Ritcher, "Jim" (James A.)
Football
b. May 21, 1958, Berea, OH
A defensive end in high school, Ritcher was moved to center when he entered North Carolina State in 1976 and in 1979 he became the first center to win the Outland Trophy as the nation's outstanding college lineman. The 6-foot-3, 245-pounder was named to some All-American teams in 1978 and was a consensus All-American as a senior.
A first-round draft choice of the NFL's Buffalo Bills in 1980, Ritcher was a backup center as a rookie. The Bills moved him to guard in his second season. After serving as a backup at both guard spots for two years, Ritcher became the team's starting left guard in 1983. He played in the Pro Bowl after the 1991 and 1992 seasons.
Ritcher signed with the Atlanta Falcons as a free agent in 1994 and spent two seasons with them before retiring. He then became a commercial airline pilot. His son, John, is a tight end at North Carolina State.