MINNEAPOLIS- UW-Oshkosh football's junior punter Walleye Ratliff (Cincinnati, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller) received preseason accolades on Monday (August 18) when he earned D3football.com All-America Third Team honors.
 
Ratliff, a two-time All-WIAC Second Team selection, punted 20 times last season for 1,611 yards with a pair of touchbacks, 16 kicks that landed within the 20-yard line, and six that flew more than 50 yards. His career best punt of 58 yards came against UW-Stout at home on November 9. He was named to D3football.com's national team of the week the following Tuesday with an average of 53 yards on three punts, all three of which landed within the 20-yard line with one downed three yards from the Blue Devils' end zone.
 
With an average of 40.3 yards per punt, Ratliff ranked second in the WIAC and 21st in NCAA Division III in 2024.
 
Ratliff is the Titans' first D3football.com Preseason All-American since Jaydon Haag and Mike Olsen were first team selections ahead of the 2021 campaign.
 
The Titans posted a 6-4 record in 2024 with a 4-3 mark in WIAC competition. They started last season with a pair of wins over nationally ranked opponents at home, defeating Wheaton, 21-14, on September 7 and Linfield University (Ore.), 28-21, in overtime on September 14. Following their nonconference finale against Division II Michigan Tech at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium on September 21, the Titans faced UW-Whitewater in front of a Division III-record 21,233 fans at Perkins Stadium on October 5. UW-Oshkosh then picked up four straight wins over UW-La Crosse, UW-Platteville, UW-Stevens Point, and UW-Eau Claire, outscoring their league opponents 142 to 88.
 
UW-Oshkosh begins its 2025 season at Linfield University (Ore.) on September 6. The Titans are receiving votes in both the D3football.com and American Football Coaches Association preseason polls.
 
D3football.com, the leading authority on Division III football, named 14 players to each of its three preseason All-America squads.