Senior receiver Jon Ryan became the fourth player in the University of Sioux Falls program history to be named the NAIA Football Player of the Year. Ryan was announced as the 2010 Rawlings-NAIA Player of the Year at the Banquet of Champions in Rome, Ga. tonight.

This season Ryan leads USF in all receiving statistical categories and broke the NAIA record for touchdown receptions in a season with 24 scores. The Watertown, S.D., native averaged 18.1 yards on 74 receptions, accumulating 1,340 yards.

Ryan is second all-time in school history with 52 career touchdown catches and third with 192 receptions and 3,368 receiving yards in his four years. Ryan was named the 2010 GPAC Offensive Player of the Year, is a two-time first team all-conference selection and was named to the 2010 American Football Coaches Association All-America Team.

Ryan gives the Cougars three national player of the year award recipients in four seasons and back-to-back player of the year awards, following quarterback Lorenzo Brown the 2009 recipient. USF quarterback Chad Cavender was the 2007 winner and running back Nick Kortan earned the award in 2002.

The senior can add to his season and career statistical totals tomorrow, Sat. Dec. 18 when the Cougars suit up for the last time this season. No. 1 USF (13-0 overall) will face No. 2 Carroll College (13-0) in the 2010 NAIA National Championship with a 4:30 p.m. (EST) kickoff.