Ryan Stanchek
Encyclopedia
Ryan Stanchek is an American football
guard
who is currently a free agent
. He was signed by the Atlanta Falcons
as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football
at West Virginia
.
Foundation Lineman of the Year. He was also selected as the Big 33 Football Classic
as a senior. As a junior, he was an all-league selection and won his team's Iron Man award. He was also a basketball
and discus
letterman.
in 2004, but did not see varsity action and was redshirted by head coach Rich Rodriguez
. Although not seeing action, he won the Danny Van Etten Award from his coaches as the scout team player of the year.
Stanchek finally saw action in 2005, and earned the starting role four games into the season as an offensive guard. His first start of the season was at the left guard position against Virginia Tech, where he accumulated nine knockdowns. Against Cincinnati
, he had eight knockdowns. In the overtime-thriller against Louisville
, Stanchek had a reception for five yards along with his nine knockdowns. Stanchek finished the season by being named to the first team freshman All-American team, along with quarterback Patrick White and running back Steve Slaton
.
candidates, White at quarterback and Slaton at running back. Along with Stanchek on the offensive line there was Dan Mozes
, the consensus All-American center who won the Rimington Trophy for the nation's best center. Stanchek and the offensive line helped the West Virginia team rise to the nation's second best rushing totals and an 11-2 record.
second-team All-American, Associated Press
All-American third-teamer, was named to four other All-American teams, and was awarded the team's John Russell Memorial Award by the coaching staff. Pat White and Steve Slaton
both rushed for 1,000 yards for the consecutive season behind Stanchek's 95 knockdown blocks. The offensive line only gave up 13 sacks as a unit and Stanchek was in the top ten nationally in sacks allowed. In the offensive line's finest game, the 2008 Fiesta Bowl
victory over the Oklahoma Sooners
, West Virginia rushed for 349 yards which was the most ever given up by an Oklahoma team in a bowl game. Stanchek was also named to the 2007 Big East Academic All-American team.
Stanchek finished his junior season by playing in over 800 plays, recording 103 knockdowns over the year.
, and Jock Sanders all returning. White and Devine both rushed for over 1,000 yards on the season, led by Stanchek and junior Greg Isdaner
on the line. Along with being named a first-team All-Big East selection, Stanchek was a second-team All-American. He finished his career with 48 consecutive starts.
, instead being signed by the Atlanta Falcons
as an undrafted free agent. He was waived on September 4.
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...
guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was signed by 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...
as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at West Virginia
West Virginia Mountaineers football
The West Virginia Mountaineers football team represents West Virginia University in the NCAA FBS division of college football. Dana Holgorsen is the team's 33rd head coach. He has held the position since he was promoted in June 2011 after the resignation of Bill Stewart. The Mountaineers play their...
.
Early years
Stanchek, the son of John and Debra Stanchek, was a first team all-state, all-GCL, and all-southwest football player at LaSalle High. Along with being the team captain, Stanchek was the conference and Anthony MunozAnthony Muñoz
Michael Anthony Muñoz , is a Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive tackle who played most of his career for the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals...
Foundation Lineman of the Year. He was also selected as the Big 33 Football Classic
Big 33 Football Classic
The Big 33 Football Classic is an all-star American football game featuring the top high-school football players in Pennsylvania. Played since 1957, the game is often described as the "Super Bowl of High School Football." The last 14 contests have pitted players from Pennsylvania against players...
as a senior. As a junior, he was an all-league selection and won his team's Iron Man award. He was also a 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 discus
Discus
Discus, "disk" in Latin, may refer to:* Discus , a progressive rock band from Indonesia* Discus , a fictional character from the Marvel Comics Universe and enemy of Luke Cage* Discus , a freshwater fish popular with aquarium keepers...
letterman.
Freshman season
Stanchek arrived at West VirginiaWest Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
in 2004, but did not see varsity action and was redshirted by head coach Rich Rodriguez
Rich Rodriguez
Richard A. "Rich" Rodriguez is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Arizona. Rodriguez previously served as the head football coach at Salem University , Glenville State College , West Virginia University , and the University...
. Although not seeing action, he won the Danny Van Etten Award from his coaches as the scout team player of the year.
Stanchek finally saw action in 2005, and earned the starting role four games into the season as an offensive guard. His first start of the season was at the left guard position against Virginia Tech, where he accumulated nine knockdowns. Against Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
, he had eight knockdowns. In the overtime-thriller against Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
, Stanchek had a reception for five yards along with his nine knockdowns. Stanchek finished the season by being named to the first team freshman All-American team, along with quarterback Patrick White and running back Steve Slaton
Steve Slaton
Steve Slaton is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
.
Sophomore season
In 2006, as a sophomore, Stanchek headed the offensive line at tackle that blocked for two HeismanHeisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
candidates, White at quarterback and Slaton at running back. Along with Stanchek on the offensive line there was Dan Mozes
Dan Mozes
Daniel Mozes is an American football Center who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was unselected in the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at West Virginia....
, the consensus All-American center who won the Rimington Trophy for the nation's best center. Stanchek and the offensive line helped the West Virginia team rise to the nation's second best rushing totals and an 11-2 record.
Junior season
As a junior, in 2007, Stanchek returned as the most experienced member of the West Virginia offensive line that lost Mozes at center. The offensive line also lost Rick Trickett to Florida State. Stanchek started every game on the season at tackle, but was also backup guard. Stanchek led the offensive line that guided the Mountaineers to 38.9 points per game and 450.5 yards per game. Stanchek was passed up on the all-Big East teams however, but was named a 2007 Walter CampWalter Camp
Walter Chauncey Camp was an American football player, coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". With John Heisman, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pop Warner, Fielding H. Yost, and George Halas, Camp was one of the most accomplished persons in the early history of American football...
second-team All-American, Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
All-American third-teamer, was named to four other All-American teams, and was awarded the team's John Russell Memorial Award by the coaching staff. Pat White and Steve Slaton
Steve Slaton
Steve Slaton is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
both rushed for 1,000 yards for the consecutive season behind Stanchek's 95 knockdown blocks. The offensive line only gave up 13 sacks as a unit and Stanchek was in the top ten nationally in sacks allowed. In the offensive line's finest game, the 2008 Fiesta Bowl
2008 Fiesta Bowl
The 2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl was a college football bowl game sponsored by Tostitos. It was part of the 2007–2008 Bowl Championship Series of the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Played annually since 1971, first at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe,...
victory over the Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
, West Virginia rushed for 349 yards which was the most ever given up by an Oklahoma team in a bowl game. Stanchek was also named to the 2007 Big East Academic All-American team.
Stanchek finished his junior season by playing in over 800 plays, recording 103 knockdowns over the year.
Senior season
Stanchek returned for his senior season as the team leader in career starts to the returning squad that featured rushers Pat White, Noel DevineNoel Devine
Noel Devine is an American football running back for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2011 and was released four days later after leaving the squad. He played college football at West Virginia.He had a...
, and Jock Sanders all returning. White and Devine both rushed for over 1,000 yards on the season, led by Stanchek and junior Greg Isdaner
Greg Isdaner
Greg Isdaner is an American football guard who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2009...
on the line. Along with being named a first-team All-Big East selection, Stanchek was a second-team All-American. He finished his career with 48 consecutive starts.
Atlanta Falcons
Stanchek was not drafted in the 2009 NFL Draft2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
, instead being signed by 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...
as an undrafted free agent. He was waived on September 4.