Ryan Jastram on 2011 Fred Mitchell Award Watch List

CHICAGO, Illinois--The Watch List for the Fred Mitchell Award includes 50 Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Division II, III, NAIA) and NJCAA collegiate place-kickers including North Dakota State University senior Ryan Jastram that were nominated by their colleges for excellence on the football field and in the community.

The Award's Selection Committee Chairman Chris Kearney said, "These place-kickers are terrific on the football field and off the field representing their schools, their football teams, their conferences, their communities, their families and themselves.  We look forward to following their accomplishments during the next few months."

The Watch List includes place-kickers from more than 750 eligible colleges.  Fred Mitchell said, "It is a pleasure to include these fine young men on the Watch List for this Award.  We are delighted to recognize them based on outstanding performance in the community and expectations going into the 2011 college football season." 

The breakdown of the 50 place-kickers is as follows:

• Collegiate Division - 15 FCS, 20 Division II, 11 Division III, 3 NAIA and 1 NJCAA
• State - the place-kickers play at schools located in 30 different states, led by Minnesota with 5 place-kickers
• Year - 23 Seniors, 16 Juniors, 11 Sophomores
• Fred Mitchell Award Finalists in 2010 that are on the 2011 Watch List - 28

 RYAN JASTRAM

North Dakota State University - FCS

Senior from Sioux Falls, SD....transferred from New Mexico State who received playing opportunities late in the 2009 season....converted 15 of 27 FG's and 48 of 49 PAT's in 19 career games....2^nd on team in 2010 scoring with 84 points from 14 of 23 FG's and 42 of 43 PAT's....first PAT of 2010 season was blocked and following 42 PAT's were all made....made career-long 51-yard FG against Robert Morris on November 27 in first round FCS playoff game....scored all of the  team's points in 6-3 win over Kansas on September 4....Missouri Valley Football Special Teams Player of the Week and College Sporting News FCS National Weekly All-Star....made career-best 6 of 6 PAT's in 42-17 win over Montana State on December 4 in second round playoff game....Kohl's Kicking Camp Counselor....Fargo Parks & Recreation work during summer months.

About the Fred Mitchell Award

The annual Fred Mitchell Outstanding Place-Kicker Award (also known as the Fred Mitchell Award, www.fredmitchellaward.com) is provided to the nation's top collegiate place-kicker among more than 750 FCS, Division II, III, NAIA and NJCAA football teams.  The Award is named for Fred Mitchell, the record-setting place-kicker, Wittenberg University Athletic Hall of Famer, author, philanthropist and Chicago Tribune sports columnist.  The recipient of the Fred Mitchell Award will be chosen based on excellence on the football field and in the community.  The Award's Watch List is released in August, top performers are recognized monthly during the college football season, and the winner (who is not required to be on the Watch List) is announced in mid-December.  The school of the Award winner receives scholarship funds and the Fred Mitchell Award trophy will be presented in February 2012 at the National Football Foundation Chicago Metro Chapter Awards Ceremony at Halas Hall.

A blue-ribbon Selection Committee (listed at www.fredmitchellaward.com) evaluates place-kickers that are nominated by their schools.  Members of the Pro and/or College Football Hall of Fame on the Selection Committee include Tom Beck, Kevin Butler, Paul Hornung, Marv Levy, Steve McMichael, Don Pierson and Gale Sayers.  Several former football players that are active in their communities are also on the Selection Committee including Carl Allegretti, Sean Gothier, Dan Jiggetts, Jeff Michalczyk, Mark Murphy, Rob Perry, Jeff Schebler, Bob Thomas, Todd Wilkins, Gary Zauner and Rob Zvonar.  There are eight former college or NFL place-kickers on the Selection Committee, including Schebler, the inaugural Fred Mitchell Award recipient in 2009 and the highest-scoring place-kicker in NCAA history at any level.