Couch: Maryland's Ryan and Bryce Brand return home to Lansing to face Michigan State

After Maryland quarterback Ryan Brand threw a touchdown pass last week against Michigan, he flashed a sign with his hands into a nearby camera.

5-1-7.

The Lansing area code. 

“Only a few people knew it,” his father, Ryan Sr., said.

If you look up recruiting profile or bio of Ryan Jr. or his brother Bryce, a heralded freshman linebacker on Maryland’s football team, you’ll read about a lot of other places: Detroit; the Air Force Academy; Bradenton, Florida; San Mateo, California; etc.

Nothing about Lansing. But make no mistake, the Brands are sons of Lansing.

They grew up here. Their parents grew up here, both 1990 graduates of Sexton High School. Both sets of grandparents still live here. They played football for the Kappa Express youth program, Bryce always on Ryan’s team, even though he was two years younger.

They’ll be back home Saturday when Maryland plays Michigan State at Spartan Stadium.

Ryan might be at quarterback for Maryland at some point. He started last week’s game. This week, he’s expected to back up another sophomore, Max Bortenschlager, who’s slated to return from injury. Bryce will likely see time at linebacker and on special teams. 

They’ve secured about 20 tickets for immediate family, extended family and friends, some who have known Ryan and Bryce since they were infants.

“From a Saturday morning watching them play Pop Warner to a Saturday afternoon watching them play at Spartan Stadium, it gets a little emotional, I must say,” said their grandfather, Forrest Carter, a professor at MSU’s Eli Broad College of Business. 

Ryan and Bryce weren’t allowed to be interviewed this week. Welcome to the needless paranoia of major college football. But their journeys are worth highlighting before their homecoming. 

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Neither of them played high school football in the Lansing area. The family moved before Ryan’s freshman year. He played at St. Joseph, then Farmington Hills Harrison and then Detroit Jesuit.

Then, for college, the Air Force Academy. As a quarterback, he was an Elite 11 finalist in 2014, along with MSU’s Brian Lewerke. In fact, this isn’t Ryan’s first game at Spartan Stadium. He traveled with the Air Force team, though didn’t play, when Air Force played at Michigan State in 2015.

Ryan transferred after that year to the College of San Mateo in California, a junior college, before looking for a new home to continue his football career and education. Maryland only came into the picture because of Bryce.

Bryce’s high school career began at Detroit Jesuit, before the family relocated to the Bay Area in California. He also spent a year at the IMG Academy in Florida, a renowned athletic power, once known mostly for fostering aspiring tennis stars like Andre Agassi.

The coaches at the University of Maryland wanted Bryce badly. They made an offer that included taking Ryan as a preferred walk-on.

“Being a walk-on, Ryan was kind of turned off by it,” Ryan Sr. said. “But academically it’d be a great fit, a great experience, and he really wanted to play with his brother.”

Ryan Jr. is an economics major, with priorities beyond football. But …

“I knew what they had on the roster,” Ryan Sr. continued. “If they give this kid a shot, we might be on to something here.”

Ryan Jr.’s shot didn’t come easily. It took two Maryland quarterbacks suffering ACL tears and a third, Bortenschlager, being hurt, as well. 

Ryan made his first start last week against the Wolverines, completing 16 of 35 passes for 136 yards, one touchdown (which came with the “517” sign) and two interceptions. He also rushed for 31 yards. Michigan’s defense is second in the nation against the pass, giving up only 144 yards per game. Only Penn State’s Trace McSorley had thrown for more yards in a game against the Wolverines than Ryan Brand.

“I thought he played great,” his dad said, the night before boarding a plane for Lansing.

Whether Ryan plays or not this week and however much Bryce plays, they’ll have a group of unconditional fans in Spartan Stadium.

“I’m so, so proud of them because it’s been a dream of theirs since the family was out watching them at Harry Hill playing football with Kappa,” said Carter, who played at Purdue in the late 1960s and early ’70s.

“I’ve gotten so much out of my life as a result of that (college football) experience. I guess I’m just thrilled to think about how much is really ahead of them as a result of this experience. They’re both much, much better athletes than I ever was. Beyond the Xs and Os and the wins the losses, I just know this is setting them up in life in ways that, as a grandparent, you’re just thrilled for the opportunities and experiences.”

Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Graham_Couch.