Syracuse offensive guard Ryan Durand (Leominster, Mass.) will play for the East squad at the 2009 East-West Shrine Game on January 17 in Houston (ESPN2). Durand is the 70th Syracuse player to be invited to play in the annual senior all-star game. A three-year starter, Durand earned 2008 ECAC All-Star honors. He is a two-time ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team selection (2007 and 2008), a four-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team selection and was a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation 2008 Draddy Trophy.
In 2008, Durand and the Orange offensive line blocked for record-setting running back Curtis Brinkley, who gained 1,164 yards, which ranks fifth on Syracuse's single-season record list and had a school-record five-consecutive 100-yard rushing games.
The four-year letterwinner regularly participated in the 'Cuse Cares Community Program, working with children, at risk youth and the elderly. A health and exercise science major, Durand furthered his educational experience as a physical therapy intern at Crouse Hospital and as an intern for an orthopedic doctor in 2007.