AttendedSwitzer attended [[George Washington High School (Charleston, West Virginia)|George Washington High School]] in [[Charleston, West Virginia]], where he played on his high school football team, the Patriots.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Derek |date=December 24, 2011 |title=GW's Ryan Switzer receives recognition |url=http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/high_school_sports/gw-s-ryan-switzer-receives-recognition/article_724e72a7-e192-5930-ab5b-4af1d765aea2.html |access-date=June 4, 2018 |website=The Herald-Dispatch |language=en |archive-date=March 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328182913/https://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/high_school_sports/gw-s-ryan-switzer-receives-recognition/article_724e72a7-e192-5930-ab5b-4af1d765aea2.html |url-status=live }}</ref> As a junior, he led the team in receiving and scored 12 total touchdowns (receiving, rushing and return combined), averaging over 110 yards all purpose yards per game for the No. 1 ranked team in the state. He finished his senior season with 206 carries for 2,379 yards and 32 touchdowns; he also caught 20 passes for 253 yards and four touchdowns and returned three interceptions for scores.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 4, 2018 |title=10 things to know about Ryan Switzer |url=https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2018/02/04/5-things-know-cowboys-draft-pick-ryan-switzer-like-channing-tatum-gets-zone |access-date=June 4, 2018 |website=SportsDay |language=en |archive-date=November 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105121756/https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2018/02/04/5-things-know-cowboys-draft-pick-ryan-switzer-like-channing-tatum-gets-zone |url-status=live }}</ref>
In addition to football, Switzer participated in [[high school basketball|basketball]], helping lead George Washington to the 2011 AAA state basketball title as their starting [[point guard]].
