Louis Riddick praises 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans

Former Alabama linebacker DeMeco Ryans has been tabbed as a rising star in the coaching ranks by ESPN’s Louis Riddick. He tweeted out on Sunday to “Put 49ers D-Coordinator DeMeco Ryans on your Head Coach watch-list.”

Ryans is currently 37 years old and is entering his fifth season with the 49ers in 2021. He previously had spent time as the 49ers inside linebackers coach and as their defensive line quality control coach. The 2021 season will be Ryans’ first season as defensive coordinator for the 49ers.

The Alabama native is credited very much with the development of San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, who’s become one of the best linebackers in the NFL.

PFF recently was complimentary about Fred Warner in an article where they wrote about the top 25 players in the NFL under the age of 25. Warner ranks at the very top of that list. Here’s what PFF had to say:

“Warner has become arguably the game’s best linebacker, a position that has become ever-more difficult to play given how good NFL offenses have become at attacking defensive weaknesses. The former third-round pick earned a PFF coverage grade of 91.1 in 2020, allowing a passer rating of just 81.9 into his coverage, some 25 points lower than the average at the position.”

DeMeco Ryans playing career in NFL

In his 10 years as a linebacker in the National Football League, Ryans proved to be one of the most consistent and reliable players at his position in the league. He was named to the Pro Bowl twice, both times when he played with the Houston Texans. In six of his 10 seasons as a linebacker in the NFL, he racked up over 100 tackles.

As a rookie, Ryans was so dominant he earned AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. He finished second in the NFL in tackles with 155 in his first year with the Texans.

One of the most respected writers in the National Football League, Houston Texans’ beat writer John McClain, explained why DeMeco Ryans was so highly thought of on Twitter. McClain has covered the Houston Texans for 45 years.

When DeMeco Ryans played LB for Texans he was respected by teammates, coaches and everyone in the building. Always a good, honest interview, too. Texans tried to hire him from Niners couple of years ago and Shanahan said no way. Now we know why with his promotion.

— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) January 18, 2021

DeMeco Ryans Alabama Career

DeMeco Ryans played at Alabama from 2002-2005. He started out as a special teams player for the Tide and was a backup linebacker for head coach Mike Shula at the time. He showed steady improvement and eventually transformed himself into the 2005 SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Later on, he’d be named the MVP of the Cotton Bowl in a 13-10 win over Texas Tech. He was also named first team All-SEC in 2005 as well. Ryans was also a Butkus Award finalist in 2005, given to the nation’s top linebacker.

High School Career

DeMeco Ryans is a native of Bessemer, Alabama and he played his high school football at Jess Lanier (Bessemer, Alabama). His senior season he racked up 135 tackles, 11 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions. He was rated a three-star recruit in the 2002 recruiting class. The gifted linebacker chose Alabama over Mississippi State.

DeMeco Ryans and the San Francisco 49ers kick off their 2021 schedule against the Detroit Lions. Kickoff is slated for Sept. 12 at 1:00 p.m.