New Trier QB Jackie Ryder is Purdue bound

An 11-hour meeting is a heck of a way to spend a day.

For New Trier High School senior Jackie Ryder, though, the daylong visit to Purdue University on Friday, April 10, was both gratifying and momentous. So much so that he bet his football future on it.

“They had me on an 11-hour visit … and after all that, I felt that these guys care about me, really want me here and why wait. I just made (my commitment) official,” Ryder said, adding, “I had an awesome time, loved every second of it and am super happy with the choice I made.”

Ryder left Purdue on Friday with an offer and verbally accepted that offer a couple of days later. The Boilermakers are a historic college football program and a founding Big Ten member (1896). Purdue has produced plenty of NFL talent, including quarterbacks Drew Brees and Kyle Orton.

Ryder will join a long line of Trevians quarterbacks who played football at the collegiate level; however, he would be the first New Trier graduate to quarterback a Big Ten team since Rich Weiss played for the University of Illinois in the 1970s, according to NTHS Athletic Director Augie Fontetta.

As a 6-foot-5 junior, Ryder started for the Trevians this past fall and threw for 1,775 yards with 17 touchdown passes (4 rushing touchdowns), while leading the Trevians to the postseason for the first time since 2021.

In recruiting circles, Ryder was a three-star (out of five) quarterback and reportedly had collected offers from Illinois State, North Texas and Southern Mississippi, while also taking recent visits to Kansas, Iowa and Northwestern prior to his Purdue visit and commitment.

New Trier football coach Brian Doll said that Ryder has one of the biggest arms of quarterbacks in the area, saying Ryder has “worked really hard” to develop a game that stood out to Purdue’s offensive coaches, including quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw.

“They like what Jackie brings to the table,” Doll said, “a big-frame quarterback, who can run play-action stuff and throw in the pocket. There was a match there. They aren’t one of those teams that want a guy out on the perimeter; they want a big arm that can get the ball downfield, sell play action. That suits his skill set.”

Ryder echoed his coach’s thoughts and called it a “great connection” with the Purdue staff.

Purdue also offers an opportunity to play with and against the best in the country. Each year, multiple Big Ten programs rank near the top of college football polls, and the last three national champions (Indiana, Ohio State and Michigan) came from the Big Ten.

“I definitely wanted to play on a big stage and there’s nothing bigger than the Big Ten and Purdue,” Ryder said. “… I’ve always wanted to make plays in big moments. It’s a big reason I play football. I love to compete; I love the energy of it.”

Ryder, who is also a standout Trevians baseball player, called his commitment a relief, one thing off his plate for his final year-plus of preps athletics.

And he’s looking to soak it in, while also leading New Trier to a big season.

“I’m looking forward to competing every day, making a run in the playoffs and enjoying every minute of it,” he said. “High school football is really special and it’s sad this is the last year but I want to go out with a bang and do something special this fall.”

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