It’s pretty much a no-brainer, really.
Offensive lineman Ryan Myers looks to be the next big thing in the trenches for Batavia, which graduated all five starters from a Class 7A playoff semifinalist.
Myers, a 6-foot-5, 281-pound junior, saw plenty of action last season between sophomore and JV games before being thrown in for some varsity spot duty late in the year for the Bulldogs.
This summer, he picked up Division I scholarship offers from Toledo and Western Michigan.
“He’s kind of hard to miss when he walks into the room,” said Alvin Cole, an assistant coach who concentrates on the offensive line coach for Batavia. “Even freshman year, he played some JV.
“He had some size on his side from the get-go and he’s made plenty of progress since, learning the playbook and having things slow down.”
Always one of the bigger kids in his class, Myers came to Batavia from Naperville in fifth grade when his parents moved the family to be closer to Fox Valley Ice Arena, where his oldest sister trained in figure skating.
Ryan, who said he likes the smaller town feel, was a 5-10 freshman lineman before a growth spurt pushed him to between 6-3 and 6-4 for the start of his sophomore year.
His doctors believe he could grow another half inch or so.
Myers has played all three positions on the offensive line but thinks he will be slated for right tackle on Aug. 31 when Batavia opens the season at Glenbard West.
“Freshman year I played in two freshman games, then the sophomore team got hit with illness so I was promoted, mostly because they needed bodies,” Myers said. “I had a really good first game run blocking with several pancakes, so they moved me up.”
More Top Picks Best Tower Fans
His father Jeff, who played backup roles at center and linebacker for a Wheaton Warrenville South state championship team, helped Ryan learn the position.
Myers took part in Batavia’s youth flag football program before starting tackle in seventh grade.
“I didn’t really like flag football,” he said. “I was like, ‘I don’t like grabbing someone’s flag. I want to hit somebody.’”
Cole, who works with offensive line coach P.J. White, isn’t surprised by Myers’ success.
“He’s worked really hard in the offseason getting help on his own,” Cole said. “Size is key. You need to be big, but you need to develop your skills as well because sooner or later you’re going to be going face-to-face with guys just as big or bigger than you.”
Myers said working in practice at time last season with defensive end Jordan Buckley — who will be a freshman at Western Michigan — helped “even though Jordan usually got the best of me.”
Myers also credited his work at St. Charles-based F.I.S.T. Football Academy, which offers individual training for players on both sides of the line. It was started by current Aurora University offensive line coach Kevin Sabo, who has also worked with a number of high school programs.
“I’ve known him for years and we have a lot of the same philosophy,” Cole said of Sabo.
Myers said it has helped with his technique.
“It’s a little bit more noncontact and nitpicky in working on small adjustments that make you get better,” he said.
It also helped him get noticed at the North Central College mega camp in June, which led to college camp invites at Toledo, Western Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa.
“You do a lot of drills really showing coaches how mobile your hips are and how well you change directions,” Myers said.
He believes standing out in one-on-one work with defensive linemen at the college camps also led to the two offers he has. Showing more on film this season could mean even more offers.
While he looks like a headliner for Batavia’s new line, Myers said he will be in good company.
More Top Picks Irlen Syndrome And Migraine The Connection Explained
Myers said seniors Mason Popp, Bradyn Martinson and Kyle Peyton, along with juniors Tucker Saam and Joshua Hecht, will form a talented group hoping to improve upon an 11-2 record.
“I’d hate to leave anyone out,” Myers said. “These guys are really dogs. They’re gonna impress people this year.”
Good company, as usual, for Batavia.