Throughout the spring and summer UM's official web site, gogriz.com, will continue to introduce Griz Nation to a University of Montana football player who either redshirted here last season, or transferred to UM and participated in 2013 spring drills.
Ryan Johnson is a 6-2 ½, 245-pound defensive end from Vancouver, Wash., who was a redshirt at Montana last season. He is expected to contribute this season and provides quality depth on the D-line along with some of his other young teammates.
He earned 11 letters at Mountain View High School: four each in basketball and baseball, and three in football. He was an All-Region pick in football as a junior and senior, and in basketball his senior year. He had a career-high 21 tackles against Lakes High School in a 2011 state playoff game.
Johnson was selected the 2011-12 Male Athlete of the Year by the T.O.D.A.Y. Foundation and the Columbia newspaper. He as also tabbed the Greater Vancouver and Southwest Washington Scholar Athlete of the Year with a 3.75 GPA. (He had a 3.93 GPA in his first semester at Montana).
Ryan is not the only member of his family to play college football. His dad, Steve, was a 6-5, 250-plus defensive lineman who played at the University of Oregon in the late 70's.
QUOTING ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH & D-LINE COACH LEGI SUIAUNOA: "If the season were to start tomorrow Ryan would be our fourth defensive end and he'd be playing. In terms of how many snaps, we don't know, but he'd be in the rotation a little bit. He did a real nice job in spring football to put himself in that position. He needs to have a good summer and fall camp before the season starts to keep himself there, or to move up.
"He was really sick his senior year (in high school), so when he came in here he had lost a lot of weight and lost a lot of strength. It was out of his control, but he really struggled the second half of his senior year. He's done a good job in his redshirt year, getting bigger and stronger. He's still got a ways to go in the weight, but he's working his butt off.
"One of our goals going into the season was to develop some depth, and I think we did that. I've got five guys inside who can play in a game right now and I've got four defensive ends, who, if we were going to start the season tomorrow, I feel very comfortable with. We have to continue to work hard through the summer and get better every day. But, no question about it - I feel really good about this group."
WHAT WAS A REDSHIRT SEASON LIKE FOR YOU?: "I really thought it was beneficial to me. Just getting that extra year to fit into the program, and get into the weight room and get stronger. In practice you get to learn the system and you get to know the guys. I think a redshirt year was definitely really good for me."
WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS FOR YOURSELF & THE TEAM THIS FALL?: "I always expect to keep improving. I know I have to better myself this summer and hit the weight room really hard and to improve, so that when it gets to the fall I can maybe get on the field, and maybe play on some special teams and play some defensive end. As for the team, I think that we have a really solid group of guys and some great athletes. Our expectations here haven't changed. We want to win every game that we play, and that's definitely a possibility for us next year."
WHAT IS COACH LEGI LIKE? "I really like him a lot. He's a great coach. He teaches the position well for not playing it in college (Legi played linebacker at Nevada). Just spending a year with him has really helped me to become a better football player."
YOU LISTED THAT YOU COULD HAVE PLAYED COLLEGE BASEBALL. WHAT POSITION DID YOU PLAY & WAS THAT A HARD DECISION TO MAKE: "Actually I've been playing baseball since I was about four years old. That was really my love growing up. Once I hit high school I always thought that I'd be a college baseball player. Then once my junior year hit I started getting recruited by some big schools (to play football), I kind of switched my thoughts. I was a pretty good first baseman, and we had a really good high school team and really good coaches.
"Starting out early it was a lot of the Big Sky schools that were talking to me about playing football for them, plus because I had good grades the Ivy League schools were talking to me a lot.
"Once I came to a football game here (in Washington-Grizzly Stadium) I knew this is where I wanted to go. I grew up a huge Duck fan, and the atmosphere here is a lot like it is in Eugene, and the cities are a lot alike. When I came here I really fell in love with the place."
WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST ADJUSTMENT COMING FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO THE COLLEGE LEVEL?: "I always played three sports, so I was a pretty busy guy, but once you get here it's a business; and you want to work for yourself and your teammates. You're getting up an six in the morning to go lift. You're going in the film room or going to practice. Football is really year-round, and you've got to love it to be able to do it, and I can honestly say I do. So, it's been fun."
I NOTICED READING SOME OF YOUR "FAVORITES "(which are listed below) THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET BABE RUTH IF YOU COULD. WHY? "Well he played such a long time ago, that I think it would be really interesting to hear what guys like that have to say about the way things are right now, and what it was like during their time. He was one of the greatest ever, and like I said earlier, I really enjoy baseball, so I just think it would be really cool to meet someone like him"
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'VE LEARNED IN PLAYING YOUR POSITION HERE AT UM? "Once you go up at every level the competition gets a lot better. You've got to learn great technique; make sure your hands are great; and make sure that you are explosive. You also need to make sure that you are making the right reads, because if you are off by a split second you could be out of the play and not do your job. It's really about reaction time and focusing, and just making sure that you are in the right place in every play."
YOU WERE AN OUTSTANDING STUDENT-ATHLETE IN HIGH SCHOOL. WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS? "I am not 100 percent sure, but I'd like to maybe, since I am getting that fifth year, get a master's degree. It's always been my dream to maybe go home and work at the Nike campus."
Ryan Johnson's Favorites
Favorite Food: Steak.
Favorite class: Principles of Optimal Performance.
Favorite book: The Art of Racing in the Rain.
Favorite TV show: 24.
Favorite musical group: Zac Brown Band, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney.
Favorite movie: Role Models.
If a movie were made of my life, I would like the following actor to play me: Christian Bale.
The person in history I would most like to meet is: Babe Ruth.
Favorite sport other than football: Baseball.
Favorite sports figure: Peyton Manning.
Favorite NFL team: Seahawks.
Hobbies/Special Interests: Video games, Snowboarding.
Many people don't know this about me, but I: Could have played college football or baseball.
One of my hidden talents is: Madden.
The biggest "character" on our team is, and why is that the case with him? Alex Bienemann. He is hilarious.
My greatest moment in sports so far is: Signing to become a Grizzly.
If I were not participating in college sports, I would be: Still be going to college and getting a degree.
The thing(s) I like best about The University of Montana is: The people and friends I have made while being here.
What are the main differences of being a Division I student-athlete now, compared to your high school playing days: It is more time-consuming and takes a lot of hard work and dedication.
The thing that impresses me about Coach Delaney (or an assistant coach) coach (please name the assistant coach): All of the coaches are awesome and care about you as a person and an athlete.
My advice to youngsters is: Focus on school and hard work in the weight room if you want to play college sports.
Major (Why did you choose this major): Business; you can do almost anything with a business degree.
My future goals are: To win Big Sky and national championships while obtaining a master's degree.
If you could have a "do-over" in your life at this point, and if so, what is it?: Take weight-lifting more seriously in high school.
PERSONAL: His major is business. Birth date: Oct. 19, 1993. His parents are Steve and Maurita Johnson of Vancouver. Misc.: His hoops coach was former (1987-89) Grizzly player Nate DuChesne.
:thumb: ASU #97
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