McWethy signs a free agent contract with Cleveland Browns

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – Former University of Wisconsin-Platteville football standout Ryan McWethy agreed to join the Cleveland Browns as a free-agent on Sunday. 

McWethy is the third former Pioneer to sign a free-agent contract since current UW-Platteville defensive line coach, Phil Miceh, and Mike Hintz signed and played in the strike-replacement games in 1987. 

McWethy was named to the 2012 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division III All-America Team. He was also garnered 2012 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) First Team and to the 2012 D3football.com All-West Region Third Team honors. 

The Oregon, Ill. native, led the team with 84 tackles with a team-best 52 solo tackles. McWethy tallied a career-high 18 tackles against UW-Eau Claire (Sept. 20) and a career-best 10 solo tackles at No. 16 UW-Oshkosh (Oct. 13). He registered two and a half of his 12 tackles for a loss versus No. 4 UW-Whitewater (Sept. 29). He recorded two interceptions and three pass break-ups. 

In his 30-game career in the Orange and Blue, McWethy tallied 180 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, and five interceptions. He helped the Pioneers go 15-5 in his last two seasons, which is the best record in consecutive seasons since the Pioneers went 8-2 in 1976 and 7-3 in 1977.