Ron Essink
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Zeeland, Michigan, U.S.
| No. 64 | |||||||||
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| Position | Offensive tackle | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | July 30, 1958 Zeeland, Michigan, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 260 lb (118 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Zeeland | ||||||||
| College | Grand Valley State | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1980: 10th round, 265th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Collegiate Wrestling | ||
| Representing the Grand Valley State Lakers | ||
| NCAA Division II Championships | ||
 | 1980 Omaha | Heavyweight |
| NAIA Championships | ||
| 1980 Hays | Heavyweight |
 | 1978 Whitewater | Heavyweight |
Ronald Arden Essink (born July 30, 1958) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Grand Valley State Lakers.
Essink attended Zeeland High School, where he played as a tight end. He began practicing wrestling as a senior, going undefeated and winning the heavyweight Class B title, which was the school's first state title in any sport.[1]
He accepted a football scholarship from Grand Valley State University, after the wrestling coach Jim Scott, convinced head coach Jim Harkema to make the offer. As a sophomore, he was converted into an offensive tackle because of an injury to a starter. He would become an NCAA Division II and NAIA All-American.
As a junior, he helped the team achieve the best record (9–3) in school history and qualify to the playoffs for the first time. They lost against Elon College in the semifinals of the NAIA playoffs.
He also practiced wrestling, compiling a 91-10 (.901) record. He won national titles in the NCAA Division II and NAIA championships. He received All-American recognition after placing seventh at the NCAA Division I championships.
In 1991, he was inducted into the Grand Valley State University Athletics Hall of Fame.[2]