “I’m really looking forward to the opportunity.”
Kerrigan’s 2.17 tackles for loss per game is the best in the country and accounts for 26 tackles for loss on the year which is the seventh-best single-season total in Big Ten history. He also forced five fumbles this year, giving him 14 for his career, matching the NCAA record and breaking the Big Ten record held by Simeon Rice and Bob Sanders.
“I’m just looking to work hard and show the coaches that I can compete with the best around the country,” Kerrigan added. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to play against the guys that are going to be there—the best offensive tackles around, the best overall players. I’m really looking forward to it and it’s an opportunity I’m going to embrace.”
For his career, Kerrigan finished tied for second on Purdue’s all-time list with 33.5 career sacks and is fifth in career tackles for loss with 57. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of another former Big Ten standout, Brandon Graham. Graham was the MVP of the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl after leading the country in tackles for loss last year at Michigan.
“It would be great if I did (win the MVP),” Kerrigan said. “I’m just looking forward to going down there and competing and playing my best and hopefully showing the scouts and NFL coaches that I can play with the best guys around the nation.”
Senior Bowl Invitation List
No. Name Position HT/WT School
TBA Carpenter, James - OL - 6-5 / 300 - Alabama
TBA Dial, Preston - TE - 6-3 / 237 - Alabama
TBA Hudson, Rodney - OL - 6-3 / 285 - Florida St.
TBA Jernigan, Jerrel - WR - 5-9 / 184 - Troy
TBA Kerrigan, Ryan - DE - 6-5 / 265 - Purdue
TBA McElroy, Greg - QB - 6-3 / 225 - Alabama
TBA Pettis, Austin - WR - 6-3 / 203 - Boise St
TBA Ponder, Christian - QB - 6-3 / 227 - Florida St
TBA Young, Titus - WR - 5-11 / 175 - Boise St
Tickets for the 2011 Under Armour Senior Bowl are currently available for purchase at the Senior Bowl ticket office (151 Dauphin Street), all area Food For Less locations, select Regions Bank locations, online at www.seniorbowl.com or by calling (251) 432-4109.
Frank Coyle writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He is a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He is also a member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe, etc. He is a voter for weekly Team and Player Awards