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Ryan Leaf finds new gig as college football analyst
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A former college football star is making a return to the sport, this time in a role as an analyst.
ESPN recently announced that ex-Washington State quarterback and former No. 2 NFL Draft pick Ryan Leaf that will be joining the network as a college football analyst this fall. Leaf will be on the broadcast team with play-by-play announcer Clay Matvick.
Most of the games that Leaf will call in 2019 will be part of ESPN2 and ESPNU broadcasts.
Last season, Leaf worked with the Pac-12 Network in a similar role. He’s also been co-hosting a show on the SiriusXM channel dedicated to Pac-12 sports.
For Leaf, it’s another step in a comeback from battling drug addiction and serving prison time. Since his off-the-field issues, he’s made tremendous progress to improving his life and getting involved with college football again.
He finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting that season.
Leaf had an outstanding final season at Washington State in 1997, throwing for 3,968 yards and 34 touchdowns, leading the Cougars to a 10-2 record and a Rose Bowl appearance. He was then selected by the San Diego Chargers with the No. 2 pick in the 1998 NFL Draft.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB