Furman University

Honors & Awards
2023 Preseason Stats Perform All-America (3rd Team)
2023 Preseason All-Southern Conference (1st Team)
2023 Team Co-Captain
2023 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll
2023 Southern Conference All-Academic Team
2022 All-Southern Conference (1st Team - Coaches)
2022 All-Southern Conference (1st Team - Media)
2022 Southern Conference Player of the Week (vs. ETSU)
2022 Southern Conference Player of the Week (vs. Chattanooga)
2022 Southern Conference Player of the Month (Oct.)
2022 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll
2022 Southern Conference All-Academic Team
2021 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll
2021 Southern Conference All-Academic Team
2020 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll

2023 — Elected by his teammates as a co-captain...named to the Preseason All-Southern Conference 1st Team as selected by the coaches and to the Preseason Stats Perform All-America 3rd Team...ranked by Hero Sports’ Sam Herder as the No. 15 safety in the FCS.

2022 — Established himself as one of the top safeties in the FCS...started at free safety in all 13 games...consensus first team All-Southern Conference selection in balloting by coaches and media after totaling 69 tackles and pacing the squad in both interceptions (4) and pass breakups (8)...breakups tally was part of the school season record 57 pass deflections posted by the Paladins...played a pivotal role in Furman’s 10-3 season that featured a stretch of seven consecutive wins and an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs, where the Paladins claimed a 31-6 first round home win over Elon...10 wins represented the most by Furman since 2005...team finished a consensus 10th in final AFCA and Stats Perform Polls...campaign was fueled with strong work by Furman’s defense, which led the FCS in turnovers gained (29) and interceptions (18)...helped the Paladins rank first in the SoCon in scoring (20.2 ppg) and red zone defense (71.7 percent, 28x39), and post league best (low) completion percentage defense (58.5)...twice named SoCon Defensive Player of the Week, with the first coming after recording eight tackles, an interception, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup in a 27-14 SoCon road victory over reigning league champion and 18th-ranked East Tennessee State...earned his second scroll after headlining a 24-20 win over sixth-ranked Chattanooga with seven tackles, an interception and a pass breakup....recorded interceptions in three consecutive games: vs. Western Carolina (47-40 win), VMI (41-3 win), and Chattanooga...named league defensive player of the month for October...matched a season high with eight tackles, including one for-loss, and a pass breakup to spark Furman to a 23-13 road triumph over 11th-ranked Mercer...named to both the SoCon All-Academic Team and Academic Honor Roll for the 2022-23 school year.

2021 — Earned starts at free safety in all 11 games and paced Furman with 62 tackles, including three for-loss, two pass breakups, and an interception...had a season high nine tackles against Chattanooga...had eight stops against both East Tennessee State and VMI (37-31 win)...interception came against Western Carolina....named to the SoCon All-Academic Team and SoCon Academic Honor Roll for the 2021-22 school year.

2020 — Appeared in all seven games (spring of ‘21) and earned starts at free safety in the final six games...credited with 33 tackles, an interception, and three passes defensed...registered season high six-tackle performances against VMI and Mercer... notched five-tackle performances versus East Tennessee State (17-13 win) and Chattanooga....performance versus UTC included an interception...named to the SoCon All-Academic Team and SoCon Academic Honor Roll for the 2020-21 school year.

2019 — Earned playing time in all 13 games and made two starts, with his first coming against Virginia Tech that netted him a season high six tackles and a pass breakup...notched his first of two interceptions the next week against Mercer (45-10 win)...second interception came in regular season finale versus Point (64-7 win)...credited with three tackles against both Charleston Southern (46-13 win) and Samford (58-14 win)...finished the season with 17 tackles...named to the SoCon Academic Honor Roll for the 2019-20 school year.

High School: 2019 graduate of Dutch Fork (5A) High School...played strong safety...head coach was Tom Knotts...started 27 games and registered over 200 tackles...member of three state championship teams that compiled a 41-1 record over his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons...two-time All-Region 5 5A selection...as a senior registered 92 tackles and three interceptions en route to landing all-state honors...Shrine Bowl selection who served as South Carolina’s team captain and was a teammate of Paladin center Evan Jumper...registered seven tackles and a sack in the contest...also starred in baseball...hit .391 and earned all-region and second team all-state honors on the diamond as a junior.

Personal: Full name is James Hugh Ryan...born April 30, 2001, in Irmo, South Carolina...son of Hugh Ryan...mother, Barbara Koosa Webb ‘91 was an outstanding golfer at Furman...has a sister Kristin...aunt, Caroline Haeberle Ryan, is a 1985 graduate...grandfather, Jimmy Koosa, played professional baseball in Minnesota Twins organization...business administration major.