DeMeco Ryans

One of the best-kept secrets in college football, opposing quarterbacks throughout the last several years are well aware of Ryans's big-play ability on the field. A highly respected team leader and captain, Ryans has also excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-Southeastern Conference three times. He was also the lone SEC representative to earn the 2005 Arthur Ashe Jr. Scholarship Award. Ryans was a Super All-State and Academic All-State selection and was named to The Tuscaloosa News Sweet Sixteen and The Birmingham Post-Herald Super Senior teams as a senior at Jess Lanier High School. He was rated the fifth-best linebacker in the South-east by Prep Star and the best prospect in the state of Alabama. Ryans recorded 135 tackles with eleven sacks, two forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions during his final prep campaign. Still, for all of his football honors, he is most proud of making the Academic All-State team. Ryans played in thirteen games as a true freshman, starting the season finale vs. Hawaii at weak-side linebacker. In 312 plays, he recorded 27 tackles (12 solos) with two stops behind the line of scrimmage, a pair of quarterback pressures and a fumble recovery. He moved into the starting lineup permanently in 2003, leading the team with a career-high 126 tackles (72 solos) from the weak-side linebacker position. Only Woodrow Lowe (134 in 1973) had more tackles in a season for Alabama. He added 2.5 sacks, ten stops for losses, five pressures, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. Ryans started the final eleven games of the 2004 season at strong-side linebacker. He finished second on the squad with 78 tackles (47 solos), adding eight stops for losses, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, two pass deflections, an interception and a pair of pressures. Ryans was a consensus All-American and All-SEC pick in 2005. He earned Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar honors and was an Academic All-District IV pick. The Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP posted a team-high 76 tackles (43 solos) with five sacks and twelve stops for losses. He recovered two fumbles, caused another and intercepted a pass. In 50 games at Alabama, Ryans started 37 times. He ranks fourth in school history with 308 tackles (175 solos), adding 7.5 sacks for minus 61 yards, 32 stops for losses of 111 yards and thirteen quarterback pressures. He caused and recovered four fumbles, batted away four passes and intercepted two others for 7 yards in returns. Ryans also won the Lott Trophy (college defensive player of the year who has the biggest impact both on and off the field) and was a finalist for the Bednarik Award (symbolic as the Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year). He graduated in December, 2005 with a degree in Business Management (completed requirements for graduation after only seven semesters, earning 44 hours his last two semesters alone).

ryans is not really used much as a blitzer, but has the hand strength to get a decent push off the ball. he works hard to tie up blockers long enough to free other defenders to get to the quarterback. when working off the edge, he is a functional blitzer who has the speed to close.

Against the pass, Ryans is very effective at adjusting to the blockers' moves, using his hands to fend off low blocks and fit through the tight spots to fill the lanes. He is explosive breaking out of his backpedal, keeping his feet under him to turn and mirror receivers in their routes.

negatives

Could use at least another ten pounds of bulk on his frame...His lack of bulk will sometimes cause him to struggle shedding blocks when working in-line (gets engulfed by the larger linemen)...Not used much as a blitzer and can get caught up by inside trash, but shows the foot speed to close when given a free lane...Lacks natural hands for the interception (only one theft in his career), letting the ball absorb into his body rather than extend, pluck and snatch.

positives

Has a well-built, compact frame with good muscle development, tight waist and excellent quickness...Smooth and flexible in reverse, showing the change of direction agility and lateral movement to string plays wide...Plays with natural instincts and very good field position (rarely caught out of position)...Uses his initial burst well to slip past blockers when attempting to plug the inside rush lanes...Best when operating in pursuit, as he is sudden closing on the ball and takes good angles working in space...Shows very good hand usage to mirror and reroute tight ends in the short area...Has enough speed to stay on the hip of the receiver on deep routes...Compensates for a lack of ideal size with good upper body strength...Knows how to use his hand extension to separate, shed and keep blockers from attacking his body...Sidesteps low blocks well, showing the balance to avoid trash while maintaining acceleration to the ball...Classic wrap-up tackler who explodes into ball carriers, driving hard with his legs to bring the opponent down...His ability to take angles in pursuit allows him to get to plays other linebackers can't make... Has the loose hips and foot speed to shadow receivers in man coverage and also is very alert to schemes, doing a nice job of handling the switch-off when operating in zone coverage...Does a very good job of tracking the ball in flight and changes directions instantly to redirect and attack the ball...Fluid in his pass drops and keeps his head on a swivel to maintain eye contact with the ball...Solid contributor on special teams, showing the make-up and desire to get down field and break up the wedge.

ryans has more than enough quickness to cover tight ends underneath, shadowing his man to prevent the reception. he is a very solid tackler working up field. he is quick to locate and track down the ball in flight. his lateral agility allows him to close quickly and he takes good angles to close the cushion immediately when beaten.

Ryans is a very intelligent athlete who has worked hard to refine all phases of his game. He takes well to hard coaching and is a good role model for the younger players. Ryans is very mature for his age and is not the type that will make rash decisions in pressure situations. He puts in the extra hours needed in the weight room and film room. He is more of a leader by example type, but will not hesitate to get vocal in the huddle.

ryans is a well-prepared athlete who can handle whatever the offenses throw at him. he is a patient sort with good read-and-diagnose ability, knowing his teammates' assignments well enough to keep everyone in position on the field. he stays focused, is rarely rattled and usually carries out all assignments. ryans knows how to use his strength to compensate for a lack of ideal size. he plays with good leverage while taking on blocks and can hit and shed with authority. he uses his hands effectively to free himself working off the edge and has the pass coverage skills and fluid hip motion to drop back quickly in pass coverage.

Against the run, his size issue sometimes causes him to struggle working in-line, but he knows how to use his quickness to slip past and avoid blocks in order to get to the ball and clog the inside rush lanes. He is best in pursuit, showing urgency, balance and body control with excellent change of direction agility to run clean and take proper angles to the ball when working in space. He is a solid wrap-up tackler with enough power to drag ball carriers down.

ryans is a compactly built athlete with good overall muscle definition, a thick chest, broad shoulders, tight waist, good bubble and thick thighs. he started at strong-side linebacker in 2005, but his quickness and ball anticipation skills might be better suited for the weak-side, where he can attack the ball rather than contain the run. he shows good functional strength to take on the larger blockers, but can be engulfed by the larger linemen when working in-line. he shows excellent foot speed and quickness in his pass drops and is the type of player that can contribute on every down.

He plays with excellent field vision and awareness. Ryans demonstrates the instincts to quickly track down the ball. He has the change of direction agility and lateral movements to string plays wide and hits ball carriers with force, doing a nice job of driving with his legs to push the opponent back through the rush lanes.

2004: Suffered a right ankle sprain at the start of August camp. He did not miss any games, but did not start the season opener vs. Utah State. 2005: Could not run on March Pro Day (3/15) due to strains in both hamstrings.

Campus: 4.63 in the 40-yard dash

395-pound bench press

565-pound squat

34-inch vertical jump

32 1/8-inch arm length

8 5/8-inch hands

Right-handed

19/28 Wonderlic score.

Attended Jess Lanier (Bessemer, Ala.) High School, playing football for coach Willie T. Ford

Super All-State and Academic All-State selection and was named to The Tuscaloosa News Sweet Sixteen and The Birmingham Post-Herald Super Senior teams as a senior

Rated the fifth-best linebacker in the Southeast by Prep Star and the best prospect in the state of Alabama

Recorded 135 tackles with eleven sacks, two forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions during his final prep campaign

Also earned Academic All-State team honors.

Business Management major, earning Academic All-Southeastern Conference honors three times and Academic All-District IV accolades twice

Has a 3.42 grade point average

Son of Martha Ryans and Morgan Turner

Born 7/28/84

Resides in Bessemer, Alabama.