Potential reason for Jake Ryan being a "sleeper"
Looks like the guy grew 2 inches and put on 20 pounds since last summer.
http://www.annarbor.com/sports/um-football/late-blooming-linebacker-jak…
Hope he turns out to be a solid player. Obviously, we need help at LB.
January 26th, 2010 at 1:56 PM ^
we all ready know this
January 26th, 2010 at 4:18 PM ^
I did not know this and I found that it was an interesting tidbit
January 26th, 2010 at 1:58 PM ^
David Robinson story... When Robinson got accepted to the Naval Academy he was like 6'6" or something, but he grew 7 inches in the summer following high school and through his freshman year. By the time he finished his sophomore year he was disqualified from sub duty which is what he wanted to do when he signed up. By the time he graduated he was no longer the 6'6" USNA power forwaard recruit, he was The Admiral.
Not commonplace, but always fun to think about.
January 26th, 2010 at 2:06 PM ^
Jake likes to hit, is fairly fast, has a decent frame, and always seems to be around the ball. How can we lose? I like this kid.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:41 PM ^
Sat through the entire debacle in Madison hoping we could find somebody, anybody, with that basic skill set.
January 26th, 2010 at 2:15 PM ^
has the ability to run to a hole the runningback is going through and tackle him then it's a huge improvement.
January 26th, 2010 at 2:22 PM ^
been over this numerous times, but ever time Jake's name is brought up I will be left thinking of 16 Candles. "No more yanky my wanky. The Donger need food."
January 26th, 2010 at 2:45 PM ^
Jake Ryan has an actual scholarship LB with some good football intelligence and the necessary about of grit. This will allow him to at the very least be an improvement over our group from last year.
He just needs to accept that he is destined to be a MIKE and embrace his future role. I can't wait for the day when LB competence is no longer a dream but a baseline assumption for our defense.
January 26th, 2010 at 3:23 PM ^
According to the old adage, you recruit speed. As he runs a 4.5/4.6 40 yd dash I cannot see why he did not have better offers, even at 20 lbs lighter and a couple inches shorter.
January 26th, 2010 at 4:09 PM ^
Ryan was hurt a good portion of his junior year when a lot of the evaluation goes on and was selected first team all Ohio as a senior. His teammate and fellow LB, Scott McVey had a great junior year and was hurt during his senior year. Despite similar measurables, McVey is rated higher.
January 26th, 2010 at 3:44 PM ^
especially like the fact that his dad played in the CFL, not that it has anything to do with Jake. I hope that in a year or two people around the B10 and nationally are talking about what a huge steal he was for RR.