Ryan Hunter Chasing His Dreams Far From Home

Ryan Hunter (left) and Rich Robbins (righ

            When you think about a prototypical offensive lineman, you picture someone like RyanHunter.

            Hunter towers over the average person, measuring in at 6’5 and 315 pounds. He looks mean and intimidating, and on the field he plays every down like its his last.

            This imposing stature, combined with his physical mentality and leadership abilities, has garnered the Canisius High School senior a lot of attention from college recruiters throughout the northeast.

            Currently, Hunter is verbally committed to Bowling Green State University. He has also received offers from the University at Buffalo, as well as some FCS teams. Canisius head coach Rich Robbins says the excitement around Hunter is building, and they expect an offer from a bigger program might be coming soon.

            “We hope to get some other interest going, see what else is out there for him based on a much better senior film than a junior film,” said Robbins. “I know he’s very comfortable and ready to be a Bowling Green guy too.”

            No matter where Hunter ends up attending college, when he leaves for training camp this summer, he feels as though he will have an advantage over the other freshmen in camp. The reason Hunter is so comfortable is because for the past two years, he has been living with a host family, five hours away from his parents.

            Hunter is from North Bay, Ontario, which is about 212 miles north of Toronto. He moved to Buffalo in 2011 so he could attend Canisius High School and play football for the Crusaders.           

            “It has changed my life,” said Hunter.” I never thought growing up that I’d be leaving home this young to pursue my dream of playing football.”

            Hunter found his way to football as a boy in Canada, even growing up in a country where hockey is the most popular sport. He said that he knew he wanted to play from a young age, but it took some convincing to get his mother to let him.

            “I was begging my mom to (let me) play, and she didn’t want me to play because she thought I’d get hurt,” said Hunter. “But I was like the biggest kid in seventh grade so I don’t know why she was thinking that.”

            After a year of pleading with his mother, Hunter finally convinced her to let him play. He took a minute to think, before going on to talk the first time he put on his equipment.

            “From the first time I put pads on, I just fell in love with football,” he said. “It’s so much fun. It’s the only place where you can hit someone as hard as you can and you wont get in trouble if its between the whistle.”

            Hunter remembers one game in particular like it was yesterday. He was a on the JV team at his high school in North Bay, and he was feeling nauseous all day, but decided to play despite being sick. The rest of the story is better left to him to tell.

           
          This type of performance is something that Canisius fans have grown accustomed to over the past two years. He brings a physical mentality into every game, and Hunter thinks it gives him an edge over opponents.

            “It helps so much being physical,” he said. “If you start from the first whistle burying them in the ground, and you let them know that every play you’re going to be there burying them in the ground, he’s going to want to quit a lot sooner than you will.”

            This comment solicited a chuckle from Hunter’s coach. Robbins laughed and shook his head a little bit, then turned and nodded towards Hunter.

            “That’s a lineman right there,” Robbins said.

            In the classroom, Hunter excels just like he does on the gridiron. He carries a grade point average of just under 90 percent, but what is even more impressive is that English is not Hunter’s first language.

            Hunter speaks French as his primary language, and until coming to Canisius, he had never been taught in English.

            “He carries almost a 90 average here at Canisius High School, which is very challenging,” said Robbins. “Especially when you’re going to school in a language which isn’t your first language.”

            In college, Hunter said he is interested in studying psychology or criminal justice, but he doesn’t know for sure what he wants to major in. Regardless, Robbins feels that Hunter’s performance on the field will be strong.

            “I think he’ll have a very successful college career,” said Robbins. “With his size and agility and ability, I think he’ll challenge for a starting position right away.”

            Hunter shares his coach’s confidence in his ability. Even sitting in the chapel at Canisius, he seemed like he couldn’t wait for the fall to take on collegiate competition.

            “I feel like I could go up against any defensive end in any conference and do well against them,” Hunter said.

            For now, all he can do is sit and wait patiently. Hunter continues to work hard during the off-season, to try to improve his game and be ready to play at the next level. His coach has the utmost confidence in him, and doesn’t necessarily see Hunter’s career ending after college.

            “I think if he gets in with a good college program and works real hard for four years, he may have a chance to play on Sundays,” said Robbins.