FAYETTEVILLE — The question posed to John Ridgeway was valid.
In his first appearance before the media as a Razorback in August, the Illinois State transfer detailed the path that led him to commit to Arkansas this spring. In doing so, he briefly mentioned narrowing his many options out of the NCAA transfer portal to three schools before landing on a decision.
The natural follow-up was asked.
Do you mind saying who the other two schools were that you were considering?
Moments later, after quickly calculating a response, Ridgeway took his place near the top of the list of the more interesting characters on the Razorbacks’ roster. Missouri transfer defensive lineman Markell Utsey, sitting to Ridgeway’s right at the interview table, threw his head back in laughter.
“Uh,” Ridgeway began, “the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.”
Back home in Bloomington, Ill., Ridgeway’s parents, John and Katie, watched their son’s 15-plus minutes of face time intently. They were proud and hanging on each word as he told his story of playing on the FCS level, transitioning to the SEC and fitting in with new teammates at Arkansas.
They also couldn’t help but smile and laugh at the moments of levity their son provided in a setting that can turn some players into buttoned-up versions of themselves. That is not in Ridgeway’s DNA.
The sense of humor and tongue-in-cheek sarcasm comes honest and from both sides of the family.
“He’s always been a smartass,” John said laughing. “He’s kind of been cocky since about the seventh grade, because that’s when he was about my height. That’s when he knew he could be a smartass.”
The odds of someone confronting Ridgeway about a personality trait that may rub them the wrong way are next to zero. At 6-foot-6 and north of 320 pounds, he is an imposing figure, and that is before he throws the pads on.
Razorbacks linebacker Hayden Henry recently spoke to Ridgeway’s stature, labeling him a “monster” on the defensive line who — perhaps in a bit of hyperbole — covers up both A gaps once in his stance. His playing style has been described as aggressive and physical, and he enjoys the combative nature of the game in the trenches.
Arkansas hopes to see Ridgeway, who missed the season opener against Rice after having an appendectomy the previous weekend, at full force against Texas in his debut. On the surface, given his abilities as a defensive tackle, he appears to be a perfect fit for the Razorbacks as they look to generate more havoc plays in the backfield and a consistent pass rush.
Dig deeper and one can conclude that Ridgeway is an ideal program fit, too, under the leadership of Sam Pittman, who has emphasized since his hiring a blue-collar approach built on a foundation of toughness. John and Katie believe their son embodies the pillars of a Pittman-run organization.
Ridgeway’s upbringing made him unafraid of work of any kind. As soon as he was of age, he took up a job at a local McDonald’s, and the summer he turned 16 he worked alongside his father at his painting jobs. He did some landscaping as well.
“He was a shoe fed, and he wanted his own money to buy all them shoes,” John said. “He didn’t ever really complain about work. He didn’t mind getting down and putting his boots on, per se.
“He’s rough around the edges but down to earth.”
Before eventually latching on to football, Ridgeway enjoyed the simple things growing up, like riding dirt bikes with his cousins, fishing and camping and canoeing. He was a Boy Scout, too, and if it could be done outdoors, he was likely interested.
In the eighth grade, Ridgeway’s passion for the game began to emerge. The following year, he knew football was what he wanted to do. By the end of his high school career, Ridgeway was an all-state selection in football and a state championship wrestler.
But after admittedly slacking off in classes, big-time offers didn’t come pouring in. Katie said his grades were just good enough to be eligible to play sports, but things tend to work themselves out in the end, John added. Illinois State football coaches took a personal interest in Ridgeway, showing up to his wrestling tournaments, and he appreciated that.
“He didn’t take (school) seriously,” John said. “I don’t think it bit him in the ass. Going to ISU, he made a freakin’ name for himself. But he definitely could have had more offers if he would have done what he needed to do.”
With the Redbirds, Ridgeway blossomed into an impact player. In the team’s 2021 spring season, he had 22 tackles and an interception in four games. He was also an FCS Freshman All-America pick by Phil Steele in 2018 and an All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honorable mention the following season.
On April 25, he committed to Arkansas. Both parents are pleased with where their son is now.
“It’s been really nice to watch him throughout junior high and high school and now college playing in the largest division,” said Katie, who in her office keeps Godzilla, the bearded dragon her son bought as a pet while at Illinois State and showed off during a team picture day.
“We’ve enjoyed it. I’ve kind of always known he was going to go to into the league. It’s kind of nice to see that starting to unfold. I know he needed to be pushed and challenged, and he needed to be coached differently.”
The Ridgeway family is big on family and supports one another through thick and thin. Grace, Ridgeway’s younger sister, followed in his footsteps in wrestling and looks up to him. And as a tribute to those close to him, he had the first letter in John, Katie and Grace’s names and their birth years tattooed on the inside of his left arm.
Ridgeway also has ink of the family crest.
“I like it,” Katie said. “I think it shows how much he cares about his family and what his family means to him. He’s just a proud person. I think that he wants to make his family proud. He’s absolutely doing a good job. He’s right on track, right where he wants to be and needs to be.
“He’s working hard down there, making a name for himself.”
Pittman can attest to the lineman’s work ethic since arriving at Arkansas. He’s seen Ridgeway’s colorful personality, too.
“He’s hilarious. I mean, he’s got a great sense of humor. The kids love him,” Pittman said. “He’s a hard-working kid. Those guys that wrestle, they’re tough and physical guys. He’s a great addition to the team both on and off the field. He’s got that quick twitch, I’m going to say, from his wrestling background.
“He’s a big guy, and very-well liked by me, the staff and the team.”