Daniel Rickert
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Career Summary
Daniel Rickert progressed from a lightly recruited Tennessee high-school defender to Virginia and an NFL opportunity with the Los Angeles Rams.
Rickert built his college career at Tennessee Tech before transferring to Virginia for the 2025 season. His development included productive pass-rushing seasons, conference recognition and a successful move from the FCS level to Virginia.
The Rams signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2026. By September 11, 2026, he was listed on Los Angeles’ reserve/injured list after an injury designation during the preseason.
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Early Life
Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Rickert moved to Nolensville, Tennessee, with his family in 2015 and developed there as a multisport athlete.
Nolensville became Rickert’s hometown and the setting for his high-school football career. In addition to football, he played lacrosse at Nolensville High School.
Virginia listed Rickert at 6-foot-2 and 232 pounds during his final college season. His date of birth is March 12, 2002.
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High School
At Nolensville High School, Rickert developed as a defensive lineman and earned regional, state and all-star recognition as a senior.
Rickert recorded 75 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and one interception in 2019. He helped Nolensville finish 11-3 and reach the TSSAA Class 4A semifinals.
His honors included Region Lineman of the Year, two all-region selections, Tennessee Football Coaches Association All-State recognition and an invitation to the TACA East/West All-Star Game. Tennessee Tech’s 2020 signing list identified him as a defensive lineman from Nolensville. Virginia later described his FBS recruiting interest as limited, with Army and Tennessee Tech among his principal options.
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College Career
Rickert spent five seasons at Tennessee Tech before transferring to Virginia, finishing college with substantial defensive-line production across six seasons.
At Tennessee Tech, Rickert played both the spring and fall 2021 schedules. He appeared in six games with five starts in the spring, then played all 11 games in the fall. His production increased in 2023, when he recorded 49 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks, and in 2024, when he added 37 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
He graduated from Tennessee Tech in December 2024 with a mechanical engineering degree and began pursuing an MBA. After entering the transfer portal in April 2025, he joined Virginia and appeared in 14 games with one start, recording 36 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Across Tennessee Tech and Virginia, he appeared in 57 games, started 37 and totaled 165 tackles, 41 tackles for loss, 25.5 sacks and five forced fumbles.
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Path to the NFL
Rickert reached the NFL after productive FCS seasons, a strong Virginia transfer year and an undrafted signing with the Los Angeles Rams.
The 2026 NFL Draft passed without Rickert being selected, so no draft round or overall pick applies. Los Angeles signed him as an undrafted free agent on August 7, 2026.
His move to Virginia gave him an opportunity to compete at a higher level after his Tennessee Tech career. Virginia defensive-ends coach Chris Slade cited Rickert’s athletic and pass-rushing qualities while evaluating his transition to the program.
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NFL Career
Rickert’s professional career began with the Rams in 2026, including a preseason appearance before an injury designation and move to reserve/injured.
Los Angeles listed Rickert as a defensive end wearing No. 40 at 6-foot-2 and 232 pounds. He appeared in the Rams’ preseason opener and made three tackles before leaving the August 22 game against New Orleans with a knee injury.
The Rams subsequently waived him with an injury designation, and NFL transaction records show that he moved to reserve/injured on August 25. As of September 11, 2026, his latest verified status was Rams reserve/injured rather than the active roster or practice squad.
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Sources for this section
Career Accomplishments
Rickert earned consecutive first-team All-Big South/OVC selections and Tennessee Tech’s top player award during his final FCS seasons.
He was a first-team All-Big South/OVC selection in 2023 and 2024. In 2024, he received Tennessee Tech’s Robert Hill Johnson Award, the program’s highest honor, in a vote by his teammates.
Rickert was named Big South/OVC Defensive Player of the Week and Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week on November 18, 2024. His seven sacks that season tied for the conference lead.
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Playing Style
Rickert’s college profile centered on edge pass-rushing, with coaches also evaluating his ability to handle larger blockers and play the run.
Virginia defensive-ends coach Chris Slade described Rickert as dynamic, athletic, elusive and a good pass-rusher. His strongest statistical seasons included nine sacks at Tennessee Tech in 2023 and 6.5 sacks at Virginia in 2025.
The coaching evaluation also addressed whether Rickert could hold up against bigger offensive linemen and contribute effectively against the run. The documented playing profile supports defensive-line and edge work without establishing a broader professional positional role.
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Legacy
Rickert’s college significance rests on his progression from a lightly recruited Tennessee prospect to a decorated FCS defender and Virginia transfer.
At Tennessee Tech, Rickert became a two-time first-team all-conference player and won the Robert Hill Johnson Award. He then transferred to Virginia for his final college season and produced as a defensive lineman in the ACC.
His college path also included the unusual spring-and-fall 2021 schedule and six seasons of participation across Tennessee Tech and Virginia. That progression formed the foundation for his 2026 opportunity with the Rams.
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32555, 00-0041587, 2002-03-12, Daniel Rickert, Daniel, Rickert
MFT PLAYER RANKINGS
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2026 preseason baseline. Position-relative and updated through the site’s weekly review process.