James Monroe DB Aidan Ryan (Photo: Joe Barnes/recruit757)
2021 DB Aidan Ryan commits in-state
by Jim McGrath, recruitNoVA
James Monroe defensive back Aidan Ryan (2021 DB 6-0 192) has made his verbal commitment official, with the Yellow Jacket junior opting to stay in-state and continue his football career with the University of Virginia.
Ryan has been a hot item throughout the spring, drawing offers from as far away as the University of Hawai’i. Last month, Ryan was also pleased to receive his first two Power 5 offers, both from the ACC, with Louisville extending a formal scholarship offer, followed soon after by the Cavaliers.
Other schools making Ryan’s short list included Vanderbilt, Princeton, James Madison, Liberty, Old Dominion, East Carolina, Appalachian State and Temple. In all, he received approximately 30 offers, including most of the Ivy League schools.
COMMITED…love you mom❤️ @shotbybev @STAC_UNCUT @BrianDohn247 @KGriffinJMHS pic.twitter.com/DC3GF2Bq2k
— aidan ryan☠️ (@aaidannn) May 10, 2020
Ryan was a Class 3 second-team All-State cornerback last season, and also showed his prowess as a long jumper in track, placing second in the Class 3 Indoor State long jump with a leap of 22-5.25. Earlier in the season, at the St, Christopher’s Invitational, Ryan posted his best jump, placing second in the event in 22-9.
Interviewed by UVA Sports-centric outlet, TheSabre.com, Ryan credited the combination of athletics and academics his now future school presents.
He told TheSabre.com, “UVA has always been a program that I’ve been really interested in, just everything about it is attractive to me,” adding, “The education, the atmosphere on campus, and the football team most of all. Every time I went it got better and better.”
Ryan is the ‘Hoos 13th recruit for the Class of 2021, and he will certainly become one of the most versatile. Under former JM head coach Rich Serbay, Ryan played a myriad of positions, including quarterback, wide receiver, defensive back, and kick returner. For the time being, he believes that Virginia will keep him in the defensive backfield. Last week, George Coghill, a former Yellow Jacket athletic legend, took over as the new head coach.
– Jim McGrath
