More Than Just For Kicks, Chad Ryland’s Leadership Has Elevated Maryland’s Special Teams
Alyssa Muir, Staff Writer
11/11/2022
Chad Ryland hasn’t even been in College Park for a full calendar year, but his impact on the Maryland Football program, and especially the special teams unit, will be felt for years to come. From his record-setting kicks to his work on the leadership council, the Eastern Michigan transfer has left his mark as a Terp in just a short period of time.
“(Ryland is) by far one of the more meaningful gets out of the transfer portal for us,” coach Michael Locksley said of his star kicker in a Sept. 20 press conference. “It’s not just his ability to kick, but how he’s integrated himself into a new football family. He’s already one of the guys that shows tremendous leadership, he’s part of our leadership counsel. He’s definitely a weapon.”
Ryland entered the transfer portal after an illustrious four-year career at Eastern Michigan where he was the Eagles’ leader in career points scored (309) as well as the single-season points record holder with 104 in 2021. His decision was largely influenced by Jake Julien, Eagles punter and his “partner in crime”, and assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Jay Nunez leaving Eastern Michigan after the 2021 season.
“I’d never anticipated going in the transfer portal when I started my college career, but that’s just kind of how the cards fell,” Ryland said. “My two main guys at Eastern were gone to bigger ponds, and I knew I wanted to test those types of waters as well.”
.@C_Ryland38 has made 23 straight field goals, the longest streak in the country.
— Maryland Football (@TerpsFootball) September 29, 2022
We asked him if we could post about it.
This is what he told us. Stud. pic.twitter.com/2IxLcsZo5N
Locksley and former special teams coordinator Ron Zook quickly connected with Ryland and sold him on the chance to not only be the missing piece the team was looking for, but also an immediate leader.
“I loved all that they had to say,” Ryland recalled. “I loved where the team was at culturally and physically and I saw myself fitting into that puzzle to win something. I’ve played in three bowl games and I haven’t won a single one. As much as I wanted to promote myself to help me reach my goals, I also wanted to be a part of something where I could end my college career with a bang. I want a ring.”
Ryland, dubbed “Coach Zook’s last present before he left to join the XFL” by Locksley, arrived in College Park in January and immediately got to work with Colton Spangler, his new holder, and Ethan Gough, his new long snapper.
When summertime hit, Ryland embarked on his annual trip to Kohl’s Kicking Camp in Tennessee. This time, however, he brought Gough along with him, just as Jake Julien did with Ryland when the Lebanon, PA native was a freshman at Eastern Michigan.
“That’s something I wanted to pass on to Ethan,” Ryland said. “With him being a (redshirt) freshman going into his first real year playing, I wanted to show him that this is where the top guys in college are performing and this is what it takes to get there.”
It’s not just his ability to kick, but how he’s integrated himself into a new football family. He’s already one of the guys that shows tremendous leadership, he’s part of our leadership counsel. He’s definitely a weapon.Head Coach Michael Locksley
Always a great time getting work in with the best! @Coach_Radke @KohlsKicking https://t.co/pgvilAG1gP
— Chad Ryland (@C_Ryland38) June 22, 2022
For Gough, Ryland’s invitation was a bit of a surprise initially, but the camp gave him the experience to meet other specialists and to improve his craft.
“It was a pleasure and an honor,” Gough said of the invite. “Chad has such a great kicking reputation at Kohl’s, so knowing that he wanted to bring me along was really humbling. I was able to take a lot of instruction from not only the coaches there, but I got a lot of tips from the older college snappers and was able to implement them in my own way.”
In Ryland’s eyes, the camp was exactly what it was meant to be for Gough.
“He took a lot in, which was exactly what I wanted him to do,” Ryland said. “I think it showed him how much more is out there than just what you see on a daily basis. Hopefully he’ll take some guys with him next year just to continue that competitive edge, that growth, and the desire to get better inside this program.”
Does Gough plan to carry on the tradition?
“Definitely. Chad took me under his wing from day one and I’m really excited to do that with the younger guys in the future when I’m the veteran in the room.”
That leadership from Ryland has been felt by every person in the special teams room.
“I knew right when Chad came that he had the mindset that he wanted to be great and go to the NFL,” Spangler said. “That’s the mindset I was hoping that he wanted to instill in me as well and I think he did. I’m glad that he came here because he really pushed me to get better too, and I think it was the same for everyone in our room.”
That professional mentality has turned the Gough-Spangler-Ryland trio into a well-oiled machine, but it wasn’t like that right from the jump. All three guys admit there were some early kinks they needed to work out. However, behind Ryland’s leadership in the room, they bought into the process and put in the necessary extra time to build chemistry on and off the field.
“There’s really no way through it except just working together and practicing,” Spangler said. “We had to build that bond on and off the field. We would hang out a lot and then also just be on the field practicing as much as we could.”
It’s, “We made the kick or we missed the kick’. It’s not, ‘I missed the kick or I made the kick.’ I’ll always take credit for the misses, but the makes are a full operational deal, including the guys up front. I’ve never made a field goal where there aren’t people blocking for me. Everyone plays a part.Chad Ryland
The trio practices all possible kick scenarios, with Spangler adjusting his holds based on potential distance and weather conditions, and they keep going until they have it all nailed down to perfection.
Additionally, Ryland has formed close personal relationships with both guys. He and Gough got to know each other well through a combined 12 hours of driving down and back to Kohl’s Camp. During the long car rides, the two talked about everything from college football, to family, to life, and to faith. Now, they attend the Fellowship of Christian Athletes together and pray side-by-side in the end zone before games.
The same goes for Ryland and Spangler. Despite the latter being a punter, Ryland will sit with him and watch his punt tape and go over any adjustments he sees, and Spangler does the same for his kicks.
All of those bonds come back to the same essential element of kicking: trust.
“When you have this operation of snap, hold and kick, you have to have trust in each other that everyone is supposed to do their job the way they’re supposed to do it,” Gough said. “Knowing Chad trusts me and Colton so much that he can just focus on what he’s gotta do without worrying if we’re gonna get our job done or not, it’s really humbling. Accomplishing some of those big kicks has been really fulfilling because we’ve been talking about making those since he first got here.”
So thankful @C_Ryland38 visited with our 5th graders! He told students to surround themselves w/good people, work hard, and say thank you to people who help along the way. We ??ed having his positive energy! #football @TerpsFootball #LeadershipMatters
— Mrs. Maria Bickel (@Room114Bickel) October 29, 2022
Proud teacher moment! pic.twitter.com/EdgD0zswLm
Ryland just hit his SECOND 50+ yarder of the game ??@TerpsFootball takes the lead in the first half ?? pic.twitter.com/vWudlY55Xt
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 24, 2022
There’s certainly been plenty of big kicks to point to this season for Ryland and company. The redshirt senior hit two field goals of 50-yards plus against Michigan (53 and 52), the former of which was the third-longest field goal in Maryland history. The following week, against Michigan State, Ryland tied the Big Ten record for most consecutive field goals made at 24 (dating back to his time at Eastern Michigan) with a 43-yarder in the third quarter.
Of course, all the praise for those record-setting kicks falls on Ryland, but he’s quick to point out that there’s so much more that goes into those kicks.
“It’s, “We made the kick or we missed the kick’. It’s not, ‘I missed the kick or I made the kick.’ I’ll always take credit for the misses, but the makes are a full operational deal, including the guys up front. I’ve never made a field goal where there aren’t people blocking for me. Everyone plays a part.”
In addition to the guys around him, Ryland also credits his process and preparation tactics for his on-field success. While many kickers are superstitious, Ryland is firm that, “He doesn’t believe in jinxes; he believes in preparation and practice.”
“I say that because I pride myself on performing well during the week, so when it’s game time I’m ready to go, no matter what’s happening around me,” Ryland said. “It really doesn’t matter the score, what the weather is, how many people are in the stands. External factors don’t dictate my ability to do my job because, at the end of the day, if I’m on the field, I’m expected to do my job at the highest level.”
Ryland’s not content with where he’s at now; never being satisfied is a key part of his killer mentality. Instead, he’s still pushing for more—both in terms of his individual success and for the Maryland program overall.
“You’re only as good as your last kick, so I always have that one-kick mentality where I have to go out and execute each time, whether it’s a 55-yarder or an extra point,” Ryland said. “If I’m inside midfield, I’m expecting to make it every time. That’s what’s gotten me where I’m at.
“Every kick is a stepping stone. I want them to be stepping stones, not graveyard kicks. That’s what I’ve always thought and that mindset is something I’ve brought here to Maryland.”
