Clint Ratkovich Explained

Clint Ratkovich
Current Team:Saskatchewan Roughriders
Number:25
Position:Fullback
Birth Date:16 September 1997
Birth Place:Crete, Illinois, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lbs:220
High School:Crete-Monee (Crete, Illinois)
College:Western Illinois (2017–2019)
Northern Illinois (2021)
Undraftedyear:2022
Pastteams:
Pastteamsnote:yes
Status:Active
Cflstatus:American
Highlights:
  • 2× First-team All-MVFC (2018–2019)
  • Third-team All-MAC (2021)
Pfr:RatkCl00
Cfl:clint-ratkovich

Clint Ratkovich (born September 16, 1997) is an American professional football fullback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Western Illinois and Northern Illinois. He has also been a member of the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL).

Early life

Ratkovich played high school football at Crete-Monee High School in Crete, Illinois.[1] He tallied 1,800 rushing yards and 36 total touchdowns his senior year, earning all-state honors.[1]

College career

Ratkovich first played college football for the Western Illinois Leathernecks from 2017 to 2019. He caught 128 passes for 1,204 yards and ten touchdowns while also rushing 97 times for 429 yards and three touchdowns in 35 games played for Western Illinois.[2] He was named first team all-Missouri Valley Football Conference in both 2018 and 2019.[1] After the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the 2020 FCS football season, Ratkovich decided to transfer to an FBS school.[3]

He transferred to play for the Northern Illinois Huskies in 2021.[1] He rushed 104 times for 461 yards and 13 touchdowns while also recording 15 receptions for 124 yards and two touchdowns.[2] Ratkovich was named third team All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) by Phil Steele and honorable mention All-MAC by Pro Football Network that season.[1]

Professional career

Atlanta Falcons

Ratkovich suffered a torn ACL while working out for the Green Bay Packers in April 2022. He went undrafted in the 2022 NFL draft.[4] After healing from his injury, he was signed to the practice squad of the Atlanta Falcons on December 27, 2022.[5] Ratkovich signed a futures contract with the Falcons on January 9, 2023.[6] He was waived on August 29, 2023.[7]

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Ratkovich signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on February 13, 2024.[7] [8] He scored his first CFL touchdown, and the only touchdown of the game, in the Roughriders' 19–9 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Week 7.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Clint Ratkovich . niuhuskies.com . 15 August 2024.
  2. Web site: Clint Ratkovich . Footballdb.com . 15 August 2024.
  3. Web site: Recruiting notes: Crete-Monee’s Clint Ratkovich makes ‘super’ move to Northern Illinois as a graduate transfer . . December 28, 2020 . 15 August 2024 . Millar, Steve.
  4. Web site: Northern Illinois RB Clint Ratkovich believed to have torn ACL at Packers’ local day . nbcsports.com . April 8, 2022 . 15 August 2024 . Charean, Williams.
  5. Web site: PERSEVERANCE PAYS OFF FOR ROUGHRIDERS’ CLINT RATKOVICH . riderville.com . July 22, 2024 . 15 August 2024 . Vanstone, Rob.
  6. Web site: A Falcon crest: Crete-Monee’s Clint Ratkovich comes back from torn ACL, finds future in Atlanta. ‘The rest is history.’ . . January 25, 2023 . 15 August 2024 . Millar, Steve.
  7. Web site: Clint Ratkovich . Footballdb.com . 15 August 2024.
  8. Web site: Riders’ Ratkovich achieves pro football dream in CFL . sasknow.com . June 9, 2024 . 15 August 2024.
  9. Web site: Roughriders' fullback Clint Ratkovich celebrates first CFL touchdown . leaderpost.com . July 23, 2024 . 15 August 2024 . Shire, Taylor.