Tag: Ryan Keeler

Remembering Ryan Keeler: ‘He had a big impact on a lot of people in our program’

Rutgers football honored the life of the late Ryan Keeler on Sunday.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — During Saturday’s annual ‘Spring Game,’ Rutgers football honored the memory of Ryan Keeler. The former defensive lineman, who spent one season with the program, passed away in February.

Keeler was a member of the 2021 recruiting class and a former three-star recruit out of Illinois. He transferred to UNLV where he played last season and registered eight tackles.

He passed away in Las Vegas in February.

For the spring game, the football team wore decals on the back of their helmets emblazoned with Keeler’s initials. It was a tribute to a player who touched many lives around Rutgers and the football program.

Among those touched by Keeler was head coach [autotag]Greg Schiano[/autotag], who spoke on Saturday at the end of his press conference as to the legacy of Keeler.

“Ryan was a guy that touched a lot of people in the short time he was here.  a lot of our players were very, very close to him. He had that kind of personality,” Schiano said after the game.

“And, you know, we had probably, I don’t know, nine or 10 of our players went out to his service in Chicago. So that kind of shows you that although he was only here a short time – a year – he had a big impact on a lot of people in our program, including me. He’s a very positive, positive guy, and a hard, hard worker,

“You know – tragic? Absolutely. But that was our little way to sort of show and have a remembrance of him here at his first school that came to – Rutgers.”

Speaking after the game, quarterback Evan Simon said the emotions of the day and remembering Keeler’s life was not lost on him. He remembers Keeler as someone who could change a bad day simply by the will of his personality and his heart for others.

 

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“It’s tough. He was a special kid. He just always walked around with a smile on his face,” Simon said.

“And you know if your day was bad, you saw him and had a conversation – it turned out to be a great day.”

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From a familiar school, 2021 three-star DE puts Michigan in Top 5

A teammate of a prolific Wolverines commit puts the maize and blue in his top group.

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It nearly goes without saying that 2021 three-star defensive end Ryan Keeler knows a little something about Michigan at this juncture.

The Chicago (IL) Nazareth Academy SDE has had three years with Michigan commit J.J. McCarthy, the quarterback there until this offseason, as he recently announced a transfer to IMG Academy. But still, among other things, he’s had the vocal recruiter certainly in his ear about where he should go to school next.

And, along with Michigan defensive line coach Shaun Nua’s persistence, it’s seemed to have paid off, with Keeler announcing that the maize and blue have made his Top 5, along with Rutgers, Ole Miss, Virginia and Texas Tech.

Keeler is rated as the No. 566 player in the 247Sports Composite, as well as the 36th-best strong-side defensive end and No. 16 player in the state of Illinois.

Last year, he discussed with WolverinesWire’s own Evan Petzold about his relationship with McCarthy as well as his interest in Michigan.

When it comes to his recruitment, La Grange Park (Ill.) Nazareth Academy 2021 three-star defensive end Ryan Keeler is focused on taking it all in and building relationships with coaches.

However, there’s one important relationship he has that’s not with a college coach.

It is Keeler’s best friend – J.J. McCarthy.

The 2021 five-star quarterback is committed to Michigan, and he’s been playing football with Keeler since the sixth grade.

“He is always pushing Michigan to me,” Keeler told WolverinesWire. “That would be very cool, but I am going to make my own decision.”

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Michigan State football offers 2021 3-Star DE Ryan Keeler

Michigan State football has made an offer to 2021 3-Star DE Ryan Keeler from Illinois. Read some details about this potential recruit here.

Michigan State football head coach Mel Tucker has made yet another offer. This time, 3-Star Strong-Side Defensive End Ryan Keeler out of La Grange Park, Illinois, announced he has received an offer from the Spartans. Keeler stands at 6’5″ and weighs 240-pounds.

Per the 247Sports composite rankings, Keeler is the 16th highest-ranked prospect in Illinois in the 2021 recruiting class. He is also the 33rd highest-ranked Strong-Side Defensive End in the 2021 recruiting class.

Keeler also has offers from Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ole Miss, and Arkansas State.

You can check out his highlights here.

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