Blue White Illustrated

Mr. Versatility Safety Ryan Keiser embodies the spirit of Penn State's run-on program M AT T   H E R B Ryan Keiser has been on quite a roll these past few years. It was his interception that gave the ball back to Selinsgrove High late in the fourth quarter of its matchup against Manheim Central in the 2009 PIAA Class AAA championship game. And from that point on, his evening only got better. After the Seals took possession with less than five minutes to play, he caught two passes for first downs that helped them maneuver into position for the decisive touchdown in a 10-7 victory. Where do you go from there? If you're Keiser, you move on to that other dream – the one about playing in Beaver Stadium on Saturday afternoons. After considering his options, the AllState defensive back decided to attend Penn State as an invited walk-on. There were a few season-ticket holders in his family, and he'd been attending a game or two each year since he was a kid. "This is where I wanted to come my whole life," Keiser said. "So when I had the opportunity, this is pretty much where I had my mind set. It ended up being my best option, so I jumped on it. And I'm very thankful for it." Keiser is now a redshirt junior safety for the Nittany Lions and is battling Malcolm Willis for a spot in Saturday's starting lineup. He's also a special teams stalwart, having served as a member of the kick return and kick coverage teams and as holder on field goals and extra points. He's a six-tool player, so it should come as no surprise that Bill O'Brien put him on scholarship last year. Nor should it come as any surprise that Keiser was deeply appreciative of the coach's decision, calling it "a blessing." With scholarship in hand, Keiser is no longer, technically speaking, a member of Penn State's run-on program. But he remains the embodiment of that program, in that he did exactly what O'Brien | MATT@BLUEWHITEONLINE.COM BWI file photo HELPING HANDS Keiser has been Penn State's holder since 2011 and is battling for a starting safety spot this season. wants his run-ons to do now that Penn State is grappling with the effects of the NCAA's scholarship reductions. Keiser followed his dream to play for Pennsylvania's most tradition-laden college program, paid his own way, performed diligently in practice and in the weight room and hustled his way up the depth chart. And now he's helping the team in a variety of capacities. "He's an improved football player, and it was a great day last year when we were able to put him on scholarship, because he's a guy who really deserved it," O'Brien said. "He's a Pennsylvania guy who understands the meaning of playing at Penn State. " O'Brien's latest recruiting class is full of guys like that, guys who would love to follow in Keiser's footsteps. They will certainly have that opportunity, as the Nittany Lions are permitted to have no more than 65 scholarship players on their roster from 2014 through 2017. One of A U G U S T   2 8 ,   2 0 1 3 11 the team's off-season priorities was to bring in a class of capable walk-ons – "run-ons" in O'Brien's parlance – in the hope that the coaches will find contributors in that sizable talent pool. Keiser was in their shoes a few years ago. After redshirting in 2010, he made the starting lineup in his first game the following year, serving as holder and playing on a season-high 15 snaps. He had been a holder in high school during his junior and senior seasons and took over the job as soon as it came open at Penn State. Trotting onto the field on opening day against Indiana State was "crazy, he " said. "It was something I'd dreamed of my whole life. Just going out there and being in front of that crowd was surreal. Holding is an important position, and I do it to the best of my ability. " He's gotten plenty of opportunities, having played in every game the past two seasons. He was the holder on all of the team's 62 placements last year, and he played in the secondary and on the coverage and return teams. Keiser said that in order to make an impression, would-be scholarship players need to display more than just physical skills. The right attitude is crucial, too, he said, because O'Brien "likes guys who work as hard as they can, every single day. " The coaches also like guys who exhibit intangible qualities and off-the-field skills – skills that run-ons are just as apt to display as their more heavily recruited teammates. Keiser was an Academic AllBig Ten choice last fall with a 3.76 GPA, and that in itself makes him a potential leader. Which is the whole idea. "I'm trying to be a leader for those players by doing my role every single day and coming out here and focusing on doing my job the best that I possibly can," he said. "I think that that's how you're supposed to be a leader – by example. " BL UE W HI T EON L I N E. COM

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