Ryan Stonehouse

Ryan Stonehouse's Biography

Ryan Matthew Stonehouse, born on May 11, 1999, in San Dimas, California, was imbued with a passion for football from an early age, surrounded by a family with strong links to the sport. His father, Paul, was a punter for Stanford from 1989 to 1992, while his uncles, John Stonehouse, and Jeff Banks, also played as Division I punters for USC and Washington State, respectively. This familial backdrop laid the groundwork for Stonehouse’s own journey into the world of professional football.

The journey began at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. As part of his high school team, Stonehouse helped push them to an impressive 13-1 record in 2016, which laid the foundation for a deep CIF playoff run. Although they eventually lost in the semi-finals to St. John Bosco, Stonehouse’s performance did not go unnoticed. Among several accolades, he was named a Blue & Grey All-American and earned a spot on the 2016 L.A. Times All-Star football team. His marked aptitude for punts also won him a five-star rating at the Kohl’s Kicking 2016 Western Winter Showcase.

Following his high school success, Stonehouse was rated as a three-star recruit and the third-best punter prospect in the class of 2017 by 247Sports.com. Despite receiving a grand total of 11 offers from NCAA Division I schools, he accepted a scholarship offer from Colorado State; a decision that proved rewarding in the years to come.

Stonehouse’s freshman year in 2017 was decorated with praise. Not only was he named to the Ray Guy Award watch list, but he also received an All-Mountain West honorable mention. Playing in every game as one of the five true freshmen, he punted 46 times in 13 games and ranked fifth in the country with a 45.9-yard punt average.

As a sophomore in 2018, Stonehouse continued to impress. Finishing second in the FBS with a 48.3-yard punt average, he solidified his spot on the 2018 All-Mountain West first team and earned a place on the 2018 Sporting News All-American second team.

In his junior year, Stonehouse maintained this momentum with a 46.4-yard punt average. For the second consecutive year, he was named to the All-Mountain West first team.

As a senior in 2020, Stonehouse’s final year was heavily altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, which condensed the season to just four games. Despite this, he successfully punted 26 times for 1,178 yards and continued his three-year streak on the All-Mountain West first team.

In his final year as a graduate student, Stonehouse was ranked the best punter and the 34th best overall player in the Mountain West Conference. By the season’s end, Stonehouse had punted 244 times for a total of 11,656 yards, breaking the NCAA FBS record for the highest career average yards per punt previously held by Johnny Townsend.

After graduating, Stonehouse signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He rapidly proved his worth and claimed the punting job when the Titans released their longtime punter Brett Kern. His rookie season with the Titans was another record-breaking endeavor; he set the new single-season NFL record with an average of 53.1 yards per punt. However, tragedy struck in his second professional season when he suffered a catastrophic leg injury, putting him out on sidelines for the rest of the season.

Despite these setbacks, Stonehouse remains an engaged and active individual off the field. He’s known to enjoy DIY projects and has taken to fostering and working with shelter dogs, demonstrating his versatility beyond the football field. Despite his successful career and the hurdles he has had to overcome, Ryan remains dedicated to his craft, shaping his narrative as a prominent figure in American professional football.