Tag: Jake Ryan

2014 Season Countdown: #6 Jake Ryan

Jake Ryan

Name: Jake Ryan
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 236 lbs.
High school: Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius
Position: Linebacker
Class: Redshirt senior
Jersey number: #47
Last year: I ranked Ryan #24 and said he would be the starting SAM when he returned from injury with 35 tackles and 3 sacks. He started five games and made 30 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 1 pass breakup.

I went into 2013 calling Ryan Michigan’s best defensive player. He was Second Team all-conference in 2012, but a springtime torn ACL delayed his debut last season. He returned to play a part-time role in the Penn State game in mid-October, but like Whoopi Goldberg standing in for Patrick Swayze, it just wasn’t the same. Ryan played in eight games, but was only deemed capable of starting five. Cameron Gordon did an okay job in his stead, but the front seven lacked a playmaker except for an occasional burst from Frank Clark. Ryan still managed to be named Michigan’s top linebacker, but those statistics aren’t super impressive. We knew it was going to be a disappointing season for him because of the injury, and . . . well . . . we weren’t disappointed. In our disappointment.

To start this season, Ryan will be 1.5 years removed from his ACL tear and should have few lingering effects. He has bumped over to middle linebacker in Michigan’s 4-3 Over, previously having been a SAM in the Under defense. Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison has taken over coaching the linebackers, and the staff wants Ryan to be able to play sideline to sideline. Word out of practice is that he has taken to the switch, and I thought Ryan was more of a prototypical middle linebacker when he came out of high school. I’m excited to see what he can do in the middle. At times in the past, he has done an excellent job of blitzing on the interior, and those opportunities should become more frequent this season. The flip side of my excitement is that Michigan has done an excellent job of recruiting linebackers over the past few seasons, and there are capable replacements on the roster. Senior Desmond Morgan has been a three-year starter – though he seems to be getting benched in favor of junior Joe Bolden – and sophomore Ben Gedeon showed flashes of brilliance late last year. Ryan should have a good year himself, but the defense would not be totally destroyed if he were lost for a stretch.

Prediction: Starting middle linebacker; 75 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3 sacks

247 Sports: 2014 Pre-season All-Big Ten Team

Devin Funchess

247 Sports released their Pre-season All-Big Ten Team on Wednesday morning. There are a few Michigan players on the list:

WR Devin Funchess
LB Jake Ryan
CB Blake Countess

2014 Rotary Lombardi Award watch list

Jake Ryan

The 2014 Rotary Lombardi Award watch list was released on Monday morning. The only Wolverine to have won the award was LaMarr Woodley in 2006. It is given to the most outstanding down lineman (on offense or defense) or linebacker. There are a number of interesting names for Michigan fans on the list:

Henry Anderson – DE – Stanford*
Chi Chi Ariguzo – LB – Northwestern
Michael Bennett – DT – Ohio State*
Austin Blythe – C – Iowa
Joey Bosa – DE – Ohio State*
Shilique Calhoun – DE – Michigan State
A.J. Cann – OG – South Carolina*
Carl Davis – DT – Iowa
Devonte Fields – DE – TCU*
B.J. Finney – C – Kansas State
Randy Gregory – DE – Nebraska
Rob Havenstein – OT – Wisconsin
Kaleb Johnson – OG – Rutgers
A.J. Johnson – LB – Tennessee*
Nick Martin – OT – Notre Dame
Josue Matias – OG – Florida State*
Ryan Mueller – DE – Kansas State
Andrus Peat – OT – Stanford*
Jake Ryan – LB – Michigan
Brandon Scherff – OT – Iowa
Jaylon Smith – LB – Notre Dame*
Max Tuerk – OG – USC*
Cody Whitehair – OG – Kansas State

*Offered by Michigan

2014 Butkus Award watch list

Jake Ryan

The 2014 Butkus Award watch list was revealed today. The award is given to the country’s top linebacker each year. Handed out since 1985, the lone Wolverine to win the award was Erick Anderson in 1991. A number of notable players are on the list for Michigan fans’ interests:

Trey DePriest – LB – Alabama*
Kris Frost – LB – Auburn*
Jarrett Grace – LB – Notre Dame
Curtis Grant – LB – Ohio State*
Jordan Hicks – LB – Texas*
Mike Hull – LB – Penn State
Jordan Jenkins – LB – Georgia*
A.J. Johnson – LB – Tennessee*
Taiwan Jones – LB – Michigan State
Mason Monheim – LB – Illinois
Jake Ryan – LB – Michigan
Jaylon Smith – LB – Notre Dame*

2014 Bronko Nagurski Award watch list

Frank Clark

The 2014 Bronko Nagurski Award watch list has been released, and there are a few Michigan players on the list, plus some other notable players from the Big Ten, other opponents, and Michigan’s recruiting. Charles Woodson (1997) is the only Michigan player to have won the award, which is given to the nation’s best defensive player.

Michael Bennett – DT – Ohio State*
Joey Bosa – DE – Ohio State*
Shilique Calhoun – DE – Michigan State
Frank Clark – DE – Michigan
Blake Countess – CB – Michigan
Su’a Cravens – S – USC*
Carl Davis – DT – Iowa
Kurtis Drummond – S – Michigan State*
Devonte Fields – DE – TCU*
Kendall Fuller – CB – Virginia Tech*
Randy Gregory – DE – Nebraska
Vernon Hargreaves III – CB – Florida*
Ryan Mueller – DE – Kansas State
KeiVarae Russell – CB – Notre Dame
Jake Ryan – LB – Michigan
Jaylon Smith – LB – Notre Dame*
Trae Waynes – CB – Michigan State

*Offered by Michigan