National signing day: Riverside's Jason Ryan ready to let it loose at Mercyhurst
Feb. 1—Flag football as a kid was fun for Jason Ryan.
Then he got to sixth grade and he found out what it was like to tackle — actually tackle — and he was hooked. He's been knocking people silly ever since.
Ryan, an All-Ohio linebacker at Riverside, signed a national letter of intent on Feb. 1 to play football at Division II Mercyhurst. He chose the Lakers' scholarship offer over football opportunities at Ashland, Findlay, Baldwin Wallace and Seton Hill (Pa.)
"I'm very excited," Ryan said. "It makes me very happy to finally figure out where I'm going to play football and go to school after this long recruiting process. It was pretty stressful, so I'm glad it's over."
A 6-foot-2, 225-pounder, Ryan is a third generation college football player in his family. Father Jim Ryan was an offensive guard at Kent State, while grandfather Rolly Ryan was a running back-linebacker for the University of Miami. His other grandfather, Paul Kopko, is an inductee into the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association's hall of fame.
Suffice to say football passion runs in his veins.
"Ever since I was in elementary school, I wanted to play college football," Ryan said. "It didn't matter where. I didn't start playing tackle football until sixth grade. I just really loved hitting."
He did it a lot throughout his years at Riverside. This past fall, Ryan helped lead the Beavers to the Western Reserve Conference title and the third round of the Division II, Region 5 playoffs. He accumulated 73 tackles and 17 tackles for loss despite being double-teamed most every play.
Now he's headed to Mercyhurst.
"I really liked the culture and coaches they have there," he said. "It's close to home, too, which is nice.
"The past four years have been nothing short of amazing. I loved it. I hope I can go to Mercyhurst and have that high level of success there, too."
Riverside held a signing ceremony on Feb. 1. Also signing letter of intent there were Nick Lulow (Baldwin-Wallace football), Taylor Jasinski (John Carroll cross country and track) and Zoe Seabeck (Mount Union cross country and track).
Liebhardt bets on himself
Trey Liebhardt of Chardon had scholarship opportunities at both Hillsdale and Colgate.
He upped the ante and bet on himself instead, signing a letter of intent accepting a preferred walk-on spot at Division I Central Michigan.
A two-time first-team All-Ohioan, Liebhardt picked off eight passes, knocked down seven other passes and was generally considered the best lockdown corner in The News-Herald area, if not in Ohio at Division III. But his height (5-foot-11) kept bigger colleges away.
Liebhardt said he will continue to use that as motivation when he goes to Central Michigan, where he plans to major in business and marketing.
"The PWO is perfect," he said. "I've always bet on myself. This is my chance to play big-time football. I'll always use (being under-recruited) as motivation. I won't listen to it. I'll just go play my game."
Chardon's signing ceremony on Feb. 1 also included All-Ohioan teammate Alex Kisley, a defensive end, signing with Seton Hill, Pa.
"It's been amazing," Liebhardt said of his career at Chardon. "I've met so many people and did things I'll never forget. Those teammates and coaches... I'm very thankful I could play football at Chardon."
Gannon gains three
Perry offensive lineman A.J. Kifus, a Division V All-Ohioan, who signed with Gannon. He joins Kirtland offensive lineman George Prusock III, a three-time All-Ohioan, and Harvey two-way starter Blaise Collins in the Golden Knights' 2023 signing class.
Mentor signings
A trio of Mentor student-athletes will sign their letters of intent on Feb. 2 — Savannah Dennison (Cincinnati cross country), Bella Lundi (Glenville State golf) and Jacob Snow (Slippery Rock football).
