Gooman-Ranion signs with University of Saint Mary football
Shayden Gooman-Ranion
That’s because although he represented Alaska at the National Underclassmen Combine & Showcase, he ended up playing for Texas in the Texas vs World Senior Football Classic.
From there, he landed an offer from the University of Saint Mary, an NAIA school in Leavenworth, Kansas.
“They offered me an academic scholarship and sports scholarship, and also have family that go to the university,” he told me.
Gooman-Ranion, of Bartlett High fame, was on the winning side but didn’t come away unscathed.
“The only downfall from the game was that I injured my left shoulder, then needed to have surgery because I had torn my labrum,” he said.
Still, the experience and exposure paid off in the end.
“It made me hungry for improvement and I know for a fact that I am faster and stronger now than before,” Gooman-Ranion said.
The 5-foot-9, 215-pound linebacker is at his best against the run, where he can use his power and quickness to contain the edge at the line of scrimmage.
“I’m always around the ball,” he said.
He’s not just about the pigskin, though. His decision is just as much as school as sports.
“I wanted to major in nursing but then discovered that there was an athletic management major, and I chose that because I can relate more to that field of work,” Gooman-Ranion said.