Q&A With Seth Ryan

Note: The following appears in the SC State gameday football program. To purchase a copy of the program while supplies last, send a check for $6 to Clemson Athletic Communications; P.O. Box 31; Clemson, SC 29633 with your return address.

Q. What compelled you to become a Tiger?A. The family atmosphere. I’m a big family man, and the way coach (Dabo) Swinney coaches his guys made a huge difference.

Q. What has been your favorite experience as a Tiger?A. Being around the guys in the locker room and on campus.

Q. What has it been like playing for coach Jeff Scott?A. It’s been great. We’re alike in many ways. He’s given me some advice on what I need to do to be a better player and some day a better coach.

Q. As a holder, is there anything that you do to calm your nerves before a snap?A. I make sure that there are 11 guys on the field.

Q. What are your expectations in 2016?A. We’re going to take it one game at a time and worry about the rest at the end of the year. As for myself, I expect to be the best player that I can possibly be.

Q. What do you expect from special teams this year?A. It’s going to surprise a lot of people. It’s going to help us win the national championship.

Q. What’s it like playing with such a stellar receiving corps?A. It’s humbling. A lot of those guys are going to go on to play in the NFL, but they’re laid-back and awesome people to be around.

Q. How has playing wideout helped you as a holder?A. I get to catch the ball a lot, so that’s helped me get used to handling the football.

Q. How have you improved since the beginning of your college career?A. When I got here, I had to really work, being a smaller guy, to catch a ball. The more knowledgeable I got, that helped a lot.

Q. Who was your childhood football idol?A. I was a defensive back in the beginning, and I idolized Deion Sanders and the way he played.

Q. What is the best football-related advice that your father has given you?A. He told me to be myself and work hard, because coaches love a player who works and is coachable.

Q. How did your grandfather, Buddy Ryan, impact your life?A. I’ve never met anyone tougher than my grandfather. He was a war veteran and a really tough dude. And I try to have that toughness like he did.

FAVORITESActor – Mark WahlbergAthlete – Mike TroutClass – Public speakingClemson tradition – Running down the HillFood – PizzaMusician – EminemNFL player – Mark SanchezSport other than football – BaseballTelevision show – 24Uniform combination – All orange