GRANGER — Johnny “Friday Night Lights” Ryder is known around town as the star player for the Lions football team, but now he is sporting Texas A&M University gear.
Ryder participated in the spring game April 15 for the Aggies and it was a moment he will never forget: the realization of a longtime dream.
“I ran out of the tunnel and I kind of took a second to look around and I was just like, ‘Wow, this is really cool,’” said Ryder, a multi-sport athlete when he was at Granger High School. “We had, like, 30 yards and one end zone cut off, but it was still an awesome experience.”
Ryder’s Granger head football coach Stephen Brosch said he is beyond proud of Ryder and everything the athlete has accomplished.
However, the coach did take a playful jab at his former player for Ryder’s choice to attend A&M.
“I am a diehard Longhorn (University of Texas) so his choice could have been better…. just kidding,” Brosch said. “To see Johnny live out his childhood dream is remarkable. There is not a more deserving young man to watch succeed at his dream of playing for a Division I football program.”
No matter what, Borsch said he will always be a Ryder fan.
“I’m no Aggie fan, but I promise you one thing…. I’ll be rooting for them while this small-town Granger kid is doing big things. Super proud of you, Johnny Ryder! Don’t stop believing and remember—you’re blazing a trail for all those small-town kids that were told it couldn’t be done,” Brosch said.
Before the spring game, Brosch said he only had to give the 6-foot-2-inch Ryder a simple “good luck” because he knew Ryder was more than ready for what was to come. Ryder has also returned to playing wide receiver.
His former coach said Ryder is going to succeed in his collegiate career.
“Johnny played WR for the Lions his freshman, sophomore and junior years before moving full time to QB his senior year. The transition in college back to that sport was something that was easy for him to handle,” Brosch said. “You are talking about a regional qualifying high jumper, rim rocker in basketball, quick-flying dude that can jump up and high point the football very well.”
Added the coach, “He ran down … gap-driven baseballs from center field. Simply put, he’s always had a knack for being extremely successful at whatever it is he took on. To do it at the level that he is doing now is super special to watch.”
Ryder has no lack of fans in his hometown.
“He had a huge fan base when he was a Granger Lion football player and athlete; that doesn’t change just because he’s moved on in his career. Once a Lion, always a Lion. The Granger prideful will be screaming, ‘Go Johnny go’ for as long as his sporting career continues, I can guarantee that,” Brosch said.
Ryder said the encouragement received from his hometown has touched his heart. He added he will always be grateful to the people of Granger.
“The support I have gotten from the city has been amazing — the small businesses, the big businesses and just the people in general,” Ryder said. “It has truly been special.”
The athlete said there is one word that sums up how he feels about his Granger brethren.
“If I had to put it in one word, I would say ‘love.’ Not just for me but, through the good and the bad, they always come together and help and support and love each other,” Ryder said. “My good friend from Granger, DJ (McClelland) … was caught in the mix of the (spring 2022) tornado and his house was destroyed and every single person in the city came over to make sure he and his family had everything they needed. It is just who we are.”
Ryder said he still has plenty of work work to do as an Aggie, but he is looking forward to the challenge and can’t wait for the season to ramp up.
