Austin Peay State University Athletics

2022: Played in all 11 games in his first season at Austin Peay… Picked up his first tackle as a Governor and recorded a quarterback hurry against Presbyterian (Sept. 3)… Finished the season with five tackles, four of which were solo stops.

Prior to Austin Peay: Played three seasons at South Alabama (2019-21). 2021: Played in eight games, finished with nine tackles and a pass breakup… Had a tackle in the season opener against Southern Miss (Sept. 4)… Notched two tackles against both Georgia Southern (Oct. 14) and Tennessee (Nov. 20)… Also had a pass breakup against Georgia Southern. 2020: Started each of South Alabama’s first nine contests while seeing action in all 11 games… Posted a total of 22 stops, including one for a loss of three yards, and three passes broken up… Finished with three tackles and a pass defended in season-opening win at Southern Mississippi (Sept. 3)… Recorded a career-high five tackles – all solo – with one behind the line of scrimmage and also broke up a pass in victory over Texas State (Oct. 17)… Matched that total in the Jags’ previous outing against UAB (Sept. 24)… Credited with four stops at No. 25 Louisiana (Oct. 24)… Had a pair of tackles in back-to-back games at Georgia Southern (Oct. 29) and 15th-ranked Coastal Carolina (Nov. 7), adding a pass defended against the Chanticleers. 2019: Appeared in all 12 outings during his first season at the collegiate level… Recorded nine total tackles during the season – with one of those behind the line of scrimmage – and a forced fumble… Posted a pair of stops against Memphis (Sept. 14) and Arkansas State (Nov. 29)… Forced a fumble with a tackle for an eight-yard loss that led to the Jags’ final points in defeat of Jackson State (Sept. 7)… Credited with solo stops against No. 21 Appalachian State (Oct. 26) and at Georgia State (Nov. 23).

High School: A two-star Rivals.com prospect… Received two stars from 247Sports.com also, with the organization including him among the top 75 recruits in Mississippi as well… Selected to participate in the 2018 Bernard Blackwell North/South All-Star Game at the end of his prep career at West Point High… Recorded 46 stops to go along with three interceptions and four passes defended his senior year, helping the school go 14-1 while claiming the state 5A championship… Also caused one fumble and recovered another, and blocked two field-goal attempts as well as a punt… Added 285 yards running back kicks with both kickoff and punt return touchdowns… Posted 17 stops and three interceptions as a junior while helping the Green Wave win the state title with a 15-0 record… Blocked three total kicks that fall also… Made 17 tackles and picked off a pass when he was a sophomore as WPHS won the state championship and finished the season 14-1.

Personal: Ryan Melton is the son of Rickey Melton and Sebryna Harris… Birthday is Oct. 31… Has two siblings: Nick and Indy… A general studies major.