Ryan Stamper - Leader Of The Pack
Sunday, November 1, 2009 | Football
By: Kelly Bornemann, UF Communications
Ryan Stamper has it all: the friendly disposition, the leadership, the classroom success, the skill, the knowledge of the game and the utmost respect from players on and off the field.
While a natural-born leader, it didn't all come easy for this redshirt senior. It took a few years of hard work and learning about the coaches, the players and the game at the University of Florida to become a starter.
“I didn't really play my first two years here. Instead, I practiced hard and watched the other guys and the coaches. My whole knowledge of the game has changed. I'm a lot smarter now and I can react without thinking because I know what the coaches want,” he said.
Watching players early in his collegiate career such as defensive standouts Earl Everett, Derrick Harvey and Brandon Siler paid off for Stamper, who is the only guy on the team who can play all three linebacker positions.
“I wanted to help and if anything happened to those guys someone would need to know how to play their positions. So, I watched and learned.”
His attention to details paid off because now Stamper is the go to guy on defense.
“The thing I like about Stamper is that he is a guy that I can take and really have him play any position because he is smart enough and has enough athletic ability that I can just place him anywhere at linebacker,” acknowledged Charlie Strong, the Gators' defensive coordinator and linebacker coach.
In addition to being able to fill in at any position, he is also ready to go at a moments' notice to benefit the team. When Brandon Spikes was unable to attend the Southeastern Conference Media Days held in Hoover, Ala., in July, Stamper packed his bags and made it to the airport in record time to catch a last-minute flight to represent the Orange and Blue alongside Coach Meyer and Tim Tebow. He happily fielded questions and conversed with over 1,000 media representatives representing national and local outlets.
His dedication to the team can also be seen off the field. Stamper is always encouraging younger players to work hard and stay focused, no matter what the circumstances are. When a player is struggling, Stamper is often someone who can be relied upon to deliver an inspirational pep talk.
“I point out that I started off slow, but now I'm a starter and a captain because I worked hard at it,” Stamper said. “I just want them to know that they can go out and do it too.”
It's the little things, like taking the time to care about the players and showing his support, which garnered the respect of his teammates and his position as captain in 2008, a position he earned before even becoming a starter.
“Being selected as a captain is a great feeling and lets me know that my teammates really believe in me. Their expectations of me are that I am guy who can get it done,” Stamper said about his leadership role the past two years. “I had no clue until guys came up telling me they voted for me. It was such a great honor to be chosen to represent and lead this team.”
Playfully known now as the 'Old Man' of the team, Stamper's friendly demeanor and hard work make him a natural fit as one of the squad's five captains.
“I mainly try to lead the team by example, by going to class and doing the right things on and off the field,” Stamper said.
In a football world where most players seek to move on to the professional ranks within three years, Stamper made the decision to learn as much as possible on the field and in the classroom.
His academic accomplishments are also notable. Stamper has earned a berth on the SEC Academic Honor Roll twice and is now working on adding a sociology degree to the criminology degree that he completed last December.
“Because I came back as a redshirt, I added a second major. My mom was really into me getting a good education, so I wanted to make her proud.”
Stamper admits that his mom was also an important reason why he chose to attend Florida. UF was able to offer him a chance to matriculate at a school close to his hometown of Jacksonville, while pursuing of the most valuable degrees in the state and playing football for one of the elite programs in the country. It was simply an opportunity he couldn't refuse.
In 2007, Stamper played in all 13 games within the Gators' linebacker rotation and accounted for 21 total tackles, with 12 solo tackles and four tackles for a total loss of 23 yards. Stamper also led the team with two sacks after making his first career sack for a loss of nine yards against Auburn and his second for a loss of 10 yards in his first career start against Georgia.
Playing in 12 games in 2008, with one start at middle linebacker and 10 at weak side linebacker, Stamper stepped up to solidify his place on the team. He finished the season with 45 total tackles, 20 unassisted, three tackles for a loss of 11 yards, and two fumble recoveries that led to Florida scoring.
The most memorable moment in Stamper's career to this point came during the BCS National Championship Game against Oklahoma, when he tackled a running back for a loss of four yards on a 3rd and 1, forcing the Sooners to attempt a long field goal. The ensuing 49-yard attempt was blocked by Carlos Dunlap, preserving the Gators' 14-7 lead late in the third quarter of an eventual 24-14 triumph.
Now, eight games into the 2009 season and playing in his last Florida/Georgia game, this contest is sentimental for Stamper, who grew up watching the Gators and Bulldogs swarm his hometown to experience college football rivalry at its finest.
He reminisces, “I always dreamed of playing in college and knew that playing for the Gators would mean having the opportunity to play in front of my friends and family. Being from Jacksonville, it's my favorite game. I never got to go to the game as a fan, but Coach Meyer let me come my first year, even as a redshirt. After walking onto the field, hearing the fans and seeing the stadium divided in half, I've looked forward to it ever since.”
Returning to the Jacksonville Municipal Stadium every year feels like coming home just to play for his family, a feeling that convinced Stamper to don the Orange and Blue.
“Knowing that I would play in this game in front of my hometown was one of the main reasons I came to play at Florida.”
In his time at the University of Florida, Stamper has dedicated himself to his teammates, family, academics and football career. His positive attitude and intelligence have provided him with the confidence to achieve his childhood dream of playing college football. A strong character instilled by his family has enabled Stamper to develop the type of personality needed to earn the respect of Gator players and coaches alike.
Coach Meyer said about Stamper, “If you had a face, he's the kind of guy who's the face of a program. He's tremendous… a really, really good player and he holds the whole deal together.”
-UF-
