CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Former George Washington football standout Ryan Switzer was a guest on MetroNews Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval, looking back at his freshman season with North Carolina and ahead to his upcoming sophomore campaign.
Last year, Switzer tied the NCAA record with five punt return touchdowns, entering this season just three touchdowns shy of tying the FBS record of eight touchdown returns in a career. He became the first North Carolina true freshman to earn first-team All-America honors as well.
“I knew I was going to make an impact, I just didn’t know exactly where,” Switzer said. “Thankfully, I was able to do it on special teams. As special teams started increasing, so did my offensive role. It was a domino effect for me in the sense that I just continued to start making plays everywhere on the field.”
Offensively, Switzer collected 32 catches as a freshman for 341 yards and three touchdowns – numbers expected to only increase in 2014.
“I expect a lot more touches, whether out of the backfield or in the receiving game,” Switzer said. “We’re going to have to rely on our passing game. I had a great spring and we had a new offensive coordinator who came in and took a liking to me and what I was able to do. I’m real excited to show everyone the offensive side of me.
“Part of the offseason for me has been putting that (extra) pressure on myself to make sure that I’m doing the necessary things in the weight room and film room to have a great sophomore season,” he continued. “I’ve worked really hard and I don’t plan on having a sophomore slump, because I want to do something special here. I feel like I have the people around me and the talent to do that – for me to do something special, I have to have a great sophomore season.”
The complete interview with Switzer is posted above.