A number of people have represented the Acadiana area in the National Football League.

All summer long, we’re going to spotlight the fantastic athletes from the area, people that were actually born in one of the Acadiana parishes, that went on to play football at the highest level, the NFL.

Yesterday, we profiled Lafayette native Ross Brupbacher.

Today, we spotlight Billy Ryckman.

Yes, that would be our own Billy Ryckman, co-host of "Different Notes", which airs weekday mornings (10-11 am), and host of "The Sports Note", which also airs weekday mornings (11 am-noon).

Born on February 28, 1955 in Lafayette, Ryckman attended Lafayette High School.

Following his high school years, Ryckman went  to college at Louisiana Tech, where he had a great senior season in 1976, leading the nation with 77 receptions, to go along with 1,382 receiving yards and ten touchdowns.

The 5-foot-11, 172-pound Ryckman was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the 10th round of the 1977 NFL Draft.

Ryckman made his NFL debut with the Falcons in 1977, at the age of 22, appearing in all 14 games, mostly on special teams.

The following season, 1978, proved to be the best of Ryckman's NFL career, when he caught 45 passes for 679 yards, while scoring two touchdowns.

In three NFL seasons, all with Atlanta, Ryckman compiled 50 receptions for 743 yards and five touchdowns, while also serving as a valuable special teams player, returning 47 punts for 339 yards.

Following his days in the NFL, Ryckman moved on to the USFL, where he played one season (1983) for the Arizona Wranglers.

Today, Ryckman continues to entertain radio listeners, something he's done for more than two decades.

Below, watch Billy during his days in the NFL:

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