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player ready...Pat Ryan took the road less traveled to becoming Naperville Central’s starting quarterback.
It’s hard to argue with his results.
Ryan played safety and running back until high school.
His first experience at quarterback came as a sophomore during the last three games for Central’s “B” team. Ryan attempted one pass as a junior, and was no certainty to start this fall.
“It really opens my eyes to the fact that anything is possible,” Ryan said.
He sure is opening eyes.
The 6-foot-3, 175-pound senior has thrown for 1,023 yards and nine touchdowns for Central (3-3, 3-2) going into Friday’s DuPage Valley matchup against Naperville North.
A Redhawk offense returning just one starter averaged nearly 35 points during a three-game winning streak that was snapped last week.
“He’s taken the bull by the horns,” said Chad Bradley, Central’s quarterbacks coach.
Bradley has unique perspective to Ryan’s rise. Bradley was on the freshman coaching staff during Ryan’s freshman year, and Ryan hardly stood out.
“He had decent height, skinny guy, kind of kid that was always a freshman ‘B’ guy,” Bradley said. “It’s amazing to see how much he’s grown.”
Ryan’s introduction to quarterback more or less came by necessity.
A quarterback transferred, and a couple coaches asked Ryan to give quarterback a try the day before Central’s preseason scrimmage.
“I took it and kind of ran with it,” Ryan said.
Ryan played primarily receiver as a sophomore, aside from three quarterback starts for the “B” team.
A week before camp junior year he made the permanent switch to quarterback.
“He’s got the arm strength,” Central coach Mike Stine said of Ryan. “He can make all the throws those other guys we’ve had can make.”
Ryan did the requisite work to get better. He trained with quarterbacks guru Jeff Christensen at Throw It Deep in Chicago and locally with strength coach Kofi Hughes at Fit Speed.
The turning point in his development, though, was six days of training in January at Whitfield Athletix in San Diego with George Whitfield. Whitfield is noteworthy for mentoring four of the last five Heisman Trophy winners.
“You have no clue who is going to be there, a ton of NFL and college guys, and I was the guy that had never even played varsity,” Ryan said. “I’ve always had a strong arm, but I had no clue about the proper footwork.
“It wasn’t pretty. Learning how to open my feet, how to set and throw, how to throw off-balance, it elevated my game.”
Ryan also had huge shoes to fill.
Central’s last two starters, Jake Kolbe and Conor Joyce, were All-State quarterbacks. Kolbe now starts for Illinois State. Joyce threw for 2,135 yards last fall in leading Central to the Class 8A quarterfinals.
Stine’s anxiety was tempered watching Ryan throw during an open gym in December.
“There was a concern that we had no quarterback waiting in the wings,” Stine said. “I kept telling the other coaches you’re not going to believe the improvement Pat has made.”
Ryan has come a long way since a rough opening loss to Glenbard North.
Ryan perhaps best showed his moxie at Wheaton Warrenville South two weeks ago, when he threw TD passes to Josh Boomgarden and AJ Deinhart in overtime as the Redhawks squeaked out a 43-42 win.
“His biggest area of growth is his decision making,” Bradley said. “He’s putting us in position to make plays.”
Friday marks Ryan’s first varsity taste of the North rivalry, but he knows it well.
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His cousin, David Ryan, was a defensive back on North’s 2007 state championship team.
“I told him that was the only year I would be rooting for North,” Ryan said. “I’m a Redhawk.”
Joshua Welge is a freelance writer for the Naperville Sun.
WEEK 7 GAMES
Naperville Central vs. Naperville North at North Central
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
What to watch: Resurgent North (5-1, 4-1), which has lost three straight to Central (3-3, 3-2), looks to reestablish upper hand in DuPage Valley. Cross Robinson is picking up steam out of Huskies backfield. Central wants ball control, which means a steady diet of AJ Deinhart.
Wheaton North at Neuqua Valley
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
What to watch: Will Notre Dame commit Isaiah Robertson (hamstring) play for Neuqua (6-0, 5-0) in the DVC showdown? Donny Navarro and Wildcat offense has averaged 39.3 points last three weeks. Senior linebacker Erik Mueller, a Northwestern recruit, leads Wheaton (3-3, 2-3).
Joliet Catholic at Benet
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
What to watch: Benet (5-1, 4-0) must take care of business before game at Marist that could decide East Suburban Catholic. Marty Dosen and Redwing offense hitting their stride. Joliet Catholic (0-6, 0-4) is guaranteed first losing season since 1959.
Waubonsie Valley at Fishers (Ind.) Hamilton Southeastern
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
What to watch: Warriors (3-3), with little margin for error in playoff push, make first-ever trip out of state. Limiting turnovers key for Tanner Westwood-led Waubonsie offense. Hamilton Southeastern (6-1), with 6-foot-5 quarterback Adam Mullett, likes to pass.
Wheaton Warrenville South at Metea Valley
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
What to watch: Both come in off much-needed wins. Both boast playmakers outside. Ashton Creal, Michael Brown and Jayden Reed all caught TDs last week for Metea (2-4, 2-4). Wheaton (1-5, 1-5), led by receiver Cam Moore, has scored 81 points last two games