Ryan Selected for This Week’s Gold Helmet Award
WALTHAM, Mass. – Following his standout performance in Saturday's 35-31 win over Assumption College, Bentley University freshman wide receiver Austin Ryan (Foxborough/ Foxborough HS) has been selected for this week's college division New England Football Writers Gold Helmet, presented by the Jack Grinold Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation.
Ryan received his award Wednesday afternoon at Harvard University during the New England Football Writers weekly luncheon.
The six-foot, 185-pounder was recognized after catching four touchdown passes, all but one covering at least 50 yards, and finishing with eight receptions for a school record 284 yards against the previously unbeaten Greyhounds.
Three of his touchdown catches turned a three-point deficit into a four-point Bentley lead, including the game-winner, a 50-yarder with under 100 seconds to play.
Ryan, who finished the season with 1,237 receiving yards, is tied for the NCAA Division II lead in TD catches with 16. He's also fourth in Division II in average yards per reception (25.2) and fifth in receiving yards.
Ryan, who was previously recognized as the NE10 Offensive Player and Rookie of the Week, is the second Falcon to earn the Gold Helmet this year, following in the footsteps of defensive back Nick Athy.
Bentley finished the season at 6-4.
BENTLEY GOLD HELMET RECIPIENTS
1991 Greg Novarro
1994 Mike Rymsha
1995 Mike Rymsha (twice), Steve Patten
1998 Ben Nassar
1999 Ted Larkin
2001 Marc Eddy
2002 Andy Breda, Dallas Mall
2003 Marc Eddy (twice), Dallas Mall
2004 Marc Eddy (three times)
2005 John White
2009 Chris Carroll, Bryant Johnson, Matt Zahoruiko
2010 Bryant Johnson
2011 Bryant Johnson, Bobby Tarr
2012 Danny Guadagnoli
2017 Nick Athy, Austin Ryan