A Milton Eagle soaring to new heights: Ryan Ghea prepares to play football as an Auburn Tiger
MILTON, Ga. — Ryan Ghea, a senior at Milton High School, is a top student-athlete who has focused on his dedication, hard work, and passion for football. As a Milton Eagle, Ryan has spent the last seven years honing his skills on Milton鈥檚 football fields and participating in multiple sports including baseball, basketball, track, and golf. After this season, he will begin his next big chapter. Ryan has had dreams of taking his talents from the Milton stadium to the college football circuit and ultimately wants to play in the NFL.
Ryan has been fueled by clear goals and relentless determination. 鈥淢y dreams were to win a state championship and then go back-to-back, get a football scholarship, and play in the NFL,鈥� he shares. He has already achieved 50% of his goals winning state in 2023 and receiving many scholarship opportunities. Achieving his dreams has not been without its own set of challenges. Ghea finds that staying focused on getting better and balancing family and friends is the biggest challenge. He organizes his days around the things that matter most to him, ensuring he stays on track.
According to Ryan, the best advice he ever received is simple yet profound: 鈥淪tay focused no matter what success comes my way and grind like I have nothing.鈥� This advice has shaped his perspective. Ryan lives by the motto, 鈥淚t鈥檚 not where you have been, it鈥檚 where you鈥檙e going,鈥� which is a reflection of a forward-thinking mindset with ambition towards getting where he wants to be.
What Ryan loves most about football is the excitement of winning games and making big plays. 鈥淚 love my team,鈥� he shared. The camaraderie and brotherhood that come with being part of Milton Football has been strongly valued. His hard work and talent have not gone unnoticed, as Ryan is set to sign his letter of intent to Auburn University in December. With 42 offers to choose from, Ryan feels honored to continue his football journey with the Auburn Tigers once he steps off Milton鈥檚 field.
From season to season, Ryan has been and is forever grateful for the support and guidance of his coaches and mentors. He named many including Frank Tumminia, Mark Weivoda, Coach Edwards, Josh and Luke at Velocity, and his coaches at Milton鈥擟oach Reaves, Coach Jackson, Coach Stromie, and Coach Drew鈥攁ll key figures who have helped him along the way. Their mentorship has been invaluable.
Outside of football, Ryan enjoys playing golf, fishing, and traveling. When asked to describe his personality, Ryan says he is laid-back, hardworking, and motivated by his goals.
Ryan has a pregame ritual that helps him focus and soak in the atmosphere. 鈥淚 walk to the 50-yard line, take in every moment, then go back to the locker room to get taped and listen to music. This routine centers him and prepares him for the challenges ahead. The ritual seems to work for him as #87 went for 273 receiving yards, scored 18 points with 3 touchdowns last season.
Being a part of a team has taught Ryan the importance of leadership and brotherhood and 鈥渢o be a leader and a brother and help my teammates through whatever they need,鈥� he shared, reflecting on the lessons he has learned. Valuable advice he received from a coach is to 鈥渃ontinue to work no matter what you get; there鈥檚 always room to get better.鈥� This mindset has driven Ryan to continuously improve and strive for excellence.
Reflecting on his football journey, Ryan acknowledges that mistakes are inevitable. 鈥淢istakes are going to happen; never let one weigh you down.鈥� This resilience and positive attitude have helped him overcome obstacles and stay focused on his goals.
As Ryan prepares to transition from being a Milton Eagle to an Auburn Tiger, his story will inspire many of our local athletes. His dedication, hard work, and passion for football are an example of what can be achieved with the right mindset and support. His parents, Thomas and Nicole, his siblings, brother Landon who is a rising 8th grader and sister Emma who is a rising 6th grader are his biggest fans. With his eyes set on his next goal and dream, Ryan Ghea is ready to soar to new heights in the college football circuit, with hopes of one day playing in the NFL. But first, he will focus on the 2024 season, his last as a Milton Eagle, working towards achieving his goal of winning a back-to-back championship with his team.
The Milton community will be cheering for Ryan this fall, moving forward to Auburn and beyond.
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