#49 Ryan O'Neal Season 2023

CAREER
Special teams standout for the Tigers for the last four years … Headhunter on kickoff coverage … Hits on kickoff coverage usually erupt a Tiger Stadium crowd … Has told the media that “if I’m not hurting on Sunday, then I didn’t do my job on Saturday night” … Played in 41 games in career, all on special teams … Had 37 career tackles.

SENIOR SEASON (2002)
Played in all 13 games with no starts … Registered 12 tackles, all on special teams … Recovered one fumble and forced a fumble against Auburn on special teams … Had three special teams tackles against Arkansas and two against Auburn.

JUNIOR SEASON (2001)
Has a knack for coming up with a big hit on the kickoff coverage team … Played in all 13 games … Recorded 12 tackles, all on special teams, during the regular season … Had one tackle on special teams vs. Illinois in the Sugar Bowl … Had four special teams tackles vs. Mississippi State and three vs. Arkansas … Forced a fumble against Utah State … Named LSU’s Special Teams Player of the Week vs. Mississippi State.

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2000)
Became one of the Tigers’ top coverage men on special teams … Saw action in the Tigers’ final eight games of the season … Made his 2000 debut against Tennessee and earned LSU’s Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his efforts in the Tigers’ overtime win over the Vols … Also named LSU’s Co-Special Teams Player of the Week against Mississippi State … Made huge play on kickoff return team against Mississippi State as he dove into a pile and came up with the football after LSU muffed a kickoff from the Bulldogs early in the contest with the Tigers already trailing 7-0 … O’Neal’s recovery of the botched kickoff prevented Mississippi State from getting the ball inside the LSU 30-yard line … Ignited crowd with a couple of bone-crushing hits on kickoff coverage team in win over Tennessee … Registered six tackles on the season and one fumble recovery.

FRESHMAN SEASON (1999)
Played in every game of the season except for two … Was a major reason the Tigers had a highly-ranked special teams unit … Made seven tackles, five of which were solo stops.

HIGH SCHOOL
Member of the Times-Picayune All-State team, All-District MVP, All-Metro MVP and 5A All-State Honorable mention … Made 143 tackles, including 16 sacks, one fumble recovery and one interception … Helped lead team to the 1997 District Championship … Coached in high school by Jay Pittman and Mark Songy.

PERSONAL
Full name is Ryan Patrick O’Neal … Born on March 6, 1980, in Metairie, La. … Parents are Bobby and Cathy O’Neal … Has two siblings, Bobby and Kellie … Majoring in construction management.

Ryan O’Neal’s Career Defensive Stats