Downes played his junior year at Venice High School where he faced the biggest challenge of his football career. On a two point conversion play against IMG Academy, he was hit hard and faced a \u201ccombined tib[ia]-fib[ula] open compound fracture\u201d which left him in the hospital for roughly three months.\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to Downes, he underwent seven different surgeries including a double leg fasciotomy which \u201csaved\u201d his legs. Through it all, Downes said he knew he still wanted to play football at the collegiate level.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI still knew from the second that it happened that I wanted to come back and play,\u201d Downes said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Downes fulfilled the promise he made for himself and transferred to Booker High School to wrap up his final year of high school. In his comeback season, Downes recorded<\/a> a stellar 3,082 yards and 35 touchdowns in 13 games. He had<\/a> a .701 completion percentage and just three interceptions. Downes explained that following the injury, he \u201crebranded the way\u201d he played football.<\/p>\n \n Downes ’29 had a stellar senior season.(Mike Lang \/ Sarasota Herald-Tribune).\n <\/p>\n \u201cBefore the injury I liked to be a mobile quarterback and running the ball to pick up a gritty first down but now I have to think a little more about protecting myself and being smart to not take those extra hits,\u201d Downes said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Downes credits the success of the season to the rest of the team and said that as the season continued he \u201chealed\u201d and got back to his rhythm.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI was surrounded by an incredible support cast that helped me get those stats,\u201d Downes said. \u201cI can attest the stats to the incredible offensive line play, my receivers and running backs and the incredible offensive attack we had that year.\u201d<\/p>\n Downes\u2019 performance earned him the 2024 Sports Illustrated Comeback Player of the Year<\/a> and the Herald Tribune Courage Award<\/a> which Downes said he was \u201chonored\u201d to have received.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThrough a lot of doubt, pain and hours of recovery I still managed to come back and prove to people that I could play,\u201d Downes said. \u201cI still have a lot to prove and the story definitely is not over.\u201d<\/p>\n Committing to Cornell<\/b><\/p>\n During his high school football career, Downes caught the attention of many college scouts including Indiana University and the University of Kansas. Despite his various offers, Downes said he most relished the opportunity to play football at Cornell. According to Downes, the Ivy League and Cornell in particular was \u201cthe best mix of academics and sports in the whole country\u201d which always appealed to him \u201cas someone who always sought out the highest of both academics and athletics.\u201d<\/p>\n But the biggest differentiator between Cornell and the other Ivy schools he had offers from was head coach Dan Swanstrom. Downes said he felt that he and Swanstrom \u201csaw eye-to-eye.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFrom the first day that I had met him I knew he was someone who I really wanted to play for,\u201d Downes said. \u201cI was impressed by his knowledge of the game and the way he galvanizes the people that play for him.\u201d<\/p>\n Now, the 6’4″ quarterback Downes joins the Reds’ squad, expressing his enthusiasm about the opportunity and to contribute to the team.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to come in there with my whole freshman class and make our mark on the team,\u201d Downes said. \u201cWe all share the common goal of wanting to win games and climb up the Ivy League standings so whatever my role is I am super excited to play it to compete.\u201d<\/p>\n Downes also had a connection to the Red\u2019s former quarterback Jameson Wang \u201925 and said the two shared the same quarterback coach in California. Downes said he is \u201cinspired\u201d by Wang and other Ivy League football players\u2019 abilities to continue their professional careers.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt was fun to watch someone like Jameson and his leadership and style of play is definitely something I want to emulate and be like,\u201d Downes said. \u201cThe Ivy League is a place of competitive football for example Blake Stenstrom was a Princeton a few years ago and he\u2019s one that is also bouncing around the league.\u201d<\/p>\n Wang \u201925 told The Sun that he was impressed with Downes abilities and is excited for him to make \u201ca big jump\u201d from the high school to collegiate level.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI met Ryan when I was training with our quarterback coach last summer [and he] definitely passes the eye test as he has a striking appearance,\u201d Wang said. \u201cI think Ryan is going to learn the game of football from a different perspective working with Coach Swan[strom] \u2026 and it\u2019s up to Ryan to study and prepare like a college quarterback.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Downes said his short term goal is to earn an Ivy League Championship title and qualify for the NCAA\u2019s Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. He hopes in the long run to be involved in sports for as long as possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFootball and sports in general are such amazing gifts to play while you have the chance to,\u201d Downes said. \u201cOnce that\u2019s gone and especially for me once I almost had that taken away from me I realized how important football was to me so I want to be a part of that for as long as possible whether that is coaching, a [general manager] job or being a sports agent.<\/p>\n![\"ryan](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/cbd93527-423f-43cb-aa81-8e8ab10b7169.sized-1000x1000.png\")
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