On Texas Football: Four-star TE Ryner Swanson talks Texas visit, top schools

In the latest episode of On Texas Football, Bobby Burton speaks with 2024 Laguna Beach (Calif.) tight end Ryner Swanson about his recent Texas official visit, his recruitment, and more.

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Swanson told Burton how his official visit started. Swanson, a California native, was blown away not only by the football, but by the food.

“The chauffer picked us up from our house in style, and from that moment on I just knew they were going to treat me like a king,” Swanson said. “It’s so fun. College recruiting visits are incredible. We got there, had Tex-Mex, pretty good obviously. I got a big burrito and got another chicken fajita. I’ve been losing some weight, so I’ve been trying to gain it back. Every day was food and more food, which was crazy. It was the best visit I’ve ever had, 100 percent.”

Swanson retold the story of his offer, a short and sweet message from Jeff Banks. He also mentioned his official visit improved upon his experience on an unofficial from last April.

“Texas could definitely be home for me,” he said.

Swanson, ranked as the No. 20 tight end in the country in the 2024 class, is not a football lifer. It took some encouragement from a friend for him to want to try the sport.

“I am very new to football,” Swanson said. “I’ve always been a basketball and baseball guy. I was in the jacuzzi with my friend, he’s been playing for a while and he’s been trying to get me to play football. He said, ‘what will it take you to play football?’ It sounds cool. Football is awesome, but it’s the coolest sport. But I just want to stick with basketball. He said, ‘you do know we get team meals every week, right?’ And that is the thing that got me to play football.”

Swanson has a final five of Oregon, BYU, Texas, Texas A&M, and Utah. He didn’t go into detail about each one, but did sing the praises of several. His words indicate the great options on the table for the 6-foot-4, 230-pounder.

Texas: “I think Texas is the coolest college in the nation. I think I believe that, for sure. After this last visit, it’s like ‘dude, these coaches have the dream job. This is so cool, and the players are living it up.’ Texas is pretty sweet. Their coaches are very, very smart. They have an NFL style offense. How could you say no to Texas? They’re going to the SEC, they’re a great football program, and could potentially win a national championship in the next few years.”

Oregon: “I believe the same with Oregon. With their new coaches and their NIL, a bunch of guys are flocking over to Oregon because of their NIL deals and stuff like that, trusting their coaches that they can get them to the NFL. I’ve had a relationship with them. They were my second offer. Drew Mehringer, the tight ends coach, has always been super nice to me. They really started to stay in touch after my junior season. They said ‘dude, we still want you. You had an unbelievable jump from your sophomore year to your junior year, and I think I can get you far.’ We watched a lot of film when I was up there, and I think that he’s an incredible tight ends coach. Dan Lanning has a defensive mind, but he’s an amazing recruiter and great man. Oregon is incredible, 100 percent.”

Texas A&M: “I love Texas A&M. Amazing program. Coaches are super kind. When they offered me, all the coaches texted me. Coach (James) Coley, I love that guy so much. It sounds cliché for all these other coaches, but I love Coach Coley. He’s amazing.”

BYU: “It has my values, but there’s a lot of other things with Texas, Oregon, and Utah. I just want to feel welcome and have a lot of friends over there.”

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Swanson, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, intends to enroll early before embarking on a mission.

“To me, football is great,” Swanson said. “It’s incredible, but it doesn’t go first. An LDS mission is for me. I’m going to graduate early this January, so I’m taking some extra classes. I’ll be at college this January and do spring ball, do summer, do fall camp, then next January I’ll be on my mission for two years.”

What will be the deciding factor for Swanson?

“I just want to go to the school that accepts me, there’s a great vibe in the locker room and the facilities, and I hope the players know my standards and protect me,” Swanson said. “I’m going to make good decisions, but I just hope the players understand my values. I just want to be happy. I want to have a good vibe. Football isn’t the most important thing for me right now. I want to get my degree, maybe get married in college, I don’t know, find my wife. I just want to know and see what college has to offer. I just want to be the most happy. Football is great, but it’s a hard decision with all these schools.”

And as for a timeline?

“I think I’m going to make my decision late summer, early fall,” he said.