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Ryan Vena

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Ryan Vena
Personal information
Born: (1977-11-15) November 15, 1977 (age 46)
Red Bank, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school:Chatfield (Littleton, Colorado)
College:Colgate
Position:Director of Player Personnel
Offensive coordinator
Quarterback
Undrafted:2000
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
As an administrator:
Career highlights and awards
  • 3× Patriot League MVP (1996, 1997, 1999)
  • Selected to the 15th and 25th Anniversary All-Patriot League Teams
  • Colgate Hall of Honor Inductee (2008)
  • ArenaCup MVP (2007)
  • af2 Player of the Year (2007)
  • 4× First-team All-af2 (2003, 2007, 2008, 2009)
Career Arena League statistics
Passing yards:35,776
TD–INT:701–64
QB rating:107.37
Rushing yards:708
Rushing TDs:58
Stats at ArenaFan.com

Ryan Vena (born November 15, 1977) is a former arena football quarterback. Vena attended Colgate University in Hamilton, New York and graduated in 2000. Vena started his career in arena football in 2002. He ended his career with over 720 career passing touchdowns. His best years were with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers. He finished his career with the Philadelphia Soul in 2011.

College career

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Vena received several college athletic scholarships upon his graduation from Chatfield Senior High School in Littleton, Colorado, and Colgate University was where he ended up.[1]

Vena was named to 4 straight All-Patriot League 1st team All-conference selections, and was the 1st and only 3 time Patriot League MVP.

Ryan finished his career as the Colgate and Patriot League's all-time leader in total offense with 9,435 yards. He was the first Patriot League quarterback to pass for over 7,000 yards and rush for over 2,000.

The holder of 13 Colgate records in total offense and passing, he led Colgate to three straight appearances in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, and four straight winning seasons.

Ryan was named to the 15th and 25th Anniversary All-Patriot League Teams as the only quarterback selected. And in 2008, Ryan was added to Colgate University Athletics Hall of Honor.[2]

Professional career

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af2

[edit]

In 2002, Vena began his arena football career in the af2, playing for the Albany Conquest for two seasons and a third season in 2006. Vena had his most success playing for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers of the af2 from 2007 to 2009. During that time, the Pioneers played in ArenaCup VIII and ArenaCup X, and was named the MVP of ArenaCup VIII. During the regular season, the Pioneers went 41–7 while Vena was at the helm. In 2007, Vena was named Offensive Player of the Year and the MVP of the ArenaCup.

Columbus Destroyers

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Vena began his AFL career with the Columbus Destroyers in 2004. Vena was the Destroyers primary quarterback, throwing 3,081 passes, 57 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, Columbus finished the season 6–10. In 2005, he returned and competed with Matt D'Orazio all season long for the starting quarterback position.

Iowa Barnstormers

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When the Arena Football League returned in 2010, Vena was a member of the Iowa Barnstormers. The Barnstormers began the year with Brian Villanueva. But in the first game of the year against the Chicago Rush, Villanueva threw three interceptions without a touchdown, and Vena came in as a replacement. He started the rest of the season, throwing 3,924 yards, 78 touchdowns, and 22 rushing touchdowns.[3]

Philadelphia Soul

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In 2011, Vena moved to the Philadelphia Soul and began the year as the backup behind Justin Allgood. But after the Soul started the year 1–3, Vena replaced Allgood as the team's starter, and finished out the season and broke the record for most rushing touchdowns in a season by a quarterback at the time, with 23.[4]

AFL statistics

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Year Team Passing Rushing
Cmp Att Pct Yds TD Int Rtg Att Yds TD
2004 Columbus 238 377 63.1 3,081 57 10 115.49 65 226 14
2005 Columbus 88 147 59.9 1,061 16 9 83.74 17 49 2
2010 Iowa 317 498 63.7 3,924 78 23 107.87 80 272 22
2011 Philadelphia 276 448 61.6 3,840 70 22 107.74 54 161 20
Career 919 1,470 62.5 11,906 221 64 107.37 216 708 58

Stats from ArenaFan:[3]

References

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  1. ^ William N. Wallace (November 7, 1998). "COLLEGE FOOTBALL; Colgate's Vena Is Confident Leader". The New York Times. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  2. ^ "Ryan Vena Football Class of 2000". www.athletics.colgate.edu. Colgate University. Archived from the original on April 15, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Ryan Vena". arenafan.com. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  4. ^ "Philadelphia Soul". Retrieved January 5, 2024.