Ryan Van Bergen

Ryan Charles Van Bergen, sometimes (mis)spelled Ryan VanBergen, (born March 18, 1989) is an American former college football player who was a defensive end for the Michigan Wolverines. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Carolina Panthers following the 2012 NFL draft but did not make the roster for the team. As a fifth-year senior for the 2011 Wolverines, he was a preseason Hendricks Award watchlist candidate, and after posting at least two tackles for a loss (TFL)s in each of his final three 2011 Big Ten season games, he was recognized as a postseason honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference performer. He started at defensive tackle for the 2009 Wolverines before switching to defensive end in 2010. In 2011, he started at end, as well as tackle, and led the team in quarterback sacks and tackles for a loss. He was awarded the 2007 Detroit Athletic Club Michigan High School Male Athlete of the Year for his performances in football, basketball, and track and field.

High school Van Bergen attended Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas for his freshman year and started on the varsity football team. His family moved to Whitehall, Michigan for his sophomore season. He was a scholar in high school who maintained a 3.7 average and was a member of the National Honor Society. Entering the state finals he had been seeded 7th as a junior based on a qualifying throw of and 9th as a senior with a throw of . He qualified with these throws as the MHSAA regional champion as both a junior and senior, while also placing in the shot put. Although Van Bergen only ran a 5.40 second 40-yard dash as a freshman, he got the time down to 4.89 prior to his senior season. Rivals also rated him as the 10th best high school football player in the state of Michigan. Van Bergen was originally a recruit of Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr.

College Van Bergen made one start as a redshirt freshman for the 2008 Wolverines on October 11 against Toledo. Following the 2008 season, Michigan had to replace three starting senior co-captain defensive linemen: Terrance Taylor, Tim Jamison and Will Johnson. Van Bergen started every game for the 2009 Wolverines at defensive tackle.

As a fourth-year junior, Van Bergen started every game for the 2010 Wolverines at defensive end following the departure of defensive end Brandon Graham. He was named the Big Ten Conference Co-defensive Player of the Week on November 14, 2011, for his 2.5 quarterback sack performance against the Illinois Fighting Illini on November 12. In addition to the two solo and one assist sacks, he had an assist on a TFL and achieved his second seven-tackle effort (four solo and three assist). Van Bergen also was recognized by the College Football Performance Awards as the national defensive performer of the week and defensive lineman of the week. The following week, he had two solo TFLs against Nebraska. Van Bergen finished among the conference leaders in several statistics: sacks/game (.42, t-9th), tackles for a loss/game (.96, t-10th) and fumbles recovered/game (.23, t-3rd).

Professional career Prior to the draft, the Houston Texans informed Van Bergen, that they were targeting him with their sixth round pick, but the team picked up two defensive linemen in earlier rounds (Whitney Mercilus and Jared Crick). Van Bergen signed with the Carolina Panthers minutes after the draft ended. Van Bergen's tweet actually came one minute before the National Football League tweeted Mr. Irrelevant. Van Bergen was informed by the Panthers late in the draft that "he was their No. 1 free agent target". Van Bergen was cut on August 31.

Personal life Van Bergen is known as a media favorite, according to AnnArbor.com's Kyle Meinke. He worked in maintenance in high school at Erdman Machine Co., an aerospace tool manufacturer. He also mentioned his brother Tyler, Tyler went on to anchor MHSAA regional champions in the 4 × 100 metres relay (2009) and 4 × 200 metres relay (2010). Their parents are Charles and Toni Van Bergen, from Hart, Michigan. His father, who was raised on a farm, is a retired United States Air Force veteran. Charles has eleven older siblings who are from the West Michigan region.