Goss: Ward first Celtic in All-American Bowl

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Ryan Ward speaks in October after being presented with his U.S. Army All-American jersey. | Photo courtesy of Burns Photography

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Updated: February 27, 2012 10:02AM

The West won the annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl 24-12, and Providence’s 6-foot-6, 275-pound all-stater Ryan Ward was stationed at offensive tackle for the East.

No matter, however, that his team fell short on the scoreboard. Every senior from across the country who was invited to the Jan. 7 showcase at the Alamodome in San Antonio came away a winner.

“That was a game where you play for fun,” Ward said. “I don’t feel terrible we lost. It’s just something awesome to play in it and meet great players from all over the country.

“I spent a week there, Sunday to Sunday. We were able to create a lot of friendships. We’re all going to different colleges, but we’ll be able to stay in contact with people we met there.”

Ward will attend Iowa. He will make it official when he signs a national letter of intent on Wednesday.

“I was the only Hawkeye there,” he said of the All-American Bowl, which was televised by NBC. “But there were guys who will be playing in the Big Ten at Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan.”

Ward’s brother Pat, a Providence graduate, has started 26 consecutive games at right tackle for Northwestern and has one year remaining. So next season, on Oct. 27, the brothers will be in opposing uniforms when Iowa visits Evanston.

Of course, Ryan, a Homer Glen resident, is unsure whether Iowa will redshirt him. That occurs more often than not with freshmen.

“Ryan is ready to play in the Big Ten,” his Providence coach, Mark Coglianese, said. “Whether he starts right away, we’ll see. Like most freshmen, he will get bigger and stronger, add a few more pounds.

“He is mentally ready. He’s the whole package. He has the size and he has great grades. They’ll mold him into what they want.”

As the coach of a player in the All-American Bowl, Coglianese was invited to San Antonio. He was there for a few days.

“We saw practice Thursday and our Friday was pretty much consumed,” he said. “We attended seminars and meetings and toured the Army facilities and Army rehab facilities. It was a neat experience.

“The Army did such a great job, talked to kids about being a leader, about what people in the Army go through. We coaches got to talk with guys who lost arms and legs, about how we could do a better job with kids who think they have to fight through adversity.”

Ward is the first Providence player invited to the prestigious event, which debuted in 2000.

“I was very proud and Providence was very proud to have a kid in that high caliber of a game,” Coglianese said. “Only three kids from Illinois were invited, so it was pretty special for Ryan.”

The U.S. Army All-American Bowl web site provides this scouting report:

“Ward has all the tools to become a big-time collegiate offensive lineman. He has size, strength, quickness and flexibility to go with a tough disposition and high effort level. He sustains blocks well and gets into the defense quickly at the snap, but also can get to the edge and the second level. He has long arms and active hands which, combined with his strong base, makes him very effective in pass protection. He attacks the defense in the run game, playing well in space and locating defenders to flatten on the move.”

That is followed by these comments from Josh Helmbolt, Rivals.com Midwest Recruiting Analyst: “The offensive tackle position is one of the most difficult to learn from a technique standpoint, but Ward is well ahead of the curve. In pass protection, he sets his base quickly and follows with a strong punch. As a run blocker, he is immediately on his man and knows how to put him into the ground.”

Ward said his week with 90 of the best players in the nation reinforced something he already understood.

“That first day practice, I had to get used to that talent level,” he said. “In regular high school games, there were not that many great talents on the field. I’ll have to play fast in college. Agility, footwork and speed will be the keys to winning.”

As memorable as the San Antonio experience was, however, Ward remains humble and true to his roots.

“I have to thank a lot of people for helping me,” he said. “I have to thank God and all my coaches, especially Coach Cogs and Tommy (Lenahan, Providence’s offensive line coach). Without them, none of this happens. They really helped me develop. I thank my parents, too.

“Even though being invited to this game was awesome, the best thing about high school football was being a Celtic. The guys I played with at Providence will be my best friends for years to come.”

Iowa is getting a gem.