Ryan Smith is an integral part of the Bison football team. Last season he was second on the team in receptions with 44 catches for 531 yards and one touchdown. He averaged an impressive 12.1 yards per catch. His talent doesn’t stop as a receiver though. Smith also handles punt and some kick returns. He was recently named to the College Football Performance Awards FCS Punt Returner Watch List. Get to know this talented football player a little bit better.
BI: You grew up in Wahpeton, N.D. Have you always been a Bison fan?
Smith: I used to be a ball-boy back in the day, when my sister ran track at NDSU. I was always a Bison fan. As I got closer to high school I started to think I wanted to play for the Bison.
BI: Is there a receiver that you model yourself after?
Smith: People talk about the Wes Welker thing. He kind of catches my eye. I watch the film on him. If I wanted to be like a player it would be like Wes, because he works hard on and off the field. I look up to him as a player.
BI: What does Bison Pride mean to you?
Smith: Bison pride is all about family and how you treat each other. It seems like everywhere it’s like ‘ok, give me the ball. I’m going to score a touchdown.’ Here everyone is important to the game. There’s not one person, but everyone has to do their job to win the game.
BI: What do you like to do in your free time?
Smith: I like to go to the lakes. I have a cabin on Ottertail Lake in Minnesota. I jet ski and do some skiing. That’s where I spend most of my weekends.
BI: You guys have a target on your back this year. How are you going to handle that?
Smith: Everyone is going to play their best against us. We can’t make mistakes. We have to execute at our best and play fast. The winning will take care of itself, if we do all those.
