#35 Brandon Bryant Season 2008-09
LB
2009
Bryant did not participate as a fifth-year senior after receiving a medical redshirt due to continuing problems with a series of knee injuries.
2008
Did not play after undergoing surgical procedure to repair fractured lower leg suffered in the offseason. After the surgery, medical clearance was not given to allow Bryant to participate in practice.
2007
Struggled with injuries as sophomore… Played in eight games at outside linebacker, but never was totally healthy, opening the year wearing a protective arm cast and sustaining lower foot injury during midseason game at Auburn… Started three games (Alabama, Ole Miss and Auburn), then missed four straight games after the injury at Auburn… Limited duties in final three games… Concluded year with career-best 30 total tackles, including 17 solo stops… Also contributed a quarterback sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and a pair of quarterback hurries… Effective through the first five games, contributing at least five tackles in each appearance… Matched career high with seven-tackle effort in win over Eastern Michigan… Lone QB sack ended third quarter Ole Miss drive with Vanderbilt leading 14-10… Fearless and effective on coverage teams, was named team[apos]s Specialist of the Week for his contribution in Eastern Michigan victory.
2006
Athletic reserve linebacker who played in 11 of 12 games… Earned reputation as heavy hitter and sure tackler in redshirt freshman campaign… Ended season with 18 total includes, including 17 solo stops… Also contributed two forced fumbles and a pair of tackles for loss in limited minutes… Posted career high seven tackles in win over Temple… Also had three tackles against Florida… Solid performer on coverage units, Bryant shared team[apos]s Specialist of the Week honors after win over Duke.
2005
Redshirted as freshman… Impressed at linebacker during fall practices.
High School
Team captain as senior… Team MVP in 2004 when he totalled 127 tackles, including a school-record 19 sacks… Recorded 24 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles… Played inside linebacker for Bombers as junior, moving to outside linebacker during senior campaign… Named Second Team Division I All-Ohio, First Team All-Southwest Ohio and First Team All-City by Cincinnati Enquirer… Selected as conference[apos]s 2004 Defensive Player of the Year… Squad went 11-1, last year, losing in second round of playoffs… Also played as power back in short-yardage offensive situations.
Personal
Brandon Kyle Bryant… Son of Clinton and Deborah Bryant… Has a brother and two sisters… Dad is business banker, mom is security officer… Enjoys poetry… High School produced current Tennessee Titans linebacker Rocky Boiman… Prep teammate, quarterback Rob Schoenhoft, committed to Ohio State.
St. Xavier Head Coach Steve Specht:
‘Brandon is a very explosive player. We moved him around an awful lot, blitzed him from every angle, and he became a mismatch at every postion, causing offenses all kinds of problems.
‘Brandon[apos]s one of the most explosive players we[apos]ve had here and we[apos]ve had some very good ones. His initial burst is as good as any I[apos]ve ever seen.’