Matt Ryan Returns to The Heights for Jersey Retirement
November 18, 2016 | Football
The Falcons QB remembers highlights as an Eagle
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Former Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan returned to The Heights for a celebration in his honor. At halftime of the Connecticut game on Saturday (1 p.m. kickoff), the Eagles will honor the BC great by retiring his jersey in Alumni Stadium. The current Atlanta Falcons QB - who was picked third overall in the 2008 NFL draft - spoke to Jon Meterparel about the honor and what it means to return to Boston College.
During his standout senior season in 2007, Ryan led the team to an 8-0 start and No. 2 national ranking en route to an 11-3 record (best since 1940), the ACC Atlantic Division championship and the school's first appearance in the ACC Championship game. He was the winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (given to the nation's top senior quarterback), the Manning Award (given to the nation's top quarterback), was ACC Player of the Year and finished seventh in Heisman Trophy balloting. He set the BC school record for single-season passing yards and finished the season 388-of- 654 passing for 4,507 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2007.
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In nine seasons in the NFL, he has completed 3,151-of-4,876 passes (64.5 percent) for 36,004 yards and 226 touchdowns while posting a 92.6 passer rating. He owns franchise records for career passing yards (36,004), career pass attempts (4,876), career completions (3,151), career touchdowns (226), career passing rating (92.6), career completion percentage (64.5) and career 300-yard games (35).
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Previously, Boston College has retired the numbers of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Doug Flutie and Outland Trophy winner Mike Ruth and the jerseys of nine other standouts: Luke Kuechly, Art Donovan, Bill Flynn, Gene Goodreault, Mike Holovak, Lou Montgomery, Charles O'Rourke, Tony Thurman and Louis Urban.
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