BOZEMAN — Ryan King has experienced a taste of Montana life since relocating to Bozeman roughly a month ago.
He attended the Professional Bull Riding event in Big Sky. He explored the College ‘M’ Trail. He witnessed the Bridger Mountains in their lush green and shrouded in wildfire smoke.
“It’s definitely a change of scenery,” King remarked on Monday. “I’m from Atlanta, so I’m accustomed to towering skyscrapers. Seeing the mountains is truly breathtaking. It’s serene and soothing.”
King, a 6-foot-4, 216-pound wide receiver, kicked off his career at Georgia Tech and recently transferred from East Carolina to Montana State. His move to Bozeman wasn’t solely for the natural beauty, and only time will tell how he adapts to his new home when winter arrives. The snow will be bearable if he’s still on the football field in December and January.
People are also reading…
“I really wanted to win,” King expressed. “I believe we have a strong chance of going all the way here.”
Montana State wide receiver Ryan King makes a catch as Rylan Schlepp (88) blocks Jon Johnson (4) during practice on Monday at the Dobbie Lambert Intramural Fields in Bozeman.
King attended Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia, where he emerged as a three-star recruit and the No. 73 receiver prospect for the Class of 2020, according to 247Sports. He opted for Georgia Tech over offers from various other Power 4 schools like Arkansas, Baylor, Kentucky, LSU, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Rutgers, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest.
Calvin Johnson, a former Georgia Tech star and Pro Football Hall of Famer, is one of the main WRs that King models his game after. King had the opportunity to meet Johnson during his time with the Yellow Jackets, and received valuable advice from the ex-Detroit Lion.
“A lot of DBs aren’t going to be 6 feet and taller, so using your size advantage against them, knowing how to position yourself to get open, and using your body to shield the defender from the ball,” King echoed Johnson’s advice.
King aspired to follow Johnson’s footsteps, shining as a WR in a run-heavy offense. However, injuries hindered King’s playing time early in his Georgia Tech career, compounded by coaching changes after the 2021 season.
“He grasps our offensive scheme, he’s committed, and he’s striving to meet expectations,” Georgia Tech’s then-WRs coach Del Alexander told JacketsOnline in August 2022. “One area he can improve on is demonstrating that he can contribute to our victories during challenging moments. When the game is on the line in the fourth quarter and overtime, I’m looking for grit and I need to ensure you are intelligent and comprehend what you’re doing. … Demonstrating the ability to persevere, be intelligent, and grasp the situations is something I’m asking of him because if I overwhelm him, he loses focus.”
King participated in 11 games for Georgia Tech in 2022, catching four passes for 38 yards. He entered the transfer portal following the season, landing at East Carolina, a Group of Five FBS team. Due to a torn labrum and broken finger, he only appeared in four games. The Pirates concluded the 2023 season at 2-10, marking King’s fourth consecutive losing record in his collegiate career (Georgia Tech went 3-7, 3-9, and 5-7 in his three years there). He entered the portal in December.
The Bobcats weren’t actively seeking a transfer receiver until Christian Anaya entered the portal in April, as per MSU head coach Brent Vigen. King continued taking classes into the summer to earn a computer science degree from ECU, delaying the transfer process until July.
“We were really impressed with his potential contributions,” Vigen added. “He possesses good length, displays solid speed, and excels at catching the ball with range.”
Montana State head football coach Brent Vigen addresses the media about competitions for playing time at various positions during fall camp on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, at the Bobcat Athletic Complex in Bozeman.
King wasn’t listed on MSU’s fall camp-opening two-deep, but his coaches anticipate him competing for playing time, most likely at the “X” position currently occupied by Lonyatta Alexander Jr.
“He possesses a high football IQ,” MSU WRs coach Justin Udy commented on King. “He’s been exceptional at identifying the key elements of the playbook to aid in his learning. The transition has been swift, but he’s done a commendable job adapting, which was crucial for him to do quickly to compete for a spot.”
Montana State wide receivers coach/special teams coordinator Justin Udy speaks to the media about the Bobcats’ standout receivers, the kicking game, and more on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, at the Bobcat Athletic Complex in Bozeman.
MSU’s offensive strategy heavily features the run-pass option, a system Georgia Tech heavily utilized during King’s tenure there. This familiarity has helped him adjust to his fourth playbook in five years.
“Given that I’ve been involved in four different offenses, it’s somewhat easy to pick up on the similarities between them,” King stated. “So I’ve been getting the hang of it.”
As of Monday, King felt physically fit, and the distance from home doesn’t intimidate him. He’s embracing a fresh start with a team aspiring for a national championship.
“I’m accustomed to solitude,” he mentioned. “I made the cross-country move, so it’s a bit different, a change of scenery.
