University of Saint Francis senior placekicker Ryan Nix has made the Fred Mitchell Award Preseason ‘Watch List’.
Nix (Valparaiso, IN / Valparaiso H.S.) is one of just two NAIA kickers to make the list.
The Fred Mitchell Award recognizes 27 place-kickers on its annual Watch List for their excellence on the football field during the 2015 season and for continued community service during their off-season.
The recipient of the Fred Mitchell Award will be announced in mid-December based on performance on the football field and in the community. Details are provided at www.fredmitchellaward.com.
The breakdown of the 27 place-kickers is as follows:
- Collegiate Division – 12 FCS, 9 Division II, 4 Division III, and 2 NAIA
- State – the place-kickers play at schools located in 19 different states
- Year – 1 Graduate School, 17 Seniors, 5 Juniors, and 4 Sophomores
RYAN NIX
University of Saint Francis (Fort Wayne, IN) – NAIA
2015 stats
| FGM | FGA | FG% | <20 | 20-29 | 30-39 | 40-49 | 50+ | LONG | PATM | PATA | PTS |
| 7 | 7 | 100% | 0-0 | 2-2 | 2-2 | 3-3 | 0-0 | 42 | 68 | 76 | 89 |
Senior from Valparaiso, IN … 2015: All-MSFA Placekicker, 1st Team … set USF record for scoring average / game at 7.4 points per game … NAIA Daktronics Scholar-Athlete … finished No. 1 in NAIA FG pct … No. 6 in NAIA kick scoring with 89 points, No. 3 in MSFA . . . 1st USF placekicker with a perfect season for FGs – 7-7 … 42 yd FG vs. Olivet Nazarene 9/5/15 set Bishop D’Arcy Stadium record for longest USF FG and tied USF record set by Rhys Barnhart, 11/24/07 at Bethel (Tenn.) … 89 pts second most for a USF placekicker (94, Rhys Barnhart, 2008) … USF Special Teams Player of the Week 9/19/15 Trinity International, 10/10/15 Siena Heights,10/17/15 Concordia, 11/21/15 Reinhardt … USF Big Play at Robert Morris 10/24/15 … 1st USF placekicker with 3 FGs 40 or more yards in same season. Nix in NAIA Top 50 rankings 2015: No. 1 in Field Goals Pct (1.000), No. 6 in Total Scoring (89), No. 11 in Scoring per Game (7.400), No. 31 in Total Field Goals (7), No. 35 in Field Goals (0.600) Personal: IFCA 1st Team Academic All-State, Team specialist MVP.
Among his many community service accomplishments, Nix includes:
El Salvador Mission Trip through Sis Hijos Organization-2016 and this coming 2017
- Built two homes in the jungle
- Coached and ran drills in an adult football league team practice
- fed the homeless at night
- spent time with four orphanages
Volunteer Assistant at Turnstone Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities
Volunteer for Andrew Luck’s Change The Play Camp
- Organized and led drills for campers
Volunteer for 2016 NFL Combine in Indianapolis
- "Runner" Guided players to and from medical stations at Lucas Oil Stadium
