Ryan Plackemeier attended Fallbrook High School in Bonsall, California where he played football and soccer. He was the soccer team’s MVP in each of his final two seasons. He was a three-year starter in football, serving as the team’s kicker and punter. As a senior he converted all 32 of his extra point attempt and was successful on a school record 47 yard field goal. He punted 32 times for a 43.2 yard average with 2 punts inside the opponent’s 20 yard line. He earned first team all-league, all-CIF, and all-county honors as a senior and was a four-year scholar athlete award winner. He went on the Wake Forest where his uncle played baseball and basketball. He made an instant impact at Wake Forest, averaging 43.2 yards per punt on 32 attempts. As a sophomore, Ryan averaged 45.6 yards per punt, leading the ACC in average. He had 11 punts inside the opponent’s 20 yard line and was named first team all-acc for his performance. He also served as the team’s placekicker early on in the season. As a junior he led the conference in punting once again with a 43.9 yard average on 64 attempts. Seventeen of his attempts went inside the opponent’s 20 yard line. He was named first team all-acc for the second consecutive season. His senior season was his best year in college. He set career highs in attempts (67), average (47.2), and punts inside the 20 (20), on his way to first team all-conference for the third straight season. He won the Ray Guy award for being the nation’s top punter as a senior.

Ryan Plackemeier is a versatile player who has kicked and punted during his time at Wake Forest. He has a great deal of experience and has been punting since his true freshman season. He is a right footed punter who has good leg strength. He gets the ball off quickly and has good hang time. One area he needs to improve on is his directional punting. The fact that he is a good punter who can step in and kick field goals when needed will only add to his draft day value. He is one of the best punters available and has a chance to be selected in the 2006 NFL draft.