2026 Football Roster
Jersey Number 84
Ryan Ward
- Position:
- Tight End
- Height:
- 6-4
- Weight:
- 240
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Rutherford, N.J.
- High School:
- Rutherford
- Prev School:
- North Carolina
2025 (r-So.)
- Academic All-Big 12 Conference First-Team Honors
- Added depth at tight end and used extensively on special teams
- Played in 10 games
- Saw action on 321 plays, including 216 on offense
- Season-high 39 plays at Kansas, including 20 on offense
- Finished with six catches for 41 yards and a touchdown
- Season-high two catches for 20 yards with a long of 16 yards against TCU
- Had a 13-yard catch at Kansas
- Also had a three-yard touchdown reception against Colorado
- Returned a kickoff 12 yards against Robert Morris
2024 (r-Fr.) - North Carolina
- Played tight end for coach Mack Brown at North Carolina
- Saw action in nine games
High School
- Prepped at Rutherford High for coach Steven Dunn
- Named USA Today All-New Jersey and Jersey Sports Zone All-Zone Public Team as a senior
- An all-state, three-time all-conference and two-time all-county selection
- Posted 85 receptions for 1,823 yards and 27 touchdowns on offense, while tallying 139 tackles, 17 sacks and 31 tackles for loss on defense during his prep career
- Caught 24 passes for 654 yards and nine touchdowns to go along with 13 carries for 49 yards and five touchdowns his senior year
- Tallied 91 tackles, 6½ sacks, 22 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown as a senior
- As a junior, notched 35 receptions for 776 yards and 13 touchdowns
- Added 26 tackles, 4½ sacks, nine tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and an interception return for a touchdown
- Posted 26 receptions for 393 yards and five touchdowns during his first two prep seasons
- Also competed in basketball, track and field and lacrosse
- Earned all-conference honors in the discus and javelin
Personal
- Son of Michael and Lora Ward
- One of two children (1 brother)
- Brother, Evan, plays football at Rutgers
- Majoring in finance
- Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll
- Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
Rich Rodriguez | Dec. 3
Wednesday, December 03
Reid Carrico | Nov. 29
Saturday, November 29
Jeff Weimer | Nov. 29
Saturday, November 29
Rich Rodriguez | Nov. 29
Saturday, November 29
