Ryland Goede's on 'second base' with his recruitment
When Ryland Goede, a four-star tight end in the 2019 class isn't working out with his team or competing in the 7-on-7 tournament this summer, he is knocking the baseball around the diamond.
The 6-foot-6, 220 pound junior out of Kennesaw (Ga.) Kennesaw Mountain is a two-sport star, so he plays a lot of baseball when it is not football season. His future though is on the gridiron and he knows that.
When talking to him about his football recruitment though, he brought baseball into the conversation.
"If I was relating my recruiting to baseball, I would say I am on second base right now," said Goede. "I am about halfway there. I will probably narrow it down to about 10 schools later this summer, then go from there."
Goede has a long list of offers. Over 20 schools has offered him and he is still considering each of them. He is in contact with handful more than the rest right now though.
"I have kept in contact a lot with Florida, Georgia, Auburn, Ohio State and Michigan this summer. I hear from a lot of schools and all that, but those are the ones I have been talking to the most lately."
He already has a trip to Columbus (Ohio) planned early in September.
"I am going up to Ohio State on September 9 (Oklahoma game) for my first visit and I am looking forward to seeing it. I have heard the atmosphere is unreal and I really like how they use the tight end, so I am really excited about Ohio State."
The Buckeyes biggest rival will also see Goede on their campus later this year as well. Michigan has his attention for multiple reasons.
"Coach Jim Harbaugh is a great guy and I have gotten to talk to him a few times," said Goede. "He is part of the reason I am really interested in Michigan and I also like how they produce tight ends. Jay Harbaugh (running backs) is my recruiting coach and I have gotten really close to him, so I just want to get up there and check things out."
Goede lives in Georgia and he personally grew up a Bulldog fan, but many in his family cheer for a school that plays UGA around halloween each year.
"A lot of my family are Florida fans, so they would love to see me go to Florida. My dad's family lived in Orlando for eight or nine years, so their are some hard-core Gator fans in my family. I have gotten to coach [Greg] Nord (tight ends) pretty well, so I really want to get down there. I may get down there this summer, but I am not sure yet."
A couple of schools Goede knows a lot about are Auburn and Georgia. He has visited each school numerous times over the last couple of years and he likes how comfortable he is over at Auburn.
"Auburn's campus really fits me," said Goede. "It is a family atmosphere and it just fits who I am there. They are pitching to me that they are going to start using the tight end a lot. They are looking for the right guy in their system and they feel I can be that guy. They want me to kick-start, and be their guy as they start throwing that way more.
"For me at Auburn, it is just about the feeling I have. The coaches do a great job of making things easy there."
With Georgia, the school he visited over the weekend, it is simply the head coach. He is entering his second season and Goede sees him as an elite recruiter.
"Kirby Smart is the biggest reason why I am so high on Georgia. I like the way he recruits not only me, but my friends like Dom (Dominick Blaylock), J.D. Bertrand (both committed to Georgia over the weekend) and other guys I know. It's also cool growing up a Georgia fan now being recruited by them and having a chance to play there."
Of course Goede was asked if Bertrand's and Blaylock's commitments would affect his recruitment in any way, and he said, "No, it would not. I am still going to take my time."
Many more visits will come this fall and that will lead Goede into another cut before he commits by this time next year.
"I see it (commitment) happening around the beginning of spring in 2018," said Goede. "I will probably narrow my list down to five schools over the winter, then make my decision from there. I expect to be committed before my junior year ends."
Goede is truly a simple guy. He looks for coaches who are genuine, honest and just real with him. Yes, he has a list of things he is looking for in a school and he'd like for his final choice to check most, if not all of the boxes, but the fit is basically what it will come down to for him.
"It will really just come down to where I fit in best at," said Goede. "I am talking about fitting in with the coaches, fitting in with the offense, fitting in with the players and just fitting in all around. That is what is most important to me."
