EAST LANSING – Ryan Eckley was midway through a press conference on Wednesday before being alerted to a group begging for attention.

The Michigan State punter turned and looked up to spot teammates taking photos and doing their best to be seen behind the glass a floor above inside the Tom Izzo Football Building.

Specialists are a unique breed and Eckley is proving to be even more valuable than most.

Already established as one of the best punters in the nation, the redshirt junior delivered in a pinch to help secure last week’s 23-6 season-opening win against Western Michigan. Due to lingering injuries among the kickers, Eckley handled kickoffs and attempted a field goal for the first time in his college career.

“It’s something I’ve always had in the back of my mind, especially for the

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