Perkasie — Yesterday afternoon, via his social media, Junior All-League Linebacker Ryan Rowe verbally committed to play football next year at the prestigious Princeton University. Rowe, heading into his senior year at Pennridge High School, is a force both on the football field and in the classroom. The 6’1”, 220-pound linebacker boasts an impressive 4.14 grade point average (GPA). In a brief conversation about his commitment, Rowe shared, “I was fortunate enough to receive offers from six schools before I made my decision. I am truly grateful for each school that believed in me and gave me such great opportunities. My family and I ultimately narrowed my decision between Brown, UPenn, and Princeton.”
When asked what led to his choice, he excitedly explained, “Princeton has always been my dream school. My education is very important to me so getting the chance to go to such a great University was a no-brainer. Having Princeton so close to home only made it that much better. Coach Weick and Coach Surace have been so great to work with throughout this process and I can’t wait to get started!” Princeton’s football program, a 28-time National Champion and 13-time Ivy League Champion, matches its academic excellence with high standards, reflected in the university’s highly selective 4.5% acceptance rate. Over the past two seasons, Rowe has been a dominant force for the Pennridge Rams, excelling on the field, in the weight room, and in the classroom.
Rowe first caught attention after his sophomore season, playing in nine games and recording 76 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss (TFL), two interceptions, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. His junior year saw even greater production, with 105 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. PA PrepZone recognized him as the 11th-ranked linebacker in Pennsylvania. Looking ahead, Rowe said, “I am preparing for a great senior year. My team and I have put in so much work this off season and we are ready to get back on the field. I have one more opportunity to play football with my guys so that is where my focus is at right now. Can’t wait to compete with them one last time.” His excitement is palpable, but it’s clear this Ram is fully focused.
Rowe’s parents are immensely proud of his achievements. Reflecting on the recruitment process, Laura Rowe shared, “His recruiting process was very interesting. It was like trying to solve a giant jigsaw puzzle without knowing what the end product was supposed to look like.” Despite the uncertainty, their focus remained on Ryan’s goals. She added, “We are just so grateful to see him achieve his goal after watching him put in so much time and effort.” She concluded, “Princeton is the perfect school for him - the campus is so beautiful and the coaches have been fantastic along the way. Selfishly, we are very happy to have him so close to home!”