ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Transitioned from outside to inside in 2014. Highly productive downhill tackler. Has burst to the ball. Gap-responsible and tackles through his targets. Possesses straight-line speed to chase from sideline to sideline. Second-effort worker. Good in zone coverage. Team captain. Known as a prolific film-eater who spent hours studying and learning offensive tendencies with defensive coordinator. Can play multiple linebacker spots and can fit in just about every scheme.
WEAKNESSES
Can become a block magnet and stays wired for too long before disengaging. Despite the film work, still needs to improve on diagnosing and reacting quicker from inside. Very average lateral movement and footwork. Plays through a straw and is a little tight when asked to change directions. Overly aggressive. Breaks down in space a shade late and will miss tackles because of it. Suffered a torn ACL, causing him to miss action in 2013.
DRAFT PROJECTION
Round 4 or 5
NFL COMPARISON
Desmond Bishop
BOTTOM LINE
He's got the size, physicality and commitment to film work to play inside, but his instincts still need work. Ryan is a little stiff and stays blocked for too long, but his disengagement from blocks will improve with more reps inside. Faster than quick, he is scheme versatile and can fit inside or at the SAM linebacker spot in a 4-3. Ryan's productivity comes from toughness, play demeanor and physical tools. Teams could pigeonhole him as a "try-hard" linebacker, but they shouldn't.
CBS:
STRENGTHS: Good-sized frame for the position with adequate length. Terrific play speed with a motor that is always revving - high effort player. Finds the quickest route from A-to-B with excellent pursuit skills, seeing plays develop before it happens with read/react awareness. Anticipates well as a run defender to blow up run lanes and blocks, sacrificing himself for the greater good. Sets the edge and understands field leverage with NFL take-on strength to give blockers a handful at the point of attack. Processes information quickly with decisive movements to cover a large area. High football intelligence and an assignment sound player. Good timing as a blitzer, doing a nice job playing on the other side of the line of scrimmage. Top-shelf competitor and often has the dirtiest jersey on the field.
Highly confident and marches to the beat of his own drum. Strong football resume with 41 starts, 267 total tackles and 45.5 tackles for loss over his career - extensive special teams experience and versatility inside and outside.
Football bloodlines: father (WR, Wake Forest), grandfather (DT, Xavier), older brother (WR, Ball State) and younger brother (LB, Ball State).
WEAKNESSES: Tight hips and lacks the body fluidity to consistently hold up one-on-one in coverage. Not a twitchy player with limitations moving laterally. One-speed type and doesn't offer much burst. Needs to do a better job anticipating blocks to avoid bodies, work off contact and stay off the ground. Struggles to keep himself clean and work through the garbage. Inconsistent vision and lacks the make-up speed to compensate. Will overpursue angles at times and arrive too early, forcing some break down issues. Tore the ACL in his right knee that required surgery (March 2013), missing half of his junior season while working his way back from the injury.
--Dane Brugler
PLAYER OVERVIEW
A two-year captain and the 2014 Michigan team MVP, Ryan is a self-made prospect who eats, drinks and breathes football and while he has some athletic limitations, he is the type of player who will make his coach smile and cry when describing how important he is to the team. After a standout sophomore season, Ryan battled through an injury-plagued junior year and looked lost at times when he moved inside as a senior. He has a great feel for the game with natural instincts to close on the action, but the farther from the ball, the less comfortable he feels. Ryan competes with an overachieving attitude and is the type of player who will outplay his draft slot - projects best on the outside where he can blitz, leverage the field and use his strengths.
Ryan received only MAC scholarship offers until an on-campus visit to Michigan prompted an offer from Rich Rodriguez, which Ryan accepted quickly. After redshirting in 2010, he earned the starting nod at strongside linebacker in 2011, finishing among the team leaders with 11.0 tackles for loss. Ryan emerged as a defensive playmaker in 2012 as a sophomore, leading the Wolverines in tackles (88), tackles for loss (16.0), sacks (4.5) and forced fumbles (4), earning All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors. He missed half of the 2013 season with a knee injury, but returned healthy in 2014 as a senior and moved inside to middle linebacker, finishing with a career-best 112 total tackles, earning First Team All-Big Ten honors.
