Ryan Claridge
Encyclopedia
Ryan Quinlan Claridge is a former NFL linebacker
. He played for the New England Patriots
in the 2005 season, but was released early during 2006 training camp. He played college football at UNLV
and is currently the defensive coordinator
for the varsity football team at Del Sol High School
in Paradise, Nevada
.
, and was a four-sport standout in football
, tennis
, basketball
and track. In football, as a senior, he rushed for more than 1300 yards and 27 touchdowns, was a first team All-Southern Thumb Association selection, was the League MVP
and a first team All-State selection. He is the school record holder in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, having played three years on the varsity team. In basketball, Claridge was the team's leading scorer and rebounder during his sophomore and senior seasons (he missed his junior season due to injury). In tennis, as a senior, he was also a first-team All-State selection. In track, as a junior, Claridge qualified for the state finals in the high jump and was also All-Southern Thumb Association in the 100-meter dash and the high jump.
r John Robinson to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
as a linebacker for the Rebels football team
. Claridge would play his entire eligibility at UNLV over five years, receiving a medical redshirt during the 2002 season due to a sports hernia.
Claridge was drafted by the New England Patriots
in the 5th round (170th overall) in the 2005 NFL Draft
. Claridge would spend the entire 2005 season
on the team's practice squad before being cut during training camp in 2006.
out of USC
was a second round pick offensive lineman for the Atlanta Falcons
in 2000.
After his professional football career was over, Claridge returned to southern Nevada and took up a coaching position with Coronado High School's Junior Varsity squad in 2007. The following season, Claridge would become the defensive coordinator for the varsity team at Del Sol High School
and become a full-time teacher in the schools Driver's Education, Health and Physical Education Department.
Claridge was an investor in Philippi Sports Institute in Las Vegas, the institute is owned and operated by former World's Strongest Man finalist Mark Philippi
.
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. He played for the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in the 2005 season, but was released early during 2006 training camp. He played college football at UNLV
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public, coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA. The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip. The institution includes a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of the University Medical Center of...
and is currently the defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the varsity football team at Del Sol High School
Del Sol High School
Del Sol High School is a nine-month public high school in unincorporated Clark County, Nevada, United States that is part of the Clark County School District. Del Sol was one of three schools to open in Fall 2004...
in Paradise, Nevada
Paradise, Nevada
Paradise is an unincorporated town in the Las Vegas metropolitan area in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 223,167 at the 2010 census...
.
High school career
Claridge attended Almont High School in Almont, MichiganAlmont, Michigan
Almont is a village in Lapeer County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,803 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Almont Township....
, and was a four-sport standout in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and track. In football, as a senior, he rushed for more than 1300 yards and 27 touchdowns, was a first team All-Southern Thumb Association selection, was the League MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
and a first team All-State selection. He is the school record holder in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, having played three years on the varsity team. In basketball, Claridge was the team's leading scorer and rebounder during his sophomore and senior seasons (he missed his junior season due to injury). In tennis, as a senior, he was also a first-team All-State selection. In track, as a junior, Claridge qualified for the state finals in the high jump and was also All-Southern Thumb Association in the 100-meter dash and the high jump.
College and professional career
Claridge was recruited by College Football Hall of FameCollege Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
r John Robinson to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public, coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA. The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip. The institution includes a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of the University Medical Center of...
as a linebacker for the Rebels football team
UNLV Rebels football
The UNLV Rebels football program is a college football team that represents the University of Nevada, Las Vegas . The team is currently a member of the Mountain West Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association...
. Claridge would play his entire eligibility at UNLV over five years, receiving a medical redshirt during the 2002 season due to a sports hernia.
Claridge was drafted by the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in the 5th round (170th overall) in the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. Claridge would spend the entire 2005 season
2005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
on the team's practice squad before being cut during training camp in 2006.
Personal
Claridge's brother, the late Travis ClaridgeTravis Claridge
Travis Claridge was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he played for the Atlanta Falcons between 2000 and 2003 and for the Carolina Panthers in 2004....
out of USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
was a second round pick offensive lineman for the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2000.
After his professional football career was over, Claridge returned to southern Nevada and took up a coaching position with Coronado High School's Junior Varsity squad in 2007. The following season, Claridge would become the defensive coordinator for the varsity team at Del Sol High School
Del Sol High School
Del Sol High School is a nine-month public high school in unincorporated Clark County, Nevada, United States that is part of the Clark County School District. Del Sol was one of three schools to open in Fall 2004...
and become a full-time teacher in the schools Driver's Education, Health and Physical Education Department.
Claridge was an investor in Philippi Sports Institute in Las Vegas, the institute is owned and operated by former World's Strongest Man finalist Mark Philippi
Mark Philippi
Mark Philippi – is a former leading strongman competitor, multiple entrant to the World's Strongest Man competition, and former holder of the America's Strongest Man title.-Biography:...
.