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Senior Profile - Ryley Glassmaker

10/19/2021, 9:30am CDT
By Jon Weisbrod

 

FOOTBALL PROFILE: The Basics

Position: DE

Year: Senior (Class of 2022)

Height: 6-1

Weight: 186 pounds

2021 Stats (3 games): 12 tackles (7 solo), 3 sacks

INTRODUCTION: 5 Quick Questions

Q: Why did you choose your number?

“I got pulled up my sophomore year and I was given number fifty-one and I just stuck with it for the rest of my varsity career.”

Q: What is your favorite uniform combination?

“Blue and white.”

Q: Do you have any family connection to the OHS football program?

“I think my uncle Eric (Glassmaker) played with Marc Weise, so he played way back when. Other than that, no, I haven’t had anyone in my family play football for Owatonna in my family.”

Q: Are you involved in any other sports or activities?

“Track. I run the one hundred meter-dash, two-hundred-meter dash, four-by-one and four-by-two.”

Q: Memorable phase frequently used by any coach:

“Coach (Kevin) Stelter always says ‘next play is your best play.’

INTERVIEW: Getting to Know Ryley Glassmaker

Q: Coach Williams mentioned that you stood out during preseason practices as a senior who clearly got better in the offseason. Did you feel like you were making an impression, or was it one day at a time and trying to win a job?

“It was kind of a one day at a time thing. I was just trying to do my job and get it done and do what I have to do.”

Q: For a senior to emerge as a breakout player after not seeing the field much as a junior isn’t common. What do you attribute that to in your case?

“Me and Alec Jarvis, we were in the weight room every single day from March until the beginning of two-a-days. We were there every single day, so I got stronger.”

Q: As a sprinter in track, I have to ask, did you ever play running back or receiver throughout any point of your career growing up?

“I was actually an offensive lineman coming up from park and rec through middle school and then high school I have always been a lineman. I was also an inside linebacker in middle school and freshman year and then I got moved to d-line my sophomore year.”

Q: Let’s talk about the injury in Week 1. I’m not sure if you’ve had a concussion before, but tell me what you can remember about how and when it happened.

“It was my second one, actually. The (Mayo) player went to go block Cael Dowling so I came off free and was just going hard because I was going to bull-rush him. So I came off and I’m free and Noah (Smith) — we are competitive in track as well — meets me in the hole. I was tackled up on his waist and my facemask just got hit and I took the whiplash and brought him down. Then everyone started banging on my head and I was like ‘Hmm, I’m a little dizzy.’ Then we go to offense and Bogey, unfortunately, threw a pick, and I was going to chase (Cayden) Holcomb and out of nowhere this kid comes and blindsides me and that’s what drew the last card for me. I was like: ‘Yep, I can barely walk.’”

Q: After the Mayo game, you were out for multiple weeks and concussions can be tricky sometimes because you’re not limping and you can often start feeling pretty good after a short amount of time. After the initial shellshock, what was it like not being able to suit up?

“It was actually really hard to not be able to play for my teammates because I wasn’t even planning on playing football this season and a lot of the seniors were there for me and saying ‘Glass, you need to come and play. Don’t quit your senior season.’ So I look at it like I am doing this for them. I disappoint myself when I get hurt, so when I was out injured, I felt like I was letting the team down. But at the same time, I knew I needed to get better to come back and be my best for those guys.”

Q: When you returned (in Week 4), you played at a really high level and had two sacks against Austin. Did you feel a little extra motivation that game?

“I started off the game (in Week 4 against Austin) like ‘Alright, let’s get this done.’ I run out of breath really easily at the beginning of the first quarter, but as soon as I get going I get in the zone and we all mold together as a defense, that’s when I feel like I’m at my best. I feel like I could be out there forever and not get tired (and) just keep making tackle after tackle.”

Q: Did you see yourself playing at such a high level before the season started? Or have you surprised yourself with how strong you’ve played?

“I kind of surprised myself. I’ve always been the one when coach calls the defensive plays, I know where I need to go and where I need to be. I was just lacking that physical strength last year because I was behind Nate Smith. I was lacking physical strength on both sides of the ball, so getting in the gym this winter helped me with that a lot. And a lot of it is my mindset, too. I am out here playing for these guys. I’m not doing this for myself. I mean, it’s nice when you get a sack and get your name called, but I do it for the family that we play with.”

Q: When you went down against Rochester John Marshall, what was going through your mind and how is the recovery process been going?

“I have been elevating it at night, taking Ibuprofen and doing everything I can to reduce the swelling, help with pain and just recover as fast as possible. Because I do want to be back for Kasson (-Mantorville).”

Q: I want to circle back to what you said about the doubts you had about playing this season. Who were some of the guys who convinced you to come out, and what does it feel like to be out there?

“Eli (Spurgeon) was big. Me, him and (Alec) Jarvis are all really close friends and are all in track together. I said I wasn’t planning on coming out and Jarvis was the one who was like ‘you have to play, it’s our last year.’ I also had a talk with Grant (Achterkirch) and with coach (Jeff Williams) and both basically said the same thing: ‘Just finish strong. You’ve been playing for three years in high school; you might as well finish what you started.’ I’m very glad I did.”

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