University of Memphis Athletics
Riley Patterson named top specialist on Senior Bowl team ahead of Saturday's game on NFL Network
Jan 29, 2021 | Football
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis senior kicker Riley Patterson was named top specialist on the National team at the Reese's Senior Bowl. He received the honor following a vote by his Senior Bowl teammates.
Patterson and the National squad will face the American team in the 2021 Reese's Senior Bowl on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. from Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. The game will be televised on the NFL Network.
One of the most accomplished kickers in school history, Patterson finished his time at Memphis second in career points kicking (433) behind only NFL veteran Jake Elliott (445) and ahead of three-time Super Bowl champion and four-time Pro Bowl selection Stephen Gostkowski. He is third in Memphis history in career field goals made (64) and his 56-yard field goal at SMU during the 2020 season was a career long and tied Elliott's Memphis record for the longest field goal made.
In the Montgomery Bowl on Dec. 23, Patterson set a Cramton Bowl record with a 53-yard field goal in the first quarter of Memphis' 25-10 victory over Florida Atlantic. Built in 1922, the stadium has regularly hosted collegiate and high school football games throughout its 98-year history.
Patterson made his first career game-winning field goal from 47 yards as time expired in the 2020 regular-season finale against Houston. He also made kicks of 49 and 34 yards in the 30-27 victory as Memphis completed its 2020 campaign with a 15th consecutive home victory.
In the 2019 Cotton Bowl against Penn State, Patterson set an NCAA bowl record and a Memphis record with six made field goals. His 21 points against the Nittany Lions were a career high and a school record for most points kicking in a game.
The Edwardsville, Ill., native was a first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection as a junior and was listed on the Lou Groza Award watch list for two consecutive seasons.
