FOOTBALL: Ryan takes over as defensive leader

Zack Ryan wasn’t allowed to grow out his hair at St. Ignatius High School in Westlake, Ohio.

Now as a redshirt freshman linebacker at Ball State, Ryan is able to grow out his hair and make a name for himself on the Cardinals’ defense.

“I’ve always wanted to have the long hair look playing football,” Ryan said. “I thought it looked kind of cool. It almost has an intimidating factor.”

Using intimidation or not, Ryan has recorded 18 tackles in his first two collegiate games including a team-leading, 11-tackle game in the 40-14 win against Army. He hasn’t played flawlessly in his first two games, but has given Ball State a needed boost at the linebacker position after losing three startersa season ago.

Defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach Jay Bateman said Ryan’s first half in the season opener against Illinois State on Aug. 29 was poor, but not because he was being outworked by the offense.

“He was kind of all over the place, but once he settled down he was really good,” Bateman said. “I think he was trying to press and make some plays that weren’t his to make.”

Ryan came back from the opener against Illinois State to be named the team’s defensive player of the game against Army on Sept. 7. The Black Knights’ triple-option offense calls for the inside linebackers to be involved with nearly every play. And with facing the cut blocking scheme for the first time, Ryan responded well.

“I was happy with how he played against such a challenging deal for an inside linebacker,” Bateman said. “We have high expectations on him and he’s playing pretty close to them.”

Ryan spent all of the 2012 season in the weight room working on building muscle and conditioning while a redshirt. He made sure to take mental notes watching the first and second string defenses during practices since he was limited to the scout team as a redshirt.

His brother, wide receiver Connor Ryan, also helped his development with the team.

“I’d visit and I got to know the older guys before I was even on the team,” Ryan said. “I really didn’t have any trouble mixing in with the team. It was easy for me.”

That development helped Ryan show the Ball State coaches he can be a trusted linebacker with a group that includes Ben Ingle, Kenneth Lee, Chris Calloway and Avery Bailey. As a redshirt freshman, Ryan gives the defense depth, which wasn’t available in head coach Pete Lembo’s first season in 2011.

“Two years ago we’re up at Northern Illinois ... and we played 14 guys in that game on defense,” Lembo said. “There’s just no way you can survive and not get worn down in the second half of a game if you’re playing 14 guys on defense. But that’s the position we were in two years ago.”

Ball State’s defense isn’t filled with redshirt seniors and juniors as Lembo would like, but playing well more than 14 players on defense pleases him.

Ryan knew he would have to fill a large void left from the departures of three seniors and through two games he’s shown he’s capable of filling it. He didn’t get to practice in the same units as them, but learned from watching them.

“They were like role models,” Ryan said. “Once they left I’ve been trying to follow in their footsteps. I knew I’d have to step my game up and go from there.”