31 Player Countdown: #6 Ryan Clady

To help pass the time, we’re reviewing 31 players in 31 days (in alphabetical order) leading all the way up until Game Day on Monday, September 12th.  Today’s player:  offensive lineman Ryan Clady.

Clady is a 6-6, 315 pound offensive tackle who hasn’t missed a game since joining the Broncos in 2010.  Entering his fourth season at just twenty-four years old, Clady looks to be an anchor on Denver’s offensive line for years to come.

Quick Facts/Stats (courtesy of the Denver Broncos):

• A fourth-year offensive tackle who has started all 48 games to begin his career, joining just four other NFL players from his 2008 draft class with that distinction.
  

  Quarterback Tim Tebow #15 of the Denver Broncos looks to deliver a pass behind the protection of offensive lineman Ryan Clady #78 as he blocks Antwan Barnes #98 of the San Diego Chargers at INVESCO Field at Mile High. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

• Named Denver’s recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award in 2010 after recovering from an offseason knee injury to start all 16 games.

• Earned All-Pro recognition from the Associated Press during each of his first two seasons with the Broncos.

• Named a first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press in 2009, making him only the fifth tackle since the 1970 NFL merger to earn that distinction by his second professional season.

• Became just the 11th tackle in NFL history to receive Pro Bowl honors by his second season in 2009 when he was voted a starter for the league’s all-star contest.

• Did not allow a full sack in his first 20 starts according to Stats Inc., marking the longest such streak by a tackle to begin his career since at least 1994.

• Earned second-team All-Pro honors (Associated Press) while finishing third in NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2008 after helping Denver tie for first in the NFL in fewest sacks allowed (12) and rank second in the league in yards per game (395.8).

• Credited with allowing the fewest sacks (0.5) in the NFL among all 16-game starting tackles in 2008 according to Stats Inc. and was called for just three penalties on the year.

• Became the first offensive lineman to be named Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week in the five year history of the award for his play vs. Kansas City (12/7/08).

• Started 37 of his 39 career games played at Boise State University, where he earned first-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors during his final two seasons and was part of its undefeated team (13-0) in 2006.

• Received first-team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association an The Sporting News as a 13-game starter for Boise State in 2007.

• Selected by the Broncos in the first round (12th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Did You Know… Clady finished third in voting behind Matt Ryan and Chris Johnson for the 2008 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.  He was the only offensive lineman to receive any votes that season.

Quote ‘Em:  “It’s been a nice offseason for me to get that knee back to where it needs to be so I can play at the level I want to play at.” — Ryan Clady on being fully recovered from the injury he suffered in 2010 while playing in a pick-up basketball player.  (Via KTVB)

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