Ex-Husker Bingham finds home in San Diego's defensive trenches
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By KEN HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star
Ryon Bingham was going to end up a pro athlete, but nobody knew when.
Sure, he seemed to have a great future in football.
But injuries kept him out of uniform for a good part of his time at Nebraska and two more years with the San Diego Chargers.
His former defensive line coach at NU, Jeff Jamrog, once said the well-muscled Bingham looked like a WWE wrestler and might have a future in the world of atomic drops and bouncing off the ropes.
Bingham was hampered by injuries before starting at defensive tackle in 2002 and 2003. He eventually earned second-team All-Big 12 honors to go with his four lifter of the year awards at NU and his academic accolades.
He was picked by the Chargers in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft and spent two seasons injured and almost forgotten.
In the meantime, the Salt Lake City native kept working out, stayed in shape and maintained his dream of becoming a pro football player.
“You get frustrated and you get tired of waiting, but when you get your chance, it’s so great and it’s so much fun,” said Bingham, who is a backup defensive tackle and end for the Chargers.
Now, there’s no stopping him as the Chargers roar into Sunday’s NFL playoff game at Indianapolis.
Bingham had such an impressive season he was given a three-year contract extension on Christmas Eve.
Charger teammate Luis Castillo said of Bingham: “He’s gone from being another guy to being a legitimate end. He could start on another team.”
Bingham recorded 39 tackles, 1½ sacks and 4½ quarterback knockdowns this year on San Diego’s impressive defensive line.
He played a major role in San Diego’s 23-20 upset of the Colts on Nov. 11, when the Chargers pressured Peyton Manning into six interceptions.
Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy said the Chargers’ defensive front seven, including Shawne Merriman, Shaun Phillips, Jamal Williams and Castillo, is among the best in the NFL. He credited the Charger defensive front with helping the team lead the league with 30 interceptions.
Starters Igor Olshansky, Matt Wilhelm, Steve Cooper, and backups Jacques Cesaire and Bingham helped shut down Tennessee last week and have been a key to a seven-game win streak.
“We started the season 1-3 and we just started playing better and started winning,” said Bingham, who is married to Danielle and has a 18-month-old daughter, Kayla. “Some teams started out fast and finished slow. We did it the other way and we’re in the playoffs. Not a bad way to go.”
Bingham, 26, has played in every game the last two years. Last summer, the 6-foot-3, 303-pound outdoorsman was named the team’s most-improved player.
“I finally got healthy, thank God, and I’m getting the confidence of playing more,” he said. “You play more effectively the more you play, and now I’m comfortable knowing I can play at this level.”
Bingham is also more comfortable in knowing his old coach, Bo Pelini, is back at Nebraska.
“That’s the best news out of Nebraska I can think of,” Bingham said. “I got to play for him and I always thought he’d be a great head coach.
“There’s something about him, his enthusiasm, his intensity, his closeness with his players, make him special,” he said. “He’d give great pregame speeches or motivational talks before our games, be dancing and jumping with the guys on the sidelines.
“He’s a stud and he’s perfect for that job.”
Bingham added: “I’ll always be a Husker and I can’t wait to see how they improve.
“In the meantime, we’ll try to get something big done here, too.”
Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or khambleton@journalstar.com.
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