Gustavus Adolphus College

A selfless running back with a non-stop engine, Ryan Britz was the glue that held the Gustavus offense together during the late 1990s. A key cog in an offensive unit that included multiple skill position standouts, Britz’s ability to run the ball, catch passes out of the backfield, or open holes with crushing blocks wreaked havoc on opponent’s game plans. With a humble and quiet approach to the game, Britz did all the little things right for an offense that led the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in total offense and ranked among the top ten in the country in 1998 with an average of 430 yards per game. The two-time All-Conference performer finished his career with 227 carries for 1,260 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns, while also hauling in 74 receptions for 891 yards and 11 scores. Britz accumulated 2,151 all-purpose yards and played in all but three games throughout his four seasons wearing the winged helmet. The Gusties posted winning records every season after his freshman campaign, including a second place finish in MIAC play in 1998 when the team went 8-2 overall and 7-2 in the league. During his senior season, the Saint Peter native captained the team to a 7-3 overall record and a league mark of 6-3 (tie for fourth place).

After graduating from Gustavus in 2000 with a degree in health and exercise science, Britz worked as an underwriter for Federated Mutual Insurance for three years. He is currently the vice president for reinsurance and program services at Berkley Risk Administrators. Ryan and his wife Jennifer live in Plymouth, Minnesota with their two children, Cullen and Abby.