Ryan Rehkow's second NFL season was a booming success. In 2025, the former BYU star special teamer finished third in the NFL in punting with a 50.5-yard average per punt. He placed one spot ahead of Pro Bowl punter Jordan Stout of the Baltimore Ravens and his 50.1-yard average.
In other words, Ryan Rehkow is flirting with Pro Bowl status as he concludes his sophomore NFL season with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Ryan Rehkow's outstanding BYU career
Coming out of high school in 2017, Ryan Rehkow was a two-star punting prospect out of Washington state. After serving a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in London, England, Rehkow returned to Provo and won the starting role as a freshman in 2020.
He ended up starting -- and excelling -- for four straight seasons at BYU from 2020 through 2023.
He averaged 45.1 yards per punt as a freshman then improved as a sophomore by averaging 48.6 yards. After a slight dip in his junior season in 2022, Rehkow finished his college career in 2023 averaging 48.4 yards per punt.
Rehkow led the Big 12 in punting in 2023 and finished No. 2 nationally. He was an All-Big 12 Second Team honoree and and ESPN All American Second Team in his final season in Provo.
Immediately starting and excelling in the NFL
It's rare for punters to be selected in the NFL Draft, and Rehkow's name wasn't called in 2024. But he quickly signed as an undrafted free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals and made an immediate impression.
Despite his undrafted status, the former BYU legend won the starting punter job as a rookie and went on to have a solid first NFL season. As a rookie in 2024, he averaged 49.1 yards per punt, finishing ninth in the league that year.
Rehkow built on that success this season by boosting his average to 50.5 yards, good enough for third in the NFL. He led the league in punting average for most of the season only to then see his average drop a bit in the Bengals final couple of games.
Ryan Rehkow is already 27 years old after serving a mission and playing four seasons of college football, but he could still have at least another solid decade in front of him in his role as a punter.
Given the trajectory of his first two NFL seasons, don't be surprised if Pro Bowl honors come sooner rather than later.