Trever Ryen’s rise to prominence leads to scholarship

Korrie Bysted/Iowa State Daily

Trever Ryen breaks away for a touchdown during Iowa State’s spring game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, April 11.

Luke Manderfeld
September 22, 2015

At the beginning of fall camp, ISU head coach Paul Rhoads threw out walk-on Trever Ryen’s name as a possibility to return punts to start the season. 

It was only the start of Ryen’s rise to prominence. 

He was later moved from wide receiver to running back. And in the first three games of the season Ryen was arguably one of the ISU offense’s most versatile weapons. 

Now the hard work has paid dividends as Ryen continues to make a name for himself.

In a team meeting Tuesday afternoon, Rhoads announced to the team that Ryen, who is a member of the Walk-On Players Association, would be given a scholarship. 

A star track and field athlete from Ida Grove, Iowa, Ryen was one of the state’s premier sprinters. He broke the state record in the 200-meter race in high school, finishing with a time of 21.92 seconds. 

Ryen used his track and field abilities to make the jump to college at the University of Northern Iowa. During his time with the Panthers, Ryen decided he wanted to pursue football. 

That’s what led him to Iowa State. 

He transferred for his 2014-15 season and contacted the ISU football staff about trying out as a walk-on. The staff gave him a spot while redshirting him in his first season on the team. 

After his redshirt season, Ryen was in the discussion as the starting punt returner for the team. During Paul Rhoads’ press conference before the season opener against Northern Iowa, he announced Ryen was making the move from receiver to running back. 

That went barely noticed at the time. 

But Ryen made an immediate impact against the Panthers, returning an 81-yard punt for a touchdown. And the next week against Iowa, he was the most effective runner — rushing four times for 23 yards — in an ISU running game that was almost absent. 

He continued his strong start to the season against Toledo on Saturday, catching three passes for 27 yards and rushing for 13 yards on three attempts. 

Ryen is one of three players on the ISU football team who have gone from walk-on to scholarship status and the 20th walk-on to be awarded a scholarship during Rhoads’ tenure as head coach.