Rigerman Signs with Ravens

Mike Rigerman the former two-sport athlete out of Pioneer High School signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Ravens late Sunday afternoon.

The 2018 Connolly Cup winner and Big-30 Player of the Year went undrafted but that did not deter the former Panthers football standout.

"It is all surreal," Rigerman said through text. "A kid from Pioneer could do all of this. I am ready to change the thought on recruiting WNY kids."

When the Ravens reached out on Sunday, Rigerman was on campus at the University of Findley in Ohio, which is a D-II program where he has excelled on and off the field. He spent the evening with his family and girlfriend celebrating the achievement.

Rigerman is the first Pioneer football player to sign with an NFL team.

“Mike has always been very goal-oriented and driven,” his high school coach Jim Duprey said by phone. “We’re just really proud of him and all he’s been able to accomplish.”

Rigerman said that as the draft was wrapping up, his agent called him and said that Baltimore offered a great deal and asked if he wanted to take it. "Yes, let's do it," was the answer. Rigerman will head to Baltimore this weekend to show them that he can make a difference on the field. He was signed as a TE/FB hybrid and he is excited to learn from one of the best in current Ravens TE Mark Andrews.

"The personal trigger to get up everyday and work harder then everyone else is the natural competitor that was instilled in me way back when I was at Pioneer. I compete with myself daily to be better than I was the day before no matter what area of life that is in," Rigerman said.