NFL on the cards for Hospital native Lorcan Ryans

“AMERICA is the dream and I love being able to play over there. I would definitely find it hard to move back to Limerick now after being in college there for the past two years” says Hospital native Lorcan Ryans, who is currently on a scholarship to play American football.

The now 21 year-old embarked on his incredible American football career last year as he jetted off to Tuskegee University to play for the Golden Tigers in the prestigious NCAA Division II. Lorcan arrived as the only kicker, after only playing the sport for the past six years.

“I got into it (American football) after just watching a college game on YouTube,” Ryans told Leader Sport. "I really liked the look of it and especially the contact aspect of it. I then went down to play for the Cork Admirals youth team and did a bit of training with the UL Vikings. Non contact training as I was only 16. That’s how it all started.”

Ryans' progress has been remarkable. He gave up playing team sports in John the Baptist Community School, Hospital in second year and it was then when his passion for American football really took hold.

Lorcan had hoped to continue his studies at the University of Limerick but was hampered by Covid. That led him to Bristol and a place at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS). After a stint at running back in Bristol the American dream was still alive with Ryans’ set to study a Mechanical Engineering degree at Tuskegee.

Speaking about playing in America, now as a sophomore, Ryans went on to say: “Life in Alabama is totally different to Ireland, it’s usually around 35 degrees while we are training . Our usual day starts at 4am and then we have practice for three hours and then gym after that. Then it’s breakfast and classes with a few hours to yourself in the evenings.

“It’s definitely tough but worth it. I’ve progressed so much over the last year and my performances have reflected that I went 12 from 15 kicks last year and then 13 from 19 off field goals. It’s all about improving that though and aiming for a place on the All-American squad next year as it gets you seen more by more scouts.”

With another two years left in college to finish out his engineering degree, Lorcan is aiming high, but knows that an NFL career might not happen either. America has become a second home to the Limerick native and the field-kicker said he could envision himself living there in the future.

“Engineers make pretty good money as well," Lorcan joked, “and I enjoy living in America. Even coming back here for Christmas has been a bit of a shock to the system, just with the weather and all, but if American Football doesn’t work out I can always fall back on my degree.

“Even though some days I am wrecked going into class after practice I really enjoy the physics and engineering modules, not so much the English and writing ones though.”

Lorcan has had to think on his feet from the moment he got to America and is the only Limerick man flying the flag in the American football world at the moment.