Quarterback Jeff Ryan's never-say-die approach is one that will forever be remembered by YSU fans. In his four-year career, Ryan started 42 games and brought the Penguins from behind to win on 15 occasions.
Eight times, Ryan brought the Penguins back by directing fourth-quarter rallies. He had five of those comebacks during his sophomore campaign in 1999. Included in that was a first-round 30-27 playoff win at Montana and a memorable 11-point fourth-quarter rally in the semifinals against Florida A&M. YSU trailed the Rattlers 24-13 in the fourth before two Ryan fourth-quarter touchdown passes gave it a 27-24 victory to move on to the title game.
As a junior in 2000, Ryan led rallies to defeat UNI and Hofstra. The 28-24 win over the Panthers is the last time the program beat UNI while the double-overtime 42-35 victory over Hofstra is the longest game in Stambaugh Stadium history.
He posted a 29-13 record as a starter and played in 49 games during his career. At the end of his career, he was the school's all-time leader in touchdown passes, total offense, total offensive plays, rushing yards by a quarterback and touchdowns responsible for.
Ryan finished his career throwing for 6,226 yards, completing 457-of-794 passes (57.1 percent) for 50 touchdowns. He averaged 127.1 yards passing per game and had a QB rating of 137.83. On the ground, he rushed for 1,872 yards on 615 attempts and scored 17 touchdowns. He accumulated 8,098 total offensive yards on 1,374 plays and accounted for 67 scores.
As a senior in 2001, he completed 96-of-161 passes for 1,201 yards and eight touchdowns, guiding the Guins to an 8-3 mark that left them just short of the postseason. He rushed for 521 yards on 137 carries and scored four touchdowns. He was a second-team All-Gateway selection and Honorable-Mention All-American.
He led the Penguins to the playoffs his junior campaign in 2000 as YSU finished 9-3. In 12 games, he passed for 1,416 yards, completing 105-of-192 passes, and 15 touchdowns. Ryan ran for 349 yards on 151 attempts and had three touchdowns. He was a second-team All-Gateway selection and Honorable-Mention All-American for his efforts.
In 1999, Ryan led the Penguins to their sixth National Championship Game appearance. YSU finished the year 12-3, and he was part of many memorable moments engineering fourth-quarter rallies against Florida A&M, Montana, UNI, Indiana State and Western Illinois.
In 15 games, Ryan completed 172-of-288 passes for 2,573 yards and 19 touchdowns. All four of those marks were career highs. He posted an impressive rating of 151.68. He passed for a career-high 291 yards in the playoff win at Montana.
Ryan played in 11 games and started seven as a true freshman in 1998. He made his first career start against Southern Illinois. For the season, he completed 84-of-152 passes for 1,036 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing for 364 yards and scoring three times.
Ryan earned his degree in communications from YSU and went on to receive his MBA from Ashland University.
He is currently a territory sales manager for Boston Scientific.
At Boardman High School, he was selected as the Steel Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year, a first-team All-Ohio selection, first-team All-Northeast Ohio pick and first-team all-conference honoree. He was also tabbed an Honorable-Mention All-American by USA Today.
He is married to former YSU soccer player Kate McHugh. The couple has two children, Ella and Sophia.
