Ryan Leahy grew up with Cincinnati in his blood. He attended and played football at LaSalle High School, which is just a few miles (7.8 according to Google Maps) down the road from UC. When the three-star recruit made his college decision, he chose to become a Bearcat and keep his ties to the area tight.
Interestingly enough, for how consistent Leahy has been in his loyalty to the Queen City, he made a major change when he joined the red and black. In high school, Leahy was a talented defensive lineman, rather than one of the offensive variety.