DL,
6-3,
320,
4.79,
380 BP
Newbern, AL
Nickname: Bear
Birthday: 11-6-81
High School: Sunshine
HS Mascot: Tigers
HS Coach: Frank Wafford
HS Position: OLB, DE, TE
HS Number: 85
AL Number: 97 or 90
Official Visits: Alabama, Auburn, Miss State, USM, UAB
Second Choice: Miss State
Host During Alabama Visit: Kenny Smith
Committed: 1-18-2000
Bryant was a first-team USA Today and Parade All-America pick. He was a SuperPrep All-America and Top 100 Dream Team selection. Border Wars named him first-team All-South. He was SuperPrep's No. 18 defensive lineman in the nation. He was a No. 1 pick on the Tuscaloosa News' Sweet Sixteen list.
Bryant had 178 tackles and 11 sacks as a senior. He also caused eight fumbles, recovered four, and made two interceptions. As a tight end he caught 15 passes for 441 yards and eight TDs. He averaged 19.0 points and 12 rebounds a game in basketball.
What Experts Say about Anthony Bryant
Bobby Burton: "He gets off the ball quickly-great athlete for his size."
Allen Wallace: "A prototype noseguard. He should be an immediate contributor to the Alabama defense. Excellent feet and hands for a big man. He's a power forward on the basketball team."
Tom Lemming: "He is a difference-maker and one of the top five DLs in the country."
Forrest Davis: "What a player! He is a Forrest Davis Recruiting Annual 1st Team All-South; All-America by USA Today and Parade."
Q&A with Anthony Bryant
TI: Anyone nicknamed Bear is a good fit at Alabama. Has that been your nickname for a long time?
AB: No. It just started during recruiting. Coach Cottrell and Coach [Lance] Thompson started calling me Bear and it just caught on.
TI: Were they the two coaches primarily responsible for recruiting you?
AB: They were the two main ones. Coach Cottrell started recruiting me back when I was a tenth-grader. I visited Alabama for a game. Coach Thompson will be my position coach. I can't wait to play for him. I'm very much looking forward to it. He's a real hyper guy who gets his players fired up.
TI: Some fans question how difficult it might be for you to make the transition from a small 1A school to major college football.
AB: Sometimes I wonder about it, but I doubt it will be a problem. In high school we played some larger schools, 3A and 4A schools, and beat them. Maybe some of the guys coming in from bigger schools might have better technique and fundamentals than I do, but that's no problem for me. I'll just work hard to get better.
TI: Talk about some of the big players you played against in high school.
AB: When I was a tenth-grader I went up against a 6-6, 330-pound guy from Akron who now plays at Alabama State. I also played against Monreiko Crittenden from St. Jude's. He's at Auburn now. Monreiko was about 6-8, 325 when I played him. He couldn't block me. I had too much speed and quickness for both of those guys.
TI: Do you have a favorite high school play?
AB: We were playing Greensboro. They are a 4A school and one of the best teams around. It was a big game for us since we're only a 1A school. We had them 14-8 with about five seconds left. They had the ball at our one-yard line on the last play of the game. They tried a sweep away from me. I blitzed in from outside linebacker and dropped the running back for a five-yard loss to save the game. That was a big win for us. We proved that we could play with anybody.
TI: You played outside linebacker and tight end in high school. Where will you play at Alabama?
AB: Nose and defensive tackle.
TI: Will that be a tough transition for you?
AB: I'm not used to playing down. I've always played standing up. But it won't be a problem. I've already got everything -- the size, strength, speed, and quickness -- to play down against offensive linemen.
TI: Talk about your strengths and weaknesses.
AB: My size, speed, quickness and my strength are my strengths. I need to work on shooting my hands into the chest plate of the offensive lineman to get leverage on them. Once I get that down, I'll feel pretty good.
TI: Do you think people will be surprised with your speed?
AB: They're going to be very surprised. When we play UCLA they will be surprised.
TI: Going from tiny Newbern, Alabama, to playing in the Rose Bowl against UCLA on national television. That will be an incredible experience for you.
AB: A lot of people in Newbern are already talking about it. I'll probably be nervous at first with all the fans in the stands and with all the teammates on the sidelines. We only had 20 players on our team in high school. There will be more people on the sidelines than went to my high school. I'm just hoping I don't get lost.
TI: Have you thought about playing against UCLA?
AB: I've been thinking about coming in and making a sack. If that happens they will have a parade in Newbern.
TI: How long have you wanted to play for Alabama?
AB: All of my life. It's been a lifelong dream for me to play for them.
TI: Watching Alabama play as a kid, did you think you'd have a chance to play for them?
AB: I remember watching Alabama against Miami in the Sugar Bowl for the national championship. Teague ran down that receiver. I remember how good John Copeland and Eric Curry played. Playing for Alabama is a dream for me that I never thought would come true.
TI: Did you give serious consideration to any other schools?
AB: Mississippi State was my second choice because of their great defensive coaches. Auburn was probably third. But I knew I was going to Alabama for a long time. I made up my mind definitely around Christmas.
TI: There were rumors that opposing schools showed you false depth charts of Alabama's defensive line.
AB: Auburn showed me a depth chart with about 30 defensive linemen. There were guys like Robert Branch and David Paine on there. Those guys were never at Alabama. Really, it was kind of a put-down when they showed me the depth chart because in a way what they were saying was that I wasn't good enough to play at Alabama. That kind of made me mad.
TI: How does it feel to be part of a top-five national recruiting class?
AB: It feels good. I'm proud of what I've accomplished to be a part of a great recruiting class.
TI: Finally, how are your grades coming along?
AB: My core is already in good shape. I'm still working on the test. I've got some teachers helping me on how to take the test. I took a prep test for the SAT and made an 850. All I need to qualify is 820, so I feel like I'll definitely make it by June.
|