'05 Ohio RB/DB Ryan Brinson (Transfer from WVU to Akron)

[Buckskin86]

4th 200 yd rushing game of the season!!

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?Category=17&ID=190134&r=21

Brinson: Tiger sign was ‘funny’
Sunday, October 31, 2004 By CHRIS BEAVEN Repository sports writer

MASSILLON — The yards did not come easy for Ryan Brinson on Saturday against the Massillon Tigers.

Carry after carry by the McKinley High School senior led to hit after hit.

“I’m feeling it right now, my forearms especially,” Brinson said. “It was just aphysical game all around. And that’s fine.”

All was fine with Brinson after he helped lead the Bulldogs to a 20-7 win over Massillon at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. Brinson rushed for 203 yards on a career-high 34 carries, scoring three touchdowns. He became the school’s single-season rushing leader, adding that to the numerous records he has set in the last month.

Brinson also showed he knows how to handle being the center of attention. The Tigers tried to use a comment he made a year ago after McKinley’s 40-8 win as motivation for them.

Instead, it only fueled Brinson even more, and he already was running on a full gas tank.

“It was funny to me,” Brinson said of Massillon’s use of his year-old comment.

Massillon fans had signs and T-shirts carrying an excerpt from Brinson that included: “... I knew we had their hearts. We were ready to play. They were scared. ...”

Brinson saw his comment prominently displayed behind the Massillon bench.

“They had a big poster in red and white, with bold letters with what I said, and my name at the bottom of it,” Brinson said. “I wanted to go and sign it for them after the game.”

Brinson didn’t. His signature, though, was all over the field Saturday, just like his name dominates McKinley’s record book.

Among his rushing marks are career (4,052 yards), single-season (1,685 yards this year) and single-game (335 vs. Jackson this year) records. His three TDs leave him with 282 career points, second all-time behind DeMarlo Rozier’s 294.

“Ryan made a comment last year, and I think that put pressure on him,” McKinley head coach Brian Cross said. “We talked all week about that, and he handled it.”

Brinson said the attention directed at him did not bother him.

“That makes me even more focused,” he said. “I knew I was a target. When I see that, hear people talking about it and see all the T-shirts with that quote, I knew I was an even bigger target. And that’s fine. But I’m no easy target.”

Brinson showed that by eluding or overpowering Massillon defenders on a number of runs.

His biggest was a 68-yard TD run to give McKinley a 13-0 second-quarter lead. But his best might have been a 23-yarder early in the third quarter. He ran through four tackles, before finally falling down as he dragged four defenders with him a few yards. That set up his third TD of the day.

Brinson has shown his breakaway ability all season. But Saturday, he showed his ability to take, and deliver, a pounding in exceeding his previous high of 29 carries in games the previous two seasons.

“All 11 of their kids wanted to take a piece of him every single play,” Cross said. “So it’s pretty special. He’s an all-around football player. He had the interception, he had some hits, and he had a couple of great punt returns. You don’t get a whole lot better than him.”

Brinson finishes his career with 503 yards and eight TDs in three starts vs. Massillon, winning the last two.

“I like this (win) more than any record I’ve got,” Brinson said. “It feels great. I always had everybody saying since I was freshman that I was going to Massillon, which I never said. You never heard that from.

“Now, they can see Ryan Brinson is a Canton McKinley Bulldog.”

You can reach Repository sports writer Chris Beaven at (330) 580-8345 or e-mail:

[email protected]

McKinley’s top rushing seasons
Rank Name, year Att. Yds. Avg.
1, Ryan Brinson, 2004 177 1,685 9.5
2, Adrian Brown, 1994 220 1,599 7.3
3, DeMarlo Rozier, 1997 191 1,514 7.9
4, Mike Doss, 1998 213 1,454 6.8
5, John Colceri, 1948 169 1,381 8.2
6, Adrian Brown, 1995 210 1,297 6.2
7, Larry Clayton, 1966 207 1,265 6.1
8, Ryan Brinson, 2002 153 1,234 8.1
9, Marion Motley, 1938 69 1,228 17.8
10, Troy Jenkins, 1983 229 1,173 5.1

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Marion Motley, 1938 69 1,228 17.8

Holy shit...17.8 ypc! For you younguns, Marion Motley was a great RB for the Cleveland Browns in the 40s and 50s.

 

[StoRMinBrutus]

This kid is sooo strong and some of his moves are pretty damn impressive.
He is all of 5'9/170 and has been clocked at a 4.42. Only thing I am not sure on is his grades, but if they are in order I sure like this kids potential. Maybe VG/86/ or nutty would have more insight as to why OSU is not recruiting this guy.
I don't know how people can say he is too small when other recruits, past and present, are his size and having great careers. This kid could be a sleeper. I sure hope Ohio State takes a second and then third look at this kid. He has broken a boat load of records at Canton Mckinley.

Other examples of short backs:
Present Recruits
Maurice Wells - 5'9/177/4.44 - same stats as Ryan

Present players doing well in the NCAA
A. Davis (Wisconsin) 5'8"/191
Mike Hart - 5'9"/185/4.4
D.Sproules- 5'7"/170

 

[Buckskin86]

would have more insight as to why OSU is not recruiting this guy.

It is about size, speed, recruiting class size and grades. I think they view him as a DB and tOSU wants bigger DB's.(that is why they didn't offer Brandon Harrison). They do seem to be recruiting some smaller running backs (Wells and Ringer), all I can guess is that they like those guys more. They also didn't offer the future Mr. Ohio Football (Tyrell Sutton) for the same size/speed issues.

Remember they had Brinson (and Sutton) in camp. He ran a 4.5 at tOSU camp this summer. That is good but not enough to overcome the perceived weakness of his height. In addition, as of Oct. he hadn't qualified yet.

IMO, he will be a good back (DB or RB) for someone.

 

[StoRMinBrutus]

I do remember Brinson and Sutton at Camp but with the present RB situation OSU needs to start building a good pipeline of solid, athletic and very sturdy quality Running backs that can stand the test of times in a full Big Ten season.
Brinson is a strong runner and he can take the punishment from what I have seen of him these past two years at Mckinley. I know in the end OSU knows what its doing and I have faith. I am just stating that this guy would be a great start, no matter what the size.

 

[Buckskin86]

I am just stating that this guy would be a great start, no matter what the size.

You could be right, according to Bill Greene on the Bnut premium board tOSU is taking a 2nd look at Ryan.

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=192577&r=0&Category=11

He had another great night last night in their victory over Glen Oak (Hartline's).

A crowd of more than 14,000 watched Brinson deliver his usual fine performance. He rushed for 166 yards and two touchdowns, and did a nice job at safety.

“We’ve got a lot of confidence,” Brinson said. “We’re coming together and I think we’re dangerous. We’ve just got to keep playing the way we’re playing, and have another great week of practice.”

 

[StoRMinBrutus]

WooooooHoooooo I heard something and I didn't have anything to back it up but this is GREAT news !!! I know OSU is going to get some good RB's this year to run behind these great offensive linemen OSU has recently recruited. Its looking GREAt for the Buckeyes' future !!!
Thank you so much for the info Buckskin86.

 

[BIATCHabutuka]

one of many good things about ryan brinson is that for a small back he has some power. not quite the power that javon ringer has but legit high school power for sure.

 

[Buckskin86]

Another big night for Brinson as McKinley advance to play Glenville

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/sports/high_school/10238042.htm

Canton McKinley senior Ryan Brinson made all the runs. He made all the special teams plays. And he made all the important tackles.

Brinson did everything but dot the ``I'' at halftime when the McKinley band performed Script Ohio. He had 238 yards rushing and three touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs to a 35-14 win over Brunswick in the Division I, Region 2 championship game Saturday night at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

``Our defense definitely was our strength,'' Brinson said. ``And our line did a good job blocking. It was a matter of reading the blocks and their defense overpursued a lot.''

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=193767&r=4&Category=11

“We just had to step up,” Brinson said. “It was a situation we had not faced in a while. And I think it was a good thing to see if we can come back and face adversity, and we did it.”

 

[Buckskin86]

Canton Rep: Stark County Player of the Year

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=194447&r=2&Category=11

High School Football Player of the Year: Ryan Brinson
Thursday, November 25, 2004
By CHRIS BEAVEN Repository sports writer

The feeling arrives in his stomach, just before the football touches his hands.

It never fails. The first carry brings the same feeling as the 20th to Ryan Brinson.

“It’s like the butterflies you get going up the hill on a roller coaster right before it starts to go downhill,” Brinson said.

Then the ride begins.

The football enters Brinson’s hands. It’s time to head downhill. Only there are no tracks for the McKinley High School senior. This runaway coaster flies off in any direction.

He could be sprinting down the right sideline for a 68-yard touchdown against Massillon. He could be weaving down the left for a 76-yard score against Perry. Or he could dart up the middle for an 88-yard touchdown against Jackson.

No ride is the same. The twists, the turns, the starts and stops provide new thrills.

Brinson’s play has been unforgettable this season. In the last eight weeks, he has become the school’s career rushing and scoring leader, shattered the single-season rushing record and twice broken his single-game rushing record.

He also led a remarkable turnaround at McKinley that could become his greatest legacy. After back-to-back 3-7 seasons, the Bulldogs are 10-3 and will play Cleveland Glenville in a Division I state semifinal Saturday night.

Add his accomplishments with his team’s, and Brinson becomes the easy pick as The Repository’s Stark County Player of the Year.

“This is probably one of the best ways to have a senior season,” Brinson said. “Not too much is missing.”

“Other coaches who’ve been at McKinley a long time have told me he’s the best back that’s ever played here. To hear that from guys who have been here 20, 24, 26 years, you know he’s something special.”

—Second-year McKinley head coach Brian Cross.


Not much is missing from Brinson’s game. He is among the finest running backs ever to play in Stark County. On defense, he is a tremendous hitter and playmaker at a safety. He is a dangerous return man. And he is a strong leader who persevered through two long years to bring back McKinley football.

McKinley coach Brian Cross loves Brinson’s toughness.

“He loves to be challenged,” Cross said. “When he’s challenged, he rises to the occasion.”

Brinson’s teammates feed off that energy.

“When Ryan ... makes a big hit, in a second the whole team gets excited,” Cross said.

Brinson delivered one of those hits in a 35-14 regional final win over Brunswick.

The Bulldogs were leading 28-14, early in the fourth quarter. Brinson was on his way to a 236-yard, three-TD night. And Brunswick was faced with a third-and-15 from its 35 when running back Joe Francescangeli caught a 10-yard pass.

Francescangeli began to turn upfield in hopes of getting five more yards and a first down. He gained just 2 more. Brinson came from nowhere, rocketing himself into Francescangeli and dropping him at the 47.

“You don’t see very many hits like that,” Cross said. “He’s truly a special football player.”

Cross, a head coach for 23 years, has worked with a number of all-state players, including Derek Combs, who went on to play in the NFL after starring for Cross at Grove City.

“In every game there’s a surprise from Ryan,” Cross said. “I know he’s a real good player, and he still does something.”

Two weeks ago, it was a fourth-quarter run against GlenOak. Less than six minutes remained in McKinley’s 17-7 win when Brinson got the ball on a second-and-13 from the 50.

Brinson took off through a hole on the right, ran through a tackle, made a 360-degree spin to elude another defender, then dragged two defenders for 5 yards. The play gained 24 yards and became an instant classic.

“We probably ran that back five, six times when we watched films,” Cross said.

Cross marvels at the spin move, Brinson’s trademark. It looks as if he lifted it from watching a Barry Sanders.

“There’s just not a whole lot of people who can do those things,” Cross said.


“Someday, I’ll probably tell my kids about when I blocked for Ryan Brinson.”

—McKinley center Bill Jones.


Brinson will land a full-ride scholarship to some Division I college. The leading candidates are Iowa, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Indiana and Illinois.

Cross respects how his star handles being the center of attention.

“As our line has gotten better, they really enjoy seeing Ryan’s name in the paper for gaining these yards,” Cross said. “They know they’re a part of the reason why he’s county player of year, district player of the year, and Ryan believes they’re a part of it.”

Brinson shows no signs of letting success go to his head.

“He’s not cocky at all, and he could be. But he’s always willing to do whatever.”

Brinson knows young kids look up to him.

“Some guys think, ‘Maybe since I’m in the spotlight, I won’t get in trouble, or I will get away with a lot of things,’ ” Brinson said. “I don’t think that. I keep to myself and stay out of trouble.

“I’m trying to make myself a most valuable player in more than just sports. I want to be one in the classroom and as a person. I want people when they see me to not know I’m just a good athlete, but think, ‘Oh yeah, he’s a nice guy.’ And I’ve really tried my best in the classroom.”

Brinson said he has a 3.2 grade-point average this grading period.

“I’ve got to keep working hard in the classroom,” he said. “If I do that, it’ll be the best year a senior can ask for.”


“He elevates everyone around him. I don’t think there’s any question he’s the best player in the area.”

— North Canton coach Don Hertler Jr.


Brinson still finds himself amazed by his numbers.

“I was looking at the paper the other day ... I didn’t know I was that close to 2,000 yards,” he said. “It was like, ‘Wow.’ I remembered my sophomore year talking about having 2,000 yards. It’s happened so fast.”

In the last eight weeks, Brinson turned his memorable career into one that may never be equaled. He’s averaging 226.3 yards a game in this span, leading McKinley to eight wins.

It began in Week 6 as Brinson became the school’s career rushing leader. And he did it in style. He broke the record with a 76-yard TD run, and followed that with 51-yard TD run on his next carry. He finished with 330 yards, breaking his 2-year-old single-game rushing record in a 44-13 win over Perry.

The roller coaster was picking up speed.

The next week, he set a McKinley record for most yards in a road game, going for 262 in a 45-0 win at Boardman.

Week 8 produced another win (28-0 over Jackson) and another record (335 yards). He had an 88-yard TD run on the first play from scrimmage.

No records fell in Week 9, as Brinson rushed for 143 yards in a 49-14 win over North Canton. He did show off his abilities as a receiver, making catches of 51 and 29 yards.

The regular season ended with an emotional 20-7 win at Massillon. Brinson rushed a career-high 34 times, gaining 203 yards. His 68-yard TD run made him McKinley’s single-season rushing leader.

The playoffs began with Brinson going for 135 yards in a 34-7 win at Green. He left the game as McKinley’s career scoring leader, breaking that mark on a 23-yard interception return for a TD.

A 166-yard effort followed in the win over GlenOak. A Brinson punt return set up a score.

Last weekend against Brunswick, Brinson became the first McKinley player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. As usual, he did it with a big run, a 42-yarder on his third carry. He finished with a McKinley playoff-record 236 yards.

Brinson’s season total stands at 2,222 yards on 250 carries. He has 26 TDs and 156 points, leaving him with a shot at DeMarlo Rozier’s season record of 192 set in 1997.

He’s already shattered Rozier’s career scoring mark of 294 points. Brinson has scored 330.

His career total is 4,589 yards on 572 carries, leaving him 1,641 yards ahead of former record holder Adrian Brown.


“That Brinson kid is special. ... He just breaks tackles, tackles we’ve made all year.”

— Brunswick coach Rich Nowak.


One thing is certain Saturday. When Brinson gets his 573rd carry of his career — and every one thereafter — the butterflies will be in his stomach.

“It never fails, no matter if we’re beating someone 45-0 or it’s a close game,” he said.

The roller coaster ride starts.

“As soon as I get it, instantly my eyes are moving left and right, looking for a hole,” Brinson said. “When I get to a certain spot, I know I’m going to break one. There’s only a corner or safety left, one guy to get by, and I’m gone.

“Then, I’m just all confident, talking to myself, ‘Yeah, nobody is going to catch me.’ And I rarely look back.”

Brinson just looks ahead to more yards and two more wins.

“We have the potential to go all the way if we keep clicking and playing as one like we have,” Brinson said. “If our season was to end now, it would be remembered that we ... made such a dramatic change from last year and the beginning of the season. That would be something for me to remember and to tell younger guys.

“But it would be even better to come back and tell them, ‘We came back after two losing seasons and won a regional title and went on to win state.’ That would be awesome.”

It would give Brinson one last thrill in his three-year roller coaster run only he controls.

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?Category=17&ID=194438&r=6

BRINSON PROFILE
Thursday, November 25, 2004 Related Stories
The Repository All-Stark County football

High School Football Player of the Year: Ryan Brinson

McKinley high school senior Ryan Brinson has rewritten the Bulldog record book. Here is a sampling of some of the pages Brinson’s name can be found:

Single-game rushing performances
Rank, name, opponent, date Yds. Att. TDs

1, Ryan Brinson, Jackson, Oct., 15, 2004 335 19 3
2, Ryan Brinson, Perry, Oct. 2, 2004 330 23 3
3, Ryan Brinson, Grove City, Sept. 21, 2002 297 21 4
4, John Colceri, Toledo Scott, Oct. 15, 1948 268 14 4
5, Marion Motley, Lehman, Sept. 17, 1938 264 11 4
6, Ryan Brinson, Boardman, Oct. 8, 2004 262 20 3 7, Lou Mariano, Cleveland Lincoln, Sept. 16, 1949 246 14 3
8, Jeff Richardson, Youngstown South, Oct. 17, 1987 240 35 2
9, Marion Motley, Cleveland Collinwood, Oct. 2, 1937 239 20 1
10, Ryan Brinson, Brunswick, Nov. 20, 2004 236 25 3
11, Mike Doss, Jackson, Sept. 18, 1998 234 18 4
12, Wilson Frye, Columbus Aquinas, Oct. 21, 1933 233 7 4
13, Adrian Brown, Massillon, Nov. 4, 1995 229 26 3
14, DeMarlo Rozier, Toledo St. Francis, Nov. 15, 1997 229 23 1
15, Ryan Brinson, Waterdown, Ont., Sept. 13, 2002 228 10 4

Top individual rushing seasons
Rank, name, year Att. Yds. Avg

1, Ryan Brinson, 2004 250 2,222 8.9
2, Adrian Brown, 1994 220 1,599 7.3
3, DeMarlo Rozier, 1997 191 1,514 7.9
4, Mike Doss, 1998 213 1,454 6.8
5, John Colceri, 1948 169 1,381 8.7
6, Adrian Brown, 1995 210 1,297 6.2
7, Larry Clayton, 1966 207 1,265 6.1
8, Ryan Brinson, 2002 153 1,234 8.1
9, Marion Motley, 1938 69 1,228 17.8
10, Troy Jenkins, 1983 229 1,173 5.1
11, Jeff Richardson, 1986 225 1,170 5.2
12, Lou Mariano, 1950 113 1,162 10.3
13, Athie L. Garrison, 1940 72 1,150 16.0
14, Paul Martin, 1957 178 1,138 6.4
15, Ryan Brinson, 2003 168 1,133 6.7

Career yards
Rank, name, years played Att. Yds. Avg

1, Ryan Brinson, 2002-04 572 4,589 8.0
2, Adrian Brown, 1992-95 450 2,948 6.6
3, Lou Mariano, 1948-50 294 2,915 9.9
4, Pete Ballos, 1934-36 264 2,782 10.5
5, Jeff Richardson, 1985-87 432 2,413 5.6
6, DeMarlo Rozier, 1995-97 303 2,389 7.9

Career scoring
Rank, name, years played Points

1, Ryan Brinson, 2002-04 330
2, DeMarlo Rozier, 1995-97 294
3, Pete Ballos, 1934-36 226
4, Ralph Pucci, 1944-46 207
5, Mike Doss, 1996-98 206

 

[StoRMinBrutus]

I heard Ryan had a pretty good day today. Does anyone have the stats on him for the game?? Thanks in advance.

 

[Buckskin86]

Does anyone have the stats on him for the game??

Brinson rushed for 92 yards on 25 carries

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=194967&r=0&Category=11

http://www.cleveland.com/hsfootball/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1101638056237901.xml

Tarblooders slow McKinley star
Sunday, November 28, 2004
Bob Migra
Plain Dealer Reporter
Massillon, Ohio- Glenville's defense had no special plan to stop Ryan Brinson, the greatest running back in the long and storied history of Canton McKinley football.

It worked.

Brinson rushed for 92 yards on 25 carries and did not score a touchdown. Almost half of his yardage came on his final carry, when McKinley was running out the final seconds of a 20-17 victory Saturday night in the Division I state semifinals at Massillon's Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

"Our defense always stops the run," said sophomore linebacker Gino Sturdivant, who tackled Brinson for losses twice and helped hold him to short gains on several other plays. "We just executed. We were more worried about stopping the pass, because teams have been throwing on us."

Senior linebacker Freddie Lenix said the Tarblooders treated Brinson as they would any other back. Brinson came into the game with 2,222 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. He holds virtually every McKinley season and career rushing record.

"We knew what they were about," Lenix said in a tear-filled Glenville locker room. "We came in here with a mind-set just to play the game. He was a good back, but our defense held its ground and stopped him."

The play that Brinson hurt the Tarblooders most with was a pass to quarterback Mike Shaffer for a 20-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter. It was the first touchdown pass of Brinson's career.

"That one caught us off guard," said junior defensive tackle Robert Rose, who tackled Brinson for short gains two plays in a row to stop a Bulldogs drive late in the first half.

Unfortunately, the Tarblooders fumbled the ball right back to McKinley after Rose's effort to set up a short scoring drive at the end of the second quarter.

It was a night of missed opportunities for Glenville, and the defense was not spared in that regard.

Glenville stopped McKinley on downs on its first possession. The Bulldogs were going to try a long field goal, but the Tarblooders were penalized for an illegal substitution to restart the drive. Theo Goodright scored the first touchdown four plays later on a 2-yard run.

McKinley also got a second chance thanks to a Glenville penalty on the drive that led to Brinson's touchdown pass.

Shaffer threw incomplete on a swing pass to Brinson near midfield on a third-down-and-14 play. But the Tarblooders were called for a personal foul after the play.

"There were a couple of players on our defense that got off track and we gave them what they got," Lenix said.

Rose said the team was proud to go further than any Cleveland public school team had ever gone in the playoffs. But the loss was still hard to take.

"We just wish we could have done better for the seniors, guys like Freddie [Lenix], Jamario [O'Neal] and Pig [Curtis Smith]," Rose said. "They deserved it."

Lenix said the team accomplished more than just win football games.

"We proved the people wrong that said we couldn't get here," Lenix said. "They said we couldn't win because we're an inner city school, but we hung in there."

 

[Buckskin86]

Insiders premium

Brinson was just offered by Wisky and WVU to add to his Iowa and Indiana offers. He will visit Indy next weekend and them Iowa on the 17th.

Brinson claims not to have a favorite. It will be interesting to see if tOSU offers- he was impressive against Glenville while tOSU coaches were watching live.

 

[bucknut11]

Not to be too negative, but I didn't think Brinson was impressive running against Glenville. He had 92 on 25, but about 40 of those yards were on a play at the end when they were trying to run the clock out and Glenville was trying to strip the ball. Take that away and he had 50 on his first 24 carries. He played well on D, but not running on that particular Saturday.

I think Brinson's caught in a numbers game with OSU. With us being in on 4 bigger names and running out of 'ships, I don't think he'll get an offer.

Just my opinion, though...

 

[Buckskin86]

According to Duane on BN premium board, the Bucks would like to offer Ryan but he does not have his grades in order (he does not have a qualifying test score yet and may not have it before signing day). He is not sure if tOSU will wait.