Red Bryant

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Red Bryant
Seattle Seahawks — No. 79
Defensive tackle
Date of birth: April 18, 1984 (1984-04-18) (age 24)
Place of birth: Jasper, Texas
Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Weight: 322 lb (146 kg)
National Football League debut
No regular season or postseason appearances
Career history
College: Texas A&M
NFL Draft: 2008 / Round: 4 / Pick: 121
 Teams:
Current status: Unsigned Draft Pick
Career highlights and awards
  • Honorable mention All-Big 12 (2007)
  • Texas A&M Leadership Council (2003–07)
  • Texas A&M Team Captain (2006, 2007)

Joseph "Red" Anthony Bryant (born April 18, 1984 in Jasper, Texas) is an American football player for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. Collegiately, he played defensive tackle for the Texas A&M Aggies from the 2003–07 seasons.

Contents

[edit] Early years

Bryant attended Jasper High School in Jasper, Texas, where he played both basketball and football. As a sophomore, he was named the District Defensive Player of the Year as well as the Southeast Texas Defensive Player of the Year by The Beaumont Enterprise. As a junior, he made 94 tackles and forced 10 sacks. In his senior year, he earned District and Golden Triangle Defensive MVP honors. He was also selected to the first-team Division 3A All-state team by the Texas Sports Writers Association, and was a finalist for the Willie Ray Smith Award, which is presented to the top offensive and defensive players in Southeast Texas.[1] When it came to college recruiting, Rivals.com gave him a 3-star rating and ranked him No. 83 out of all the Texas players in his 2003 recruiting class. He was recruited for college play by Texas A&M, Arkansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and Texas. He chose to sign with Texas A&M to play for head coach Dennis Franchione.[2]

[edit] College career

In his first 2003 season at Texas A&M, though Bryant was redshirted, he was named a team captain. In his freshman season, he became a defensive tackle and started in all games. He earned All-American and All-Big 12 honors from The Gridiron Report after making 34 tackles (3.5 of which led to a loss of nine yards), two deflected passes, and a blocked kick. In 33 defensive plays against the option, he was able to hold the opposing team down to 1.85 yards per carry.[3]

In his sophomore season, he started in 10 games, but saw action in all 11. He produced 28 tackles, 7.5 of which led to a loss of yardage, forced two fumbles and three sacks. In 31 plays against the option, he held opposing teams to a minus-27 yards, or minus-0.87-yard average. The Texas A&M defense, however, finished the 2004 season ranked 107th out of 119 Division I teams, after allowing 443.82 offensive yards per game.[4]

In his junior season, he was voted a permanent team captain. He started in 8 games and played in nine before agreeing to end his season by having surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament that he tore.[3] He produced a total of 19 tackles, 1 sack, 1 blocked kick, and 5 pass blocks. When he was benched in the final five games of the season, the Aggie defense gave up 229.2 rushing yards. However, at the end of the season, the defense improved to a national ranking of 46, after allowing 322.62 offensive yards per game.[5]

In his senior season, Bryant recorded 41 tackles, 1 sack that led to a safety, 1 field goal block that led to a touchdown drive, and six stops for losses of 19 yards. In the team's first ten games, he allowed only 43 rushing yards on 42 plays directed at him.[3] The Aggie defense had allowed 160.9 yards per game overall.[6] Along with 8 other Aggie players, Bryant received an all-Big 12 Honorable Mention.[7]

After completing his senior season play, Bryant participated in the 2008 Senior Bowl, playing for the South team. At one of the practices prior to the game, he got into a fight with teammate Chris Williams, causing the coaches to break it up.[8][9] In the game, he recovered one fumble made by quarterback John David Booty.[10] The South team won the game 17–16.

[edit] Professional career

At the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine, Bryant weighed 318 pounds. He lifted 225 pounds 20 times, and ran 4.98 seconds in the 40 yard dash. His dash time was the second best of all the defensive tackles who participated.[11] He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Tim Ruskell, the president of the Seahawks, commented: "We're real happy to get Red Bryant. He fills a need for us. This is a big man that can stuff the middle. Coach (Mike) Holmgren has always looked for that guy, and I think we found him with Red."[12]

Bryant has stood out in the Seahawks' off-season practices before their 2008 season.[13]

[edit] Personal

In December 2007, Bryant graduated from Texas A&M, receiving a degree in agricultural leadership and development. He believes that this was his greatest and most fulfilling achievement. He is also the first college graduate in his immediate family.[14] He also overcame dyslexia.[15]

On February 29, 2009, Bryant is set to marry his fiancé Jannelle Green, who is the daughter of former Texas A&M and Seattle Seahawks player Jacob Green.[16][17][18][12] Janelle played for the Texas A&M soccer team from 2002–05.[19]

According to Bryant, he got the nickname "Red" because "his mom said that (he) was a red baby."[20]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Texas A&M Athletics. "Red Bryant". Press release. Retrieved on 2008-02-26.
  2. ^ Joseph Bryant. Rivals.com.
  3. ^ a b c Red Bryant. NFLDraftScout.com. CBS Sports. Retrieved on 2008-02-26.
  4. ^ 2005 Division I-A Team Report:Total Defense. NCAA.
  5. ^ 2006 Division I-A Team Report:Total Defense. NCAA.
  6. ^ 2007 Division I-A Team Report:Rush Defense. NCAA.
  7. ^ Big 12 Sports (2007-11-27). "2007 All-Big 12 Football Awards Announced". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-11-27.
  8. ^ "Seahawks go for DT in 4th round". 
  9. ^ "LSU's star WR returns to Baton Rouge to rehab hamstring injury". 
  10. ^ "Forte, Ainge Lead South Team to Victory". 
  11. ^ "COWBOYS NOTES: Adams may test market if 'Boys don't ante up", Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 
  12. ^ a b "Bryant's selection in fourth round brings smile to all faces". 
  13. ^ "NFL Insider: Seahawks see brand new shade of Red". 
  14. ^ Purdy, Georgia. "Bryant: 'Take advantage of your education'", The Jasper Newsboy, 2008-03-19. Retrieved on 2008-03-19. 
  15. ^ "SEAHAWKS: Bryant keeps it in the family". 
  16. ^ "Did Seahawks Get Green Light to Draft Red?". 
  17. ^ "Red Bryant fitting in with Seahawks". 
  18. ^ "Notebook". 
  19. ^ "Jannelle Green". 
  20. ^ "Seahawks add color to roster". 

[edit] External links

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Seattle Seahawks 2008 NFL Draft selections