Ryan Kerrigan

Patrick Ryan Kerrigan (born August 16, 1988) is an American football linebacker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Purdue University, and was recognized as an All-American. He was chosen by the Redskins in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Early years
Kerrigan was born in Muncie, Indiana. He attended Muncie Central High School, and played defensive end and tight end for the Muncie Bearcats high school football team. As a senior he was an all-state selection after recording 90 tackles and 19 sacks as a defensive end. As a tight end he had 40 receptions for 789 yards and six touchdowns.

College career
Kerrigan attended Purdue University, where he played for the Purdue Boilermakers football team from 2007 to 2010. As a freshman in 2007, Kerrigan appeared in 12 games recording 18 tackles and a sack. As a sophomore in 2008 he started 11 of 12 games and was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection after recording 56 tackles, seven sacks and an interception. As a junior in 2009 he was a second team All-American by Rivals.com and a first team All-Big Ten selection. He finished the season with 66 tackles and 12 sacks.

Kerrigan was a semifinalist for the Rotary Lombardi Award during his senior season.

After forcing two fumbles against the Michigan Wolverines, Kerrigan became the Big Ten's all-time leader in forced fumbles; his total of 14 forced fumbles tied the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) career record. Following his 2010 season, he was a first-team All-Big Ten selection, was honored as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, and was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American.

2011 season
Kerrigan was selected by the Washington Redskins with the sixteenth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. On July 29, 2011, the Redskins officially signed Kerrigan to a four-year, $8.72 million contract with a $4.842 million signing bonus. Kerrigan was converted from a defensive end to an outside linebacker. He was made the starting left outside linebacker. During his NFL debut on September 11, 2011, Kerrigan tipped up and intercepted an errant pass from New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, subsequently scoring on a 9-yard scamper into the end zone. On September 29, the NFL named him Defensive Rookie of the Month for September. His rookie season was marked by dominant play. Some speculated Kerrigan would win Defensive Rookie of the Year. At the end of the 2011 season, Kerrigan had started in all 16 games and recorded 63 combined tackles, 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, one interception, and one touchdown. On January 16, 2012, Kerrigan along with fellow rookie Roy Helu, were named to the Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers of America all-rookie team.

2012 season
In Week 5 of the 2012 season against the Atlanta Falcons, Kerrigan tipped a pass thrown by Matt Ryan and intercepted it. He then ran the ball 28 yards for a touchdown, similar to what he did to Eli Manning in his first career game as a rookie. In Week 14 against the Baltimore Ravens, he managed to tackle Joe Flacco and tip his pass to Ray Rice enough so London Fletcher could intercept the ball; preventing the Ravens from scoring and allowing the Redskins to tie the score and eventually win in overtime. Kerrigan would have a stellar performance against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16, where he sacked Nick Foles twice, as well as, stripped the ball during one of them and the ball was recovered by Richard Crawford.

On January 20, 2013, Kerrigan would be added to the NFC roster of the 2013 Pro Bowl to replace Aldon Smith after the San Francisco 49ers won the NFC Championship Game to go to Super Bowl XLVII.