West's Sissel earns full ride at NCAA D-I Wagner

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To continue pursuing a sport that one enjoys at the collegiate level, an individual has to show determination and persistence.

Former All-Ohio linebacker and three-sport athlete Ryan Sissel has those qualities in spades.

The 2023 West graduate, who got an opportunity to play as a preferred walk-on at Marshall before earning a greater role following a transfer to nearby Morehead State (Ky.) for two seasons, has earned a full ride to play NCAA Division I football for the first time — as Sissel will be on scholarship when he suits up for NCAA Division I FCS program Wagner (N.Y.) in the fall.

Sissel, however, is simply thrilled for the opportunity to continue his career at the collegiate level in any facet. After all, playing college football at the D-I level represents a dream fulfilled.

“Playing Division I football is a dream come true,” Sissel said. “I feel like it’s every kid’s dream to appear on TV and play the sport they love, and I get to live my dream.”

Sissel, who says that he loved the sport of football from the outset, showcased a grit and high motor from the outset of his career as a youth.

“I can remember doing extra drills all the way back in third grade, so I would say the desire to play has always been there.”

Without question, that’s always been the case with the 6-2, 230-pound linebacker.

One needs to look no further than Sissel’s sophomore through senior seasons at West to see that is most certainly the case.

Seeing an opportunity to make history at West from a team perspective from the outset, Sissel, a four-year starter on defense, immediately made an impact as a freshman in 2019 by making 75 tackles defensively.

The following season, Sissel stepped up even further.

Getting additional reps in the offensive backfield as well, No. 23 posted a 126-tackle season as a sophomore in 2020 and added in 269 rushing yards on 5.7 yards per carry — all while helping West improve from 2-8 his freshman season to 6-4 as a sophomore.

Sissel was ultimately named as a First-Team All-Southeast District linebacker in Division V and was named Honorable Mention All-Ohio at the same position.

That output, however, paled in comparison to what Sissel was able to do over his final two seasons of play.

Becoming the go-to guy in the backfield over his final two seasons of play in addition to maintaining every down status on the defensive side of the football, Sissel went completely off as a junior and senior for the Senators.

In 2021, Sissel not only made 103 tackles and nabbed two interceptions for West defensively, but ran for 1,518 yards and 11 touchdowns on 246 carries for a 6.2-yard-per-carry average, essentially playing as close to every down on both sides of the football as one could.

For the second season in a row, Sissel was named as a First-Team All-Southeast District honoree, and added in Honorable Mention All-Ohio honors yet again — this time, as a running back.

Sissel’s efforts to lead West to greater heights paid off in a big way as a senior.

Rebounding from losing its season-opener to Fairland, the Senators proceeded to rip off 11 consecutive wins behind the leadership of the two-way star, who made an incredible 155 tackles on the defensive side of the football to go along with three sacks, while rushing for 1,751 yards and 23 touchdowns on 269 carries offensively to boot.

Leading one of the best defenses in program history, West held its opposition to eight points or less in eight out of the 13 contests that it played in 2022, and 16 points or less in 10 of the 13 games.

Offensively, the Senators averaged 32.5 points per contest, and, by giving up just under 12.5 per game defensively, posted its best scoring differential since 2011 by outscoring its opposition by a plus-20.1 margin per contest.

Of course, defeating Wheelersburg by a 13-6 margin — the very win that gave the Senators its first SOC II Championship since 2008 and began one of the greatest celebrations in the history of the program and school.

West ultimately advanced to the OHSAA Division V Regional Semifinals before falling to eventual OHSAA Division V State Finalist Ironton.

Sissel finished his football career with 3,546 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns on 565 carries and made an incredible 459 tackles in four seasons. He was named as a First-Team All-Southeast District and First-Team All-Ohio honoree in his final season of play for the Senators — a fitting ode to one of the hardest-working talents one could find.

“I was very blessed to have a great support staff, from coaches like Coach G (Todd Gilliland) and (Ted) Newsome,” Sissel said. “I also had a great group of teammates. Many people do not understand the hours of work we put in as a group, and that just helped push me to be better.”

Sissel’s favorite memory?

Not the win over Wheelersburg. Not playing in the playoffs. Not running out on the field at ‘The Rock.’

Simply playing with the guys with whom he refers to as his brothers for his final year of play in 2022.

“My favorite memory was my whole senior season, getting to play the game I love with people who matter,” Sissel said. “Just stepping on the field with that group of brothers is a different feeling.”

Along with his efforts as a football standout, Sissel was twice named as an All-Southeast District honoree on the basketball side of the spectrum — earning Third-Team All-Southeast District honors in both 2021-22 and 2022-23 — and was a strong relay runner in outdoor track and field, qualifying for regional competition in both the 4-by-100 and 4-by-200 meter relay events for the Senators.

“I think it is a big mistake when an athlete only trains for one sport,” Sissel said. “Different sports work different muscles. I loved basketball and really enjoyed running track, but the true reason I did these sports was for all the advantages they give an athlete. Also, coaches trying to recruit you will watch you play other sports because it shows true athleticism.”

That athleticism and work ethic ultimately allowed Sissel to earn a NCAA Division I opportunity at Marshall as a preferred walk-on.

But after a season with the Thundering Herd, Sissel understandably transferred to a place where he could get an opportunity to get live reps.

Morehead State provided that opportunity, and after making nine tackles in 2024, Sissel quadrupled his amount of tackles to 36 in 2025.

However, in another understandable move, Sissel — having played three years of football with he and his family paying their own way between the PWO status at Marshall and playing for the non-scholarship FCS football program at Morehead State — explored his options.

Wagner ultimately provided that opportunity — and so the redshirt junior-to-be will be on a full ride for the first time.

It just goes to show an individual that persistence pays off.

“I was not a highly recruited prospect,” Sissel said. “I went to so many camps going into my senior season that I lost count. My father and I had an ‘all or nothing’ mentality, so we traveled everywhere we were invited. The season came and went, and I felt like I had great stats and measurables. I went on several big visits, but nobody gave me the Division I scholarship I was hoping for. Thankfully, Marshall came and offered me a PWO, so I took that without thinking twice. I stayed there for a season and helped develop my game. After one year at Marshall, I decided to enter the transfer portal and transferred to Morehead State. I had two good seasons at Morehead; however, they are in the Pioneer Football League, so they are not able to give athletic scholarships. With the financial strain, I knew I had to risk leaving Morehead so I could get financial relief. Thankfully, I had a coach from my past reach out to me about Wagner. The Wagner coaches said they loved my film, and this is where my future is.”

Sissel will be joining a Seahawks program that has gradually improved over time. In 2025, Wagner improved to 5-7 overall and enjoyed a winning record in the Northeast Conference (NEC), going 4-3 in the league. The conference and league records were the best for the Seahawks since 2016.

Wagner, who lost five of its seven games by 12 points or less in 2025, is looking to Sissel as one of those players who will get the Seahawks over the hump in 2026 on forward.

Beyond the fit and the opportunity that Wagner is offering to Sissel on the football field, the atmosphere off of the football field at the Staten Island-based campus is one that the 6-2, 230-pound linebacker greatly enjoys.

“The close community at Wagner was the difference,” Sissel said. “Wagner is a small private school in New York, and as you know, West wasn’t very big, so I think it reminded me of that. Also, the coaches and players are great people here. Character matters the most when picking a program.”

Sissel’s advice to those exploring the transfer portal? Be confident and be ready.

“I will be the first to tell you that it’s a very long and very stressful process,” Sissel said. “Just make sure you do what is best for you in the long run. Always bet on yourself, only you know what you are truly capable of.”

It’s clear that time and again, Ryan Sissel has proven that he is capable of a lot.

“My biggest takeaway is to not listen to people who don’t have your best interests in mind,” Sissel said. “If you want to do something, you need to set that goal and not stop until you hit it, and don’t let failure be an option. College has helped me learn to never take no for an answer. Nobody expected me to be anything more than a walk-on. Now, I’m getting college paid for in New York City.”

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