Jake Ryan is Next Clay Matthews For Michigan Wolverines
By Devin O'Barr
@D_Original28
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
I had to do a double take when I first saw Michigan Wolverines LB Jake Ryan. The Ohio native is eerily similar to a player that the NFL has seen wreak havoc on Sundays since 2009 in Clay Matthews. Like Ryan the Green Bay Packers LB also stands at 6’3″and is just four pounds heavier than his CFB clone.
To give Ryan the Matthews tag is a fun gesture given his lengthy golden locks and identical number as Matthews also wore 47 while making tackles for the USC Trojans. However, don’t think that Ryan is some copycat who is holding onto the legacy of someone else as this Wolverine has the stats to back up any and all comparisons.
For starters Ryan has 125 tackles after just two seasons in Ann Arbor and 77 are of the solo variety. Ryan has also proven he has a first step that belongs in the NFL with 37.5 tackles for a loss and eight sacks–if these stats don’t impress you than not much will as he is as tough as they come.
In a rivalry game versus Michigan State this season Ryan recorded 10 tackles and a sack which propelled the Wolverines’ defense to yield just 10 points and avoid a home loss to the pesky Spartans. Michigan will again play a fierce Big Ten schedule in 2012 and in order for the Wolverines to make noise they will need to find a way to stop Braxton Miller and the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Look for Ryan to make a name for himself once he does enter the NFL but, until then let the Matthews comparisons fly as the resemblances are uncanny.
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