Ryan Vena
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Director of Player Personnel Offensive Coordinator Quarterback | ||||||||
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| Personal information | |||||||||
| Date of birth: | November 15, 1977 | ||||||||
| Place of birth: | Red Bank, New Jersey | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| College: | Colgate | ||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2002 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career Arena statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at ArenaFan.com | |||||||||
Ryan Vena (born November 15, 1977) is a former arena football quarterback. Vena attended Colgate University in Hamilton, New York and graduated in 2000. Vena started his career in arena football in 2002. He currently has over 500 career touchdowns as of Friday April 23, 2010 reported on NFL network .His best years were with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers. And he finished his career with the Iowa Barnstormers in 2010 and Philadelphia Soul in 2011.
College career
Vena received several college athletic scholarships upon his graduation from Chatfield Senior High School in Littleton, Colorado, after Vena's dad mailed his highlight film to 50 colleges, and Colgate University was where he ended up.[1]
Vena was named to 4 straight All-Patriot League 1st team All-conference selections, and was the 1st and only 3 time Patriot League MVP.
Ryan finished his career as the Colgate and Patriot League's all-time leader in total offense with 9,435 yards. He was the first Patriot League quarterback to pass for over 7,000 yards and rush for over 2,000.
The holder of 13 Colgate records in total offense and passing, he led Colgate to three straight appearances in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, and four straight winning seasons.
Ryan was named to the 15th and 25th Anniversary All-Patriot League Teams as the only Quarterback selected. And in 2008, Ryan was added to Colgate University Athletics Hall of Honor.[2]
Professional career
Columbus Destroyers
Vena began his AFL career with the Columbus Destroyers in 2004. Vena was the Destroyers primary quarterback, throwing 3,081 passes, 57 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, Columbus finished the season 6-10. In 2005, he returned and competed with Matt D'Orazio all season long for the starting QB position.
af2
After the 2005 season, Vena moved to the af2, playing for the Albany Conquest. Vena had his most success playing for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers from 2007 to 2009. During that time, the Pioneers played in ArenaCup VIII and ArenaCup X, and was named the MVP of ArenaCup VIII. During the regular season, the Pioneers went 41-7 while Vena was at the helm. In 2007, Vena was named Offensive Player of the Year and the MVP of the ArenaCup.
Iowa Barnstormers
From 2006 to 2009, Vena played in the af2. When the Arena Football League returned in 2010, Vena was a member of the Iowa Barnstormers. The Barnstormers began the year with Brian Villanueva. But in the first game of the year against the Chicago Rush, Villanueva threw three interceptions without a touchdown, and Vena came in as a replacement. He started the rest of the season, throwing 3,924 yards, 78 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions.[3]
Philadelphia Soul
In 2011, Vena moved to the Philadelphia Soul and began the year as the backup behind Justin Allgood. But after the Soul started the year 1-3, Vena replaced Allgood as the team's starter, and finished out the season and broke the record for most rushing TDs in a season by a QB. [4]
References
- ↑ William N. Wallace (November 7, 1998). "COLLEGE FOOTBALL; Colgate's Vena Is Confident Leader". www.nytimes.com. The New York Times. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
- ↑ "Ryan Vena Football Class of 2000". www.athletics.colgate.edu. Colgate University. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
- ↑ http://www.arenafan.com/players/?page=players&player=3506
- ↑ http://www.arenafan.com/teams/Philadelphia_Soul-99/schedule/