Eastern Michigan Athletics
EMU Welcomes Sow and Ryland to the Football Ring of Honor
9/24/2024 10:33:00 AM | Football
EMU adds duo to the Ring of Honor at Rynearson Stadium
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University Department of Athletics proudly inducted two new members into the Football Ring of Honor on Saturday, Sept. 21, at Rynearson Stadium. The latest honorees are Sidy Sow and Chad Ryland.
To be included in the Ring of Honor, individuals must have either earned All-American honors from a major publication or played in an official National Football League game.
Sow and Ryland join a distinguished group of 52 EMU legends whose names are already displayed at the top of Rynearson Stadium. The Ring of Honor, originally dedicated during the 2003 Homecoming game against Western Michigan, was updated in 2023 with new 20-inch tall vinyl lettering.
Previous honorees include Andy Vanyo, Charles Hanniman, Bob Middlekauff, Chuck Shonta, Al Day, Ivory Hood, Garry Grady, Tom Jackson, John Schmidt, Robert Lints, Al Clark, Will Foster, Dave Pureifory, Larry Radcliff, Bill Dulac, Ron Fernandes, Dave Boone, Reggie Garrett, Jim Pietrzak, John Banaszak, Jeff Bixler, Clarence Chapman, Ron Johnson, Tom Parm, David Marshall, Anthony Fields, Brett Petersmark, Ron Adams, Brian Clouse, Charles Gordon, Gary Patton, Vashone Adams, Ron Rice, Barry Stokes, Charlie Batch, Lional Dalton, L.J. Shelton, Jason Short, Carson Dach, Kevin Walter, Chris Roberson, Andrew Wellock, Kevin Harrison, Jeremy Perry, Jason Jones, T.J. Lang, Andy Mulumba, Bronson Hill, Darius Jackson, Pat O'Connor, Andrew Wylie, and Maxx Crosby.
Sidy Sow
Sidy Sow (Bromont, Quebec/J-H Leclerc-Champlain/Lennoxville) was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, becoming the seventh-highest draft pick in EMU history and the first since Maxx Crosby in 2019. Chosen 117th overall, Sow is one of only 30 EMU players drafted since 1955 and the fourth in the last eight years. He is also the sixth offensive lineman from EMU to be drafted, joining notable names such as Bob Lints, Bill DuLac, and T.J. Lang.
Sow's college career is nothing short of exceptional. A two-time member of Team Canada's football squad, he started 11 of 13 games as a freshman and later moved to left guard, earning first-team All-MAC honors in both 2021 and 2022. At the end of his career, he left EMU with the record for the most games played (56) and started (54) that surpassed in 2023 by Brian Dooley.
In his senior season, Sow was pivotal in EMU's success, leading the MAC in red zone offense and third-down conversions. Over 949 snaps in 2022, Sow allowed just two sacks and boasted a pass-blocking efficiency of 98.1%, according to Pro Football Focus. After 3,600 career snaps, he allowed only 66 pressures, ranking among the top 35 guards in the country.
Sow appeared in 15 games for the Patriots in 2023 and was expected to start in 2024 before an injury sidelined him during the preseason.
Chad Ryland
Chad Ryland (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) was drafted by the New England Patriots just five picks before Sow, with the 112th overall selection. Ryland finished his EMU career as the all-time leader in PATs made (141), PATs attempted (145), and career points scored (309). He also ranks second in EMU history for career field goals made (56) and holds the single-game record for field goals made with five against Western Michigan in 2021.
After graduating from EMU, Ryland transferred to the University of Maryland, where he was named Second-Team All-Big Ten in 2022. At Maryland, he made 19-of-23 field goals, finishing his season with an 82.6% success rate, and set the school's highest career field goal percentage (.826) for kickers with more than 20 attempts.
In 2023, Ryland made 16 field goals for the Patriots, including a career-long 56-yarder, and finished the season with 72 points, going 24-of-25 on extra points.
To be included in the Ring of Honor, individuals must have either earned All-American honors from a major publication or played in an official National Football League game.
Sow and Ryland join a distinguished group of 52 EMU legends whose names are already displayed at the top of Rynearson Stadium. The Ring of Honor, originally dedicated during the 2003 Homecoming game against Western Michigan, was updated in 2023 with new 20-inch tall vinyl lettering.
Previous honorees include Andy Vanyo, Charles Hanniman, Bob Middlekauff, Chuck Shonta, Al Day, Ivory Hood, Garry Grady, Tom Jackson, John Schmidt, Robert Lints, Al Clark, Will Foster, Dave Pureifory, Larry Radcliff, Bill Dulac, Ron Fernandes, Dave Boone, Reggie Garrett, Jim Pietrzak, John Banaszak, Jeff Bixler, Clarence Chapman, Ron Johnson, Tom Parm, David Marshall, Anthony Fields, Brett Petersmark, Ron Adams, Brian Clouse, Charles Gordon, Gary Patton, Vashone Adams, Ron Rice, Barry Stokes, Charlie Batch, Lional Dalton, L.J. Shelton, Jason Short, Carson Dach, Kevin Walter, Chris Roberson, Andrew Wellock, Kevin Harrison, Jeremy Perry, Jason Jones, T.J. Lang, Andy Mulumba, Bronson Hill, Darius Jackson, Pat O'Connor, Andrew Wylie, and Maxx Crosby.
Sidy Sow
Sidy Sow (Bromont, Quebec/J-H Leclerc-Champlain/Lennoxville) was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, becoming the seventh-highest draft pick in EMU history and the first since Maxx Crosby in 2019. Chosen 117th overall, Sow is one of only 30 EMU players drafted since 1955 and the fourth in the last eight years. He is also the sixth offensive lineman from EMU to be drafted, joining notable names such as Bob Lints, Bill DuLac, and T.J. Lang.
Sow's college career is nothing short of exceptional. A two-time member of Team Canada's football squad, he started 11 of 13 games as a freshman and later moved to left guard, earning first-team All-MAC honors in both 2021 and 2022. At the end of his career, he left EMU with the record for the most games played (56) and started (54) that surpassed in 2023 by Brian Dooley.
In his senior season, Sow was pivotal in EMU's success, leading the MAC in red zone offense and third-down conversions. Over 949 snaps in 2022, Sow allowed just two sacks and boasted a pass-blocking efficiency of 98.1%, according to Pro Football Focus. After 3,600 career snaps, he allowed only 66 pressures, ranking among the top 35 guards in the country.
Sow appeared in 15 games for the Patriots in 2023 and was expected to start in 2024 before an injury sidelined him during the preseason.
Chad Ryland
Chad Ryland (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) was drafted by the New England Patriots just five picks before Sow, with the 112th overall selection. Ryland finished his EMU career as the all-time leader in PATs made (141), PATs attempted (145), and career points scored (309). He also ranks second in EMU history for career field goals made (56) and holds the single-game record for field goals made with five against Western Michigan in 2021.
After graduating from EMU, Ryland transferred to the University of Maryland, where he was named Second-Team All-Big Ten in 2022. At Maryland, he made 19-of-23 field goals, finishing his season with an 82.6% success rate, and set the school's highest career field goal percentage (.826) for kickers with more than 20 attempts.
In 2023, Ryland made 16 field goals for the Patriots, including a career-long 56-yarder, and finished the season with 72 points, going 24-of-25 on extra points.
Players Mentioned
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