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Pat Ryan's son commits to Austin Peay

By Jesse Smithey (Contact)
Originally published 09:36 a.m., January 18, 2008
Updated 11:05 a.m., January 18, 2008

Two Knoxville-area high school quarterbacks have picked their college paths, neither in the same geographical direction.

Bearden senior Dawson Halliday committed Thursday to Yale in New Haven, Conn. And Jake Ryan of West committed Wednesday to Austin Peay in Clarksville.

National Signing Day is Feb. 6.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Halliday passed for 2,026 yards and 14 touchdowns this past season. He also ran in 10 scores for the Bulldogs (12-2) and was an all-state selection in Class 5A by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association.

Yale was 9-1 this past season, its only loss coming in its final game to rival Harvard.

"They're pretty excited about him playing for them, and they feel he can really help them," said Bearden coach Brad Taylor. "He was definitely one of their top recruits, if not their No. 1 recruit. The head coach and the secondary coach and quarterbacks coach all came down (Thursday) to see what he was going to tell them."

Ryan, a two-time TSWA all-state team member, passed for 2,430 yards and 21 touchdowns during the 2007 season. The 6-1, 180-pounder completed 60 percent of his passes, topping 2,000 yards for a second consecutive season.

"What factored most into my decision most was that I really liked the coaches," said Ryan. "The coaches are great. The program seems to be on the up-and-up. They had a great year. I just wanted to be a part of that."

West coach Scott Cummings said Austin Peay's coaching staff liked Ryan's quick release and velocity. Cummings said the staff told him that Ryan would have the chance to compete for the starting job as a freshman. The Governors (7-4) lose senior quarterback and former CAK standout Mark Cunningham.

"They're definitely getting a student-of-the-game type quarterback, one who knows all the reads and who knows all the little things to be successful on that (I-AA) level," said Cummings of Ryan. "Obviously, Pat, his father (a former University of Tennessee and NFL quarterback), has done a good job with that. That comes from Jake and his dad working throughout his life. That's been going on for many, many years."

Burnette Visiting Virginia: Maryville quarterback and Class 4A Mr. Football back Brent Burnette is taking his official visit to Virginia today. Burnette said Thursday he'll also probably take an official to visit to North Carolina.

Farragut running back Andre Sterling, who rushed for more than 2,700 yards this past season, will take official visits to Vanderbilt (Jan. 25-27) and Ole Miss (Feb. 1-3).

Bearden defensive back Sean Cunningham committed to Tennessee State on Wednesday, and teammate Preston Rouse (linebacker) committed to Austin Peay.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

       22 Comments

Posted by tngeoff on January 18, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Pat is a great guy and is a great part of Tennessee football history. Not his playing accolades, but his personal attention to Tennessee football. I remember when he first came here. I wish his Son the very best and am sorry that he can't come here too. Pat will be a part of Tennessee football forever. Thanks for your years of service and those to come.

Posted by pinesvol on January 18, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

We don't expect the grammar among us posters to be perfect, but come on KNS you are only making us all worse with the sloppy writing. Even this old hillbilly learned in the coal camp schoolhouse that there, their, and they're have different meanings. Tighten up, OK.

Posted by cmoore7 on January 18, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

What there, their, or they're did they get wrong coal camp valedictorian?

Posted by ernsberger on January 18, 2008 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

c'mon pinesvol, you're making posters look ignorant. Which they are for the most part, but there (or is it their, or they're) are not any grammar errors pertaining to the use of "there" above. Isn't it bad enough that most posters are negative toward the Vols when it isn't justified, but you are being negative to the writer's grammar on a non-Vol article that isn't even justified because it is correct.

Posted by givim6 on January 18, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Their, They're, Boys

Posted by maholt49 on January 18, 2008 at 12:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Best of luck to Pat's son. I really miss Pat Ryan on the Titans broadcast team. He and Mike Keith worked so well together. His "no holding back" approach to the broadcast was refreshing!!!

Posted by spam247buster on January 18, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Pinesvol was right, actually.
He posted at 10:42, and the online article was updated at 11:05, obviously correcting the mistake.
In the print edition, it reads "He was definitely one of their top recruits, if not they're No. 1 recruit."

Posted by Coach_Joe on January 18, 2008 at 12:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good grief! Does it really matter? I'm sure none of the posters on here are English majors.

Posted by Coach_Joe on January 18, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My concern is that it's been said over and over again by the folks on the Sports Animal that Andre Sterling wouldn't qualify academically to get into UT. If that's the case then why is he taking a visit to Vandy? If he goes to anywhere in the SEC then shame on the Vols for not offering him. This kid is a great back.

Posted by Coach_Joe on January 18, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My concern is that it's been said over and over again by the folks on the Sports Animal that Andre Sterling wouldn't qualify academically to get into UT. If that's the case then why is he taking a visit to Vandy? If he goes to anywhere in the SEC then shame on the Vols for not offering him. This kid is a great back.

Posted by spam247buster on January 18, 2008 at 12:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Coach_Joe, some people do not like the fact that the English language is regularly massacred by people who seem to think that a quality education is a detriment to society.
It seems Pinesvol thinks that writers in the media should have a good grasp of the English language, including spelling.
Not me, though-- I theenk awl rite-ing shood bee pyoor-lee foe-nettick frum this poynt fore-wird. Moest uv owr lang-wij iz just a rellick that caym frum Frinch, Jirminn, and Latten, innyway(s).

Posted by givehim6 on January 18, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just another example of this being a bad recruiting year due to coaching changes, probably recuiting will get better next year after kids see how the new coaches do.

Posted by ernsberger on January 18, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Pinesvol: I retract my comments. Not for the rest of posters who are "always" negative though. Congrats to Ryan on getting a scholarship. I can only hope my child can do the same, academically, or athletically.

Posted by DennisVols on January 18, 2008 at 2:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Here is who is visiting this weekend
Pos Nat'l
Rank Nat'l
Rating Name
School, Hometown Video HT/ WT/ 40 Interest
Level Offer? Visit Date Visit School
SLB 8 E.J. Abrams-Ward
(Thomasville HS)
Thomasville, NC 6-5/210 High Yes 1/18/2008 Tennessee
OT 9 Antoine McClain
(Anniston HS)
Anniston, AL 6-6/313/5.40 Med Yes 1/18/2008 Tennessee
DE 16 Keith Wells
(Gainesville HS)
Gainesville, GA 6-5/207/4.75 Med Yes 1/18/2008 Tennessee
DE 82 Willie Bohannon
(Mattie T Blount HS)
Prichard, AL 6-3/240/4.80 Med Yes 1/18/2008 Tennessee

Posted by DennisVols on January 18, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

try this agains
Pos Nat Rank National Rating Name School hometown HT/weight
SLB 8 **** EJ Abrams-Ward Thomasville HS 6’ 5”/ 210
Thomasville, NC
OT 9 **** Antoine McClain Anniston HS, AL 6’6”/313
DE 16 **** Keith Wells Gainesville HS, GA 6’ 5”/ 207
DE 82 *** Willie Bohannon Mattie Blount HS 6’ 3”/ 240
Prichard, AL

http://tennessee.scout.com/a.z?s=7&am...

Posted by ONUV on January 18, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i doubt Tennessee recruited Jake Ryan. He has 0 stars on Rivals.

outermonvolia.com

Posted by cnalumni on January 18, 2008 at 2:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good luck to all of the local talent. I am just glad you all are getting to play on the next level.

Posted by pdhuff on January 18, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good luck to all the young men moving out into life. Its a big stage out there. Enjoy the journey. Sample the fruit and if you go somewhere that does, (GT comes to mind) pound the rock.

Posted by txsvol on January 18, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

When James 'Fly' Williams was their high-scoring guard in the early '70s, the Governors' students had an unforgettable chant: "The Fly is open! Let's go, Peay!" One of my cousins played football for them during those years. Go Vols! SAVol

Posted by elsinoresam on January 18, 2008 at 8:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You don't really have to spell correctly, as long as the reader understands you. t's sntfc fct tht th hmn mnd cn ndrstnd wrds tht hv bn mssplld vn f thy hv lttrs mssng.

Posted by pinesvol on January 18, 2008 at 10:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

At least someone is paying attention at KNS - "...if not they're No. 1." was changed at some point during the evening. (Not that anyone except ernsberger and myself care). Just had to vindicate myself. OK, grammar lesson over.

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