DeMeco Ryans (born July 28, 1984 in Bessemer, Alabama) is an American football player for the Houston Texans. He was drafted as the first pick of the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Ryans played college football at the University of Alabama. He was named the 2006 Cotton Bowl (game) defensive MVP in their 13-10 win over Texas Tech. He played outside linebacker in college, but in his first season, Ryans has earned the starting Middle Linebacker position with the Houston Texans of the NFL, due to his excellent performances in the preseason. In his first game with the Texans he recorded a league high 12 solo tackles. Ryans had an overwhelming impact as a rookie linebacker for the Texans, leading the team in tackles in the first half of the 2006 season. Many Texans fans have deemed him "D-Wreck" for his toughness and hard hits; another popular nickname is D-ROY to promote Ryans for the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year award. DeMeco has also been the recepient of the Ronnie Lott Award which is given to college football's biggest IMPACT player who also exemplifies outstanding off the field characteristics. July 28 is the 209th day (210th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 156 days remaining. ... This article is about the year 1984. ... Bessemer is an American city and suburb of Birmingham located in southwestern Jefferson County, Alabama. ... In American football, each team has 11 players on the field at one time. ... A linebacker is a position in American and Canadian football. ... This is a list of athletic conferences of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). ... The University of Alabama (also known as Alabama, UA or colloquially as Bama) is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. ... The NFL Draft (officially the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting) is an annual sports draft in which National Football League (NFL) teams take turns selecting amateur college American football players and other first-time eligible players. ... The 2006 NFL Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. ... Bills Dolphins Patriots Jets Ravens Bengals Browns Steelers Texans Colts Titans Broncos Chiefs Raiders Chargers Cowboys Giants Eagles Redskins Bears Lions Packers Vikings Falcons Panthers Saints Buccaneers Jaguars Cardinals Rams 49ers Seahawks The National Football League (NFL) is the largest professional American football league, consisting of thirty-two teams from... City Houston, Texas Team colors Deep Steel Blue, Battle Red, and Liberty White Head Coach Gary Kubiak Owner Robert C. McNair General manager Rick Smith Mascot Toro League/Conference affiliations National Football League (2002–present) American Football Conference (2002-present) AFC South (2002-present) Team history Houston Texans (2002–present... July 28 is the 209th day (210th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 156 days remaining. ... This article is about the year 1984. ... Bessemer is an American city and suburb of Birmingham located in southwestern Jefferson County, Alabama. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... City Houston, Texas Team colors Deep Steel Blue, Battle Red, and Liberty White Head Coach Gary Kubiak Owner Robert C. McNair General manager Rick Smith Mascot Toro League/Conference affiliations National Football League (2002–present) American Football Conference (2002-present) AFC South (2002-present) Team history Houston Texans (2002–present... The 2006 NFL Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. ... The University of Alabama (also known as Alabama, UA or colloquially as Bama) is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Cotton Bowl stadium, see Cotton Bowl (stadium). ... Texas Tech University is a Tier I research university located in Lubbock, Texas, established in 1923 originally as Texas Technological College. ...

On January 3, 2007, Ryans was awarded the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. He was the runaway winner of the award after leading the league in solo tackles, and his 156 total tackles were 33 more tackles than the next rookie, Detroit Lions linebacker Ernie Sims. He received 36 of the 50 votes by a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. Chicago Bears defensive end Mark Anderson, who was Ryan's teammate at Alabama, finished second with five votes. Green Bay linebacker A. J. Hawk was next with four, while Cleveland linebacker Kamerion Wimbley got two votes. January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Bills Dolphins Patriots Jets Ravens Bengals Browns Steelers Texans Colts Titans Broncos Chiefs Raiders Chargers Cowboys Giants Eagles Redskins Bears Lions Packers Vikings Falcons Panthers Saints Buccaneers Jaguars Cardinals Rams 49ers Seahawks The National Football League (NFL) is the largest professional American football league, consisting of thirty-two teams from... Since 1967 The Associated Press has given two annual Rookie of the Year Awards to NFL American football players: one for an offensive player and one for a defensive player. ... City Detroit, Michigan Team colors Honolulu Blue, Silver, and Black Head Coach Rod Marinelli Owner William Clay Ford, Sr. ... Ernie Sims III (born December 23, 1984 in Tallahassee, Florida) is an American football player for the Detroit Lions, who played outside linebacker for the Florida State University Seminoles. ... City Chicago, Illinois Other nicknames Da Bears, The Monsters of the Midway Team colors Navy Blue, Orange and White Head Coach Lovie Smith Owner Virginia Halas McCaskey Chairman Michael McCaskey General manager Jerry Angelo Fight song Bear Down, Chicago Bears Mascot Staley Da Bear League/Conference affiliations Independent (1919) National... Mark Anderson is a defensive end for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. ... City Green Bay, Wisconsin Team colors Dark Green, Gold, and White Head Coach Mike McCarthy Owner 111,967 stockholders Chairman Bob Harlan General manager Ted Thompson Fight song Go! You Packers! Go! League/Conference affiliations Independent (1919-1920) National Football League (1921–present) Western Division (1933-1949) National Conference (1950... Aaron James Hawk (born January 6, 1984 in Centerville, Ohio) is an American football linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. A two-time All-American in college, he played for the Ohio State University. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Kamerion Wimbley (born October 13, 1983 in Wichita, Kansas) is a current American football defensive end for the Cleveland Browns. ...

Pro Career Statistics (Defense)

Awards and Honors

• 2006 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award
• 2006 NCAA Top Eight Award (Class of 2006)
• 2005 All-American
• 2005 SEC Defensive Player of the year
• 2005 First Team All-SEC
• 2005 Bednarik Trophy Semifinalist
• 2005 Butkus Trophy Finalist
• 2005 Draddy Award Finalist
• 2005 Nagurski Award Finalist
• 2005 Lombardi Award Semifinalist

Bills Dolphins Patriots Jets Ravens Bengals Browns Steelers Texans Colts Titans Broncos Chiefs Raiders Chargers Cowboys Giants Eagles Redskins Bears Lions Packers Vikings Falcons Panthers Saints Buccaneers Jaguars Cardinals Rams 49ers Seahawks The National Football League (NFL) is the largest professional American football league, consisting of thirty-two teams from... Since 1967 The Associated Press has given two annual Rookie of the Year Awards to NFL American football players: one for an offensive player and one for a defensive player. ... The Todays Top VIII Award is given each year by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to honor eight outstanding senior student-athletes of the preceding calendar year. ... . ...

External links

• Official website
• Prospect profile