Albany, N.Y. - University at Albany's Ryan Kirchner has been named to the College Football Performance Awards Punt Returner Watch List on Monday, July 18. He was one of 32 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) punt returners chosen.
     Kircher, a junior from Rumson, N.J. was voted UAlbany's special teams most valuable player last season. He ranked first among the Northeast Conference leaders and was 27th nationally with a 10.4 punt return average. Kirchner scored on an 80-yard runback against Wagner, the second-longest punt return in school history, in a 24-14 victory. He was third on the team in all-purpose yards at 71.3 per game.
     Kirchner, the team's top wide receiver as a sophomore, caught 50 passes for 504 yards and one touchdown. He was third among the NEC leaders in receptions (4.6 pg) and posted the third-best single-season total in program annals. Kirchner had a career-high seven catches against Maine, Duquesne and Bryant. He accounted for 100 or more all-purpose yards against three opponents.
     The purpose of the College Football Performance Awards is to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferment in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. As the 2011 season approaches, CFP Awards will be releasing a preseason watch list each week.