Meet Maryland 4th String QB: Ryan Brand from Detroit, Michigan

Submitted by markusr2007 on

I was curious so I collected some interesting tidbits about Maryland's 4th string QB Ryan Brand, who will likely start for the Terps on Saturday vs. Michigan:

1. From Detroit, Michigan (Univ. of Detroit Jesuit High School). A talented young man:

https://247sports.com/Player/Ryan-Brand-30695

2. Was a former QB at Air Force for one season and then went to San Mateo, CA junior college:

http://www.goairforcefalcons.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ryan_brand_989514.html

3. Size: Air Force listed him as 5' 8" tall and 193 lbs. Maryland says he's 5' 11".  Hey, I'm just not sure, man.

ESPN Maryland Player Profile: http://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/3945284/ryan-brand

4. No one, including Maryland, predicted he would see the field in 2017:

https://www.testudotimes.com/maryland-terps-football/2017/6/9/15766870/ryan-brand-profile-stats-bio

"Brand will be a walk-on behind four quarterbacks who all have better starting prospects than he does. The reality is that he likely won’t see the field at all this season, barring a breakdown of 2012 proportions."

2012? Randy Edsall's 4-8 Maryland outfit that saw Perry Hills, Shawn Petty and Caleb Rowe starting various games.

 

He's a talented QB and wish him success and luck this Saturday. He's going to need it.

Now I'm not saying Maryland should break out the Air Force flexbone versus Michigan on Saturday, but yes they should totally do precisely and exactly that on Saturday.  I mean, what could possibly go wrong? Don't answer that, Troy Calhoun.

 

MGoBoard
Football
DJ Durkin
2017 Michigan @ Maryland
Tyrell Pigrome
Kasim Hill
Max Bortenschlager
Ryan Brand
Air Force football

stephenrjking

November 6th, 2017 at 1:04 PM ^

I agree. They looked so promising at the beginning of the year. Sure, Texas is mediocre, but they won IN AUSTIN and looked good doing it, with two starting-capable QBs.

And now the position is in flames. If we were in their situation we'd be down Speight, O'Korn, Peters, McCaffrey, and down to either Malzone (our fifth guy) or Gentry (equivalent because he's a position switch). 

That would be a nightmare. 

Joined: 03/15/2012

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markusr2007

November 6th, 2017 at 1:08 PM ^

that many QB injuries in a single season. 

I think you could watch 100 consecutive years of Maryland football and still never observe something quite like this happening. 

Maryland's bowl hopes are destroyed this year, but next year they could be much improved if they stay healthy.

 

Joined: 10/21/2008

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Bambi

November 6th, 2017 at 2:48 PM ^

I actually think Texas is in a pretty good spot this year. Besides the loss to Maryland (the only game where Maryland actually had either of their top 2 QBs), they've lost to: #15 USC on the road by 3 in OT #5 Oklahoma by 5 #12 OK St by 3 in OT #8 TCU by 17 on the road They also beat #24 ISU on the road and have done this with a first year coach and injured/young QBs. Texas might actually be back soon.

Joined: 10/12/2013

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Big Boutros

November 6th, 2017 at 2:57 PM ^

They are 63rd in S&P+ this year compared to 36th last year.

The scores are close but I don't think their team is actually any good. They will probably be 5-6 playing Texas Tech for bowl eligibility.

They do have a very juicy recruiting class though.

Joined: 07/08/2008

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ST3

November 6th, 2017 at 12:59 PM ^

I am handing the ball off as soon as I receive it. I don't care what the play call is. It's hot-potato time and you don't want to be holding that ball when UofM's defense tees off on you.

Joined: 09/11/2010

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4yearsofhoke

November 6th, 2017 at 12:59 PM ^

I think he played his 9-10th grade year of hs ball in St Joe MI on the SW side of the state. IIRC he was about the same size then as he is now (and dominated).

 

Good luck to him!

Joined: 12/19/2015

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Magnus

November 6th, 2017 at 1:20 PM ^

BTW, he has a brother named Bryce Brand at Maryland who was a standout in Michigan before eventually ending up at IMG. Bryce has 13 tackles and 1 sack this year.

Joined: 07/17/2008

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LSAClassOf2000

November 6th, 2017 at 1:48 PM ^

From what I understand, the NCAA rules on transfers for athletes govern even the academies so if he was to transfer to Maryland from Air Force like that, he may do so although he sits out a year, and the same would be true if he transferred to an academy from elsewhere. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

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Rabbit21

November 6th, 2017 at 3:13 PM ^

Your first two years are basically no harm no foul if you decide to leave or if the Academy invites you to continue your education elsewhere. Basically they want to give you time to decide if this is for you and the second year is generally the year of academic casualties as you start moving into the tougher core classes without a major correspnding downgrade in the military stuff, so the system is set to washout people in the first two years and then keep them for the last two years.  Once you set foot in your first class of your junior year, you are now signed up for the next two years at the academy as well as your five year service commitment, it's called two for seven day, the Air Force Academy used to have a dinner to "celebrate the decision" but that may no longer be in place.  If you leave or get kicked out after that point you now owe enlisted service time and/or you get to pay the academy back for your education.  In other words, getting kicked out after your junior year has started is a very bad thing.

You can always tell which juniors have yet to take their first class of the school year in the academic building by walking around and seeing who is hanging around outside the classroom with a pained look on their face.

As a general FYI, you don't enlist at the academy, you join the class and then at the end of your four years, you are commissioned as an officer.  

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GordonG

November 6th, 2017 at 2:14 PM ^

...Terps OL any good?...if not, we should start a 

GoFundMe account for the med bills this kid is going to need

honorable thing to do for a fellow Michigander 

Joined: 11/13/2016

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Perkis-Size Me

November 6th, 2017 at 2:52 PM ^

So does Maryland have a fifth string QB? If not, they may be looking for one after Michigan comes to town this Saturday. 

If I'm Durkin, I honestly wonder what my offensive gameplan is. It has to be vastly limited at this point. Hand the ball off and pray your OL can create just enough holes for your backs to squeeze through? Chuck up a few Hail Marys and just see what happens? A lot of wildcat? I can't imagine Don Brown is going to respect the passing game until proven otherwise, and with Hurst, Gary, Winovich and Hudson baring down on your fifth string QB, I can't imagine the game is going to go very well for Maryland on that side of the ball. 

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SMart WolveFan

November 6th, 2017 at 3:28 PM ^

......you're gonna need it!

And may your leaning curve be so high after facing a diabolically Don Brown D, that you're ready to give Maryland their greatest upset eva when PSU visits.

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