Countdown to Kickoff features junior/sophomore linebacker Jake Ryan, who talks about what he worked on in the offseason, his favorite play from last season, and year two in Greg Mattison's defensive system.
CAREER HIGHS Tackles: 11, twice, last vs. Illinois (Oct. 13, 2012) Solos: 8, vs. Michigan State (Oct. 20, 2012) Asst: 4, four times, last at Minnesota (Nov. 3, 2012) TFLs: 4, vs. Virginia Tech (Jan. 3, 2012) Sacks: 1.5, vs. Illinois (Oct. 13, 2012) Int.: None FR: 2, vs. San Diego State (Sept. 24, 2011) PBUs: 1, vs. Notre Dame (Sept. 22, 2012)
At Michigan ... has appeared in 26 contests at linebacker and defensive end, making 24 starts.
Junior/Sophomore (2012)... All-Big Ten second team (media) and honorable mention (coaches) ... Phil Steele's Postseason All-Big Ten second team ....... ranked third in Big Ten in tackles-for-loss with 16.0. ... set a new Michigan single-season record for forced fumbles (5) at Ohio State (Nov. 24) ... Prior to Air Force game (Sept. 8) switched from No. 90 to No. 47 for remainder of career in honor of "Michigan Football Legend" Bennie Oosterbaan ... Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 15 ... OHIO STATE (Nov. 24) ... recorded nine tackles, 2.0 TFLs, two forced fumbles and one sack ... NORTHWESTERN (Nov. 10) ... posted four tackles ... MINNESOTA (Nov. 3) ... tallied nine tackles and 3.0 TFLs ... NEBRASKA (Oct. 27) ... tallied four tackles and 0.5 TFLs ... MICHIGAN STATE (Oct. 20) ... posted 10 tackles, one sack, one TFL and one forced fumble ... ILLINOIS (Oct. 13) ... matched career high with 11 tackles, including 3.5 TFLs ... PURDUE (Oct. 6) ... recorded six tackles and 2.0 TFLs, including one sack ... NOTRE DAME (Sept. 22) ... posted five tackles (all solo stops) and one pass breakup ... MASSACHUSETTS (Sept. 15) ... recorded four tackles and 0.5 TFLs ... AIR FORCE (Sept. 8.) ... tallied a career-high 11 tackles, including seven solo stops, two pass breakups and 1.0 TFLs ... ALABAMA (Sept. 1) ... tallied five tackles and 0.5 TFLs.
Sophomore/Freshman (2011)... Sugar Bowl champion ... earned first varsity letter ... ESPN.com and BTN.com Big Ten All-Freshman Team ... appeared in all 13 games; played all 13 games at linebacker and/or defensive end, starting 11 of them (Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, San Diego State, Minnesota, Michigan State, Purdue, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio State, Virginia Tech), contributed on special teams in all 13 contests ... VIRGINIA TECH (Jan. 3) ... set career high and tied Sugar Bowl record with four TFLs ... OHIO STATE (Nov. 26) ... made three tackles and added an assisted sack ... NEBRASKA (Nov. 19) ... recorded three tackles, an assisted sack and first career forced fumble ... ILLINOIS (Nov. 12) ... set career high with four assisted stops and had an assisted TFL ... PURDUE (Oct. 29) ... four tackles, including one TFL for a loss of five yards ... MINNESOTA (Oct. 1) ... made one solo tackle for first career sack ... SAN DIEGO STATE (Sept. 24) ... recorded a career-high five tackles, including one for a loss, and first two career fumble recoveries ... WESTERN MICHIGAN (Sept. 3) ... made career debut and first collegiate start at strongside linebacker, notching one assisted tackle and deflecting a pass into the air that Brandon Herron intercepted and returned 94 yards for a touchdown.
Freshman (2010) ... did not see game action ... redshirted.
Prep ... attended St. Ignatius High School (2010) coached by Chuck Kyle ... ran 40-yard dash in 4.57 seconds ... member of the state championship team during his junior year ... Key Statistics ... registered 104 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, eight sacks, four pass breakups and two fumble recoveries as a senior ... injured during junior season and played mostly on special teams ... recovered onside kick at the end of the state championship game that clinched the title as a junior ... Honors and Rankings ... three-star and No. 45 prospect in the state of Ohio by Rivals.com ... rated as the 30th-best inside linebacker nationally according to Rivals.com ... three-star prospect and the No. 80 outside linebacker according to scout.com ... earned All-Ohio honors as a senior ... shared Defensive Player of the Year honors for Northeast District senior year ... named to Cleveland Plain Dealer All-Star Team.
Personal ... Jacob William Ryan was born Feb. 27, 1992 ... brother, Connor, is a receiver at Ball State ... father, Tim, was a wide receiver at Wake Forest (1980-84) ... grandfather, Francis Sweeney, was a defensive tackle at Xavier and went on to play in the Canadian Football League ... from the same high school as former Wolverines Pat and Mike Massey, Pat Kratus and Trent Zenkewicz ... enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, major undeclared.
