Ridley primed and prepped for that moment

By Dillon Flanigan

Sports Editor

“I wasn’t greedy about having to play right away. I knew that I might have to wait and grind for my opportunity. Do I wish I had to wait four years to play? Obviously not. But everything works out for a reason, and I’m very grateful to be in the position that I am now.” – Keith Ridley Jr. 

As a junior in high school, quarterback Keith Ridley Jr., a graduate, knew that he wanted to play collegiate football. 

Ridley sought the attention of many schools. However, he was a ‘tweener,’ a category used to describe his talent level. Ridley reached out to as many universities as possible, turned down by many as divisions II and III considered Ridley uninterested at that level.  

He believed his talents constituted Division I level, but that level showed very little interest. 

The Lynn, Massachusetts native had two Division I offers right down the road. His two options were to walk on to Boston College as a tight end, and the University of Rhode Island as a quarterback. 

For financial reasons, Ridley took the opportunity at Boston College for one semester. After the regular season ended, he reflected on his time and needed a change. 

“I really did give them my all there,” Ridley said. “But at the end of the day, it really just tore me apart when I was at practice seeing the other QBs there, knowing that I could at least beat one of them out for a spot.” 

At the end of 2019, Ridley transferred to Bryant University, a smaller Division I school in Rhode Island where he practiced against future Buffalo Bills linebacker Joe Andreessen.  

After beating out four other quarterbacks each year for three seasons, he earned a scholarship in his final semester, though he remained the backup to starter Zevi Eckhaus. 

Ridley completed his undergrad in December 2022, a semester early. He liked his time at Bryant and had conversations about being put on full scholarship, but it was made clear that Eckhaus was the starter. 

“I just took a chance on myself,” Ridley said. “I knew if I stayed there and was just complacent about being the backup, that that’s something I regret for the rest of my life: not taking a chance on myself after everything that I’ve already been through.” 

Graduating early and the decision to transfer put him in a prime position for whatever program he joined. 

It is typical for football players to transfer to another school after the fall semester. This allows them to compete in spring ball and to learn the playbook and potentially earn a spot before new recruits join in the summer. 

Quarterbacks Coach Joe Bernard said. “He’s always looking to get better. He never has the answers; he always wants to learn. The guy works his tail off, and that’s every day, every morning, every night. It doesn’t matter what it is, he’s looking to learn and get better.” 

Graduate transfer Ridley took the starting in place of Bernard, the outgoing fifth year graduate-turned-coach. 

Being healthy is key in a violent physical sport like football. Ridley’s roommate, Tim O’Shea, a former seventh year tight end who medically retired during summer camp due to an ongoing ACL injury which occurred in a non-contact play a year ago, knows all about it. 

“I just try to protect myself and get out of bounds sometimes, or slide,” Ridley said. “I feel like I do a pretty good job trying to protect myself out there the most I can.” 

Ridley wears several pieces of ancillary protective equipment. He wears rib pads, a mouth guard and a cue collar, which is tasked with protecting the player from a brain injury. 

Ridley said: “The little things add up. If it does happen- hopefully it never does- we took steps to prevent it. And if these steps weren’t good enough at the end of the day, I know that I put myself in the best position.” 

Last season was full of ups and downs with a final record of 4-6. Winning the last three games brings optimism to this season at 1-1 after an exciting victory against the American International College Yellow Jackets. 

Game nine against the Yellow Jackets will wrap up the season in November, ending Ridley’s collegiate football career. 

Nobody knows what the future holds, including Ridley. It would not be out of the question for a Division II player to play in the National Football League, as former quarterback of Shepherd University Tyson Bagent is currently the backup with the Chicago Bears. 

“I’ll definitely train and have a Pro Day and see where that takes me. Whether it be overseas, Canadian, XFL, NFL, I’m really open to it,” Ridley said. “Football comes to an end at some point. I’ll feel that whenever that does come to an end, I feel like I gave it my all.” 

VOL. 64- ISSUE 5