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Laguna Beach football coach John Shanahan loves recounting his “Ryner story” from the beginning, paying special attention to the colorful and surprising details.

The Breakers’ program, after all, changed the day Ryner Swanson arrived.

Last season, Laguna Beach captured its first CIF-SS championship in 88 years of varsity football with major contributions from the 6-foot-4, 240-pound tight end/defensive end.

“He’s a beast,” Shanahan said of Swanson, who now as a senior has helped spark the Breakers’ 6-1 start.

Swanson’s tale begins in the spring season of 2021, a blur of a campaign shortened by the pandemic.

Wide receiver/defensive back Charlie Tyus, then a freshman, told Shanahan that one of his friends wanted to join the football team.

“Coach, he’s the nicest kid you’re ever going to meet,” Tyus said.

Laguna Beach tight end Ryner Swanson carries the ball during a nonleague game against Dana Hills on Friday, August 25, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Swanson soon appeared at the Breakers’ field. He was wearing red-colored Vans but Shanahan wasn’t sure that he was a student because of his hulking frame.

“That must be an uncle or someone,” the stunned coach thought. “Yeah, he can play.”

Swanson hadn’t actually played football before.

He participated in basketball and baseball and surfed prior to high school.

But when Swanson heard that football offered weekly meals, he was sold. “Free food,” he said with a grin. “And I was big. I knew I would be pretty decent at it.”

Laguna Beach first positioned Swanson at offensive tackle before moving him to tight end and wide receiver.

“He’s too freaky of an athlete (for tackle),” Shanahan said.

That decision has certainly paid off. He recorded 45 receptions in the fall of 2021 and 83 last season to help the Breakers claim the CIF-SS Division 9 title.

This season, Swanson has 31 catches for 491 yards and eight touchdowns.

In a 42-7 victory at Garden Grove last week, he became the school’s career leader for receptions and recovered a fumble from his defensive end spot.

Quarterback Jackson Kollock, left, and tight end/defensive end Ryner Swanson led Laguna Beach to a 42-7 win at Garden Grove in a nonleague game Thursday, Oct. 5. (Photo by Dan Albano, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Swanson is committed to BYU, and he aspires to play for the Cougars as a freshman next fall. He is graduating high school in January so he can enroll early at the university.

His Mormon mission, he added, awaits in January 2025.

While Laguna Beach and Swanson have big goals for the rest of this season, Shanahan believes the “Ryner story” isn’t close to being complete.

“He’s only 2 1/2 years into playing,” the coach said. “His growth potential is still dramatic.”

NOTES

Laguna Beach junior quarterback Jackson Kollock plans to make an unofficial trip to Washington on Saturday for the Huskies’ Pac-12 game against Oregon. “I’m pretty excited,” he said. “(Washington) has been really on me on recruiting.” …

Mater Dei senior defensive lineman Aydin Breland plans to announce his college decision on Saturday, the day after the Monarchs’ showdown at St. John Bosco. His finalists are Oregon, Georgia and Miami. …

Mater Dei senior linebacker Tanner Williams committed to Utah State. …

Edison running back Julius Gillick has emerged as an impact player in his first season with the Chargers. The junior, who rushed for a school-record 312 yards last week, joined the program after moving from Washington, Edison coach Jeff Grady said.

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