Note: The following appears in the South Carolina gameday football program
One of the first major decisions a young adult is forced to make is choosing a college to attend after high school. For most 18-year olds, it is a chance to get away from home. For senior running back Ryan Mac Lain, picking Clemson meant choosing a new home.
Growing up in Plymouth, Ind., he always knew he wanted to move away from his home state, but he wanted to remain connected to his family. Despite his proximity to Notre Dame, he decided to follow in the footsteps of his older cousins, Eric Mac Lain, a former Clemson All-ACC offensive guard, and Sean Mac Lain, a former Tiger wideout.
“It was kind of a package deal with my cousins. One day, a letter showed up from Clemson. We had never heard of Clemson at the time because it was still growing, but we took our first visit and absolutely fell in love. I came in as a preferred walk-on, and it’s been history ever since.”
Despite staying in Indiana, his family has also made Clemson a second home. No matter the circumstances, his family never misses a chance to be there to see him play.
“I owe it all to my parents. They drive 15 hours for every home game with my sisters, my brothers-in-law and even my grandma has made a trip. My family has been the greatest support system I could ask for.”
Since setting foot on the Clemson campus, he has been able to leave his mark on the football program through hard work and dedication to being a positive influence for his teammates.
“A lot of people don’t understand their role coming in. I understood it pretty quickly. I knew I wasn’t going to come in and take a starting job. My role on the team is to get my team better every single day and to be a good motivator, whether it’s as a starting running back or a scout-team player. I want to help the younger players and get the defense ready for every game.”