Ryan Bethea
| No. 84[1] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Wide receiver | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | March 26, 1967 Dillon, South Carolina, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Richland Northeast (Columbia, South Carolina) | ||||||||
| College | South Carolina (1985–1987) | ||||||||
| Supplemental draft | 1988: 5th round | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
Playing | |||||||||
Coaching | |||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
| Career AFL statistics | |||||||||
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Ryan Leymone Bethea (born March 26, 1967) is an American former football wide receiver. He played college football at the University of South Carolina and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 1988 NFL supplemental draft. He later played two seasons with the Charlotte Rage of the Arena Football League (AFL).
Early life and college
[edit]Ryan Leymone Bethea was born on March 26, 1967, in Dillon, South Carolina.[1] He attended Richland Northeast High School in Columbia, South Carolina.[1]
Bethea was a three-year letterman for the South Carolina Gamecocks from 1985 to 1987.[1] In 1988, he was suspended indefinitely from the Gamecocks over drug-related charges.[2][3] He also lost his amateur status after letting an agent pay for a trip.[4]
Professional career
[edit]Bethea was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 1988 NFL supplemental draft.[5] He signed with the Vikings on October 17, 1988.[4] On October 20, the Star Tribune reported that the Vikings had two weeks to either activate Bethea or release him or they would lose his rights.[6] He was promoted to the active roster in early November 1988.[7][8] However, he did not play in any games for the Vikings and was placed on injured reserve in November with a pulled hamstring.[9]
Bethea played for the Charlotte Rage from 1992 to 1993, recording 118 receptions and 24 touchdowns on 1,330 receiving yards.[10] He earned AFL All-Star honors in 1993.[11]
Coaching career
[edit]Bethea was head coach of the Bergen Storm from 2009 to 2010.[12]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 "Ryan Bethea". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ↑ "S. C. receiver arrested, suspended indefinitely". Wilmington Morning Star. February 6, 1988. Retrieved July 22, 2015 – via Google News.
- ↑ "Names in the News". Los Angeles Times. February 6, 1988. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2017.
- 1 2 Hartman, Sid (October 18, 1988). "Latest Vikings loss bothers Burns a lot". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ↑ "1988 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
- ↑ Roe, Jon (October 20, 1988). "Newest Viking has two weeks to win a job". Star Tribune. pp. 3C. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ↑ "Vikings". Star Tribune. November 3, 1988. pp. 5C. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ↑ "Holdouts Viking washouts". The Bismarck Tribune. Associated Press. November 3, 1988. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ↑ Hartman, Sid (November 12, 1988). "Future awaits youthful Gophers". Star Tribune. pp. 3C. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- ↑ "Ryan Bethea - Career Stats". arenafan.com. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
- ↑ "Ryan Bethea - Awards". arenafan.com. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
- ↑ "Hall of Fame". bergenstorm.no. Archived from the original on September 14, 2014. Retrieved March 27, 2017.
External links
[edit]- Living people
- 1967 births
- Players of American football from Columbia, South Carolina
- American football wide receivers
- South Carolina Gamecocks football players
- Minnesota Vikings players
- Charlotte Rage players
- 21st-century African-American sportsmen
- 21st-century American sportsmen
- 20th-century African-American sportsmen
- 20th-century American sportsmen