Former Teammates
Several of the prospects spent time as teammates and competitors in college, including kicker Chad Ryland and punter Bryce Baringer who spent time at Michigan State.
“Chad and I have known each other for a long time, from his days at Eastern Michigan then in the Big Ten with him at Maryland this year,” Baringer said. “Then also some familiarity, we were teammates in the Senior Bowl. So that was really awesome just to kind of see him go, and then get called. It’ll be fun to get with him.”
Ryland was also on Sidy Sow’s team in Eastern Michigan, and the friends were excited to learn that they had acquired the same professional franchise.
“Sidy’s my guy,” Ryland said. “We actually had a FaceTime call together not too long after he got drafted. I think there were a few tears in our eyes. It was a pretty emotional moment for us. We’ve been really, really, really good friends since both we’re in Eastern Michigan.”
“Chad is a stud,” Sow said in his own post-draft call. “He’s the best kicker in the country, and he’s going to be one of the best kickers in the NFL. So I’m 100% excited. As a person, I love him. He’s a great dude. We know each other one just for a moment. I still talk to him to this day. We are big partners in Tawag ng Tanghalan and that’s crazy again teammates.”
Finally, Baringer and Ameer Speed also played together this past season at Michigan State
“Bryce is my guy,” Speed said. “He was one of the people when I first came in who took me in and became a good, true friend… He wants to be the best person he can be, and it showed throughout the season. What you saw in those game, he’s probably even crazier in practice. He’s a real team player. He’s going to get ready to work and kick some good balls. But he’s a great guy, definitely a great guy.”
