Post by Bryant on Dec 8, 2011 13:06:36 GMT -5
KJ Bryant doesn’t have that super feel good story behind him; nothing terrible has ever happened to him. Sure he didn’t live in the best of neighborhoods but that isn’t what made him. He didn’t live life in fear of gang violence, drugs, or any of that because he had the biggest support system a child could need and that is a large and loving family. KJ Bryant (born Kevin Michael Bryant Jr.) was the oldest of 8 brothers and sisters born to Kevin and Martha Bryant in Oakland, California. They did not live in a large, fancy house and the neighborhood was more or less a dump but with each other the Bryant family could get through anything. The kids grew up all playing sports together because that is basically all they had. The only thing they could do was go outside. They didn’t have a television, video games, or any of that great stuff people feel they cannot live without. This is where KJ honed his talents and really took off. It is where he gained his competitive edge, his desire to be the best, and where he would spend countless hours perfecting his game. It proved to push him to places he had never dreamt of.
KJ Bryant played multiple sports as a young child. He loved football, basketball, baseball, and soccer and luckily he was good at all of them. However, his father was the coach of his peewee football team and that is where he loved to be. As a young boy, KJ developed quicker than most of his friends. At age ten he was the tallest, fastest, and strongest player on the field. His father lined him up at running back because no one could ever stop him. If records were kept for peewee leagues then he might have broken them all because literally no one could take him down. As KJ got older he was “recruited” to go play for Oakland Academy which was a nationally ranked football team in the entire country. The school cost a fortune but due to KJ’s background he would receive a large amount of aid to help his parents. He denied the offer in order to play at his parent’s alma mater and stay close to home and his friends.
Roosevelt High School was a significantly large school almost bigger than most colleges with approximately 6,000 students. This is where KJ would start his future. He had no idea what to expect the first day of tryouts and I can guarantee what happened is not what he had planned. KJ was lined up at his normal position of running back during the first day of scrimmage and he felt he was ready to go. The quarterback hiked the ball and as KJ began to ran, he completely forgot the ball as the quarterback fumbled it and the defensive line dove on it. KJ shook his head as the head coach blew the whistle and began to give him a lecture on ball security. He lined back up and got another play called his way. He took the ball left on a pitch and he felt like he was flying. He ran for about a second before getting clocked by an outside linebacker who hadn’t been blocked. KJ got up and headed for the sideline with a sour taste in his mouth. He was starting to hate football. Not because of the sport itself but because he wasn’t dominating like he used to. The defensive coordinator walked over to him, sat down and began to ramble off his life story. The only KJ caught was, “back in my day…” and “how about trying a little defense?” KJ didn’t like the idea but seeing the kid who put him on his butt moment earlier lining up a wide receiver he strapped on his helmet and took over the cornerback spot. First play, the quarterback drops back and fires on deep. KJ’s speed allowed him to cover an amazing amount of ground, leap up higher than he probably remembers, and snare the ball straight out of the air. From that moment on KJ played the cornerback position for Roosevelt setting two school records (Most Interceptions, Season (12)| Most Interceptions, Career (38))
High School Stats:
Freshman – 10 Games – 48 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 6 interceptions, 2 touchdowns
Sophomore – 10 Games – 57 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 9 interceptions, 5 touchdowns
Junior – 10 Games – 53 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 11 interceptions, 4 touchdowns
Senior – 10 Games – 65 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 12 interceptions, 8 touchdowns
College was where KJ knew he had to shine. He had reached a level in high school that was almost unmatched in the Oakland area. He gained national recognition for his ballhawking mentality and skills but also for his efforts in charity work as student body class president. KJ had a tough decision when it came to national signing day. He had four hats in front of him and the local media crews piled into his house waiting for his decision. The four colleges that invested major interest were: the University of Southern California, University of California Los Angeles, University of Oregon, and University of Texas. All great school known for their football programs but KJ Bryant knew better than to base his decision of that. He wanted to study Biology and Medical Studies so without hesitation he threw on the UCLA Bruins hat and began his Student-Athlete career. Bryant worked harder on his studies than on the football field and it began to show as he dropped from preseason freshmen all-american to almost out of a scholarship. However, the coaches never gave up and neither did KJ. During his junior year after being on the practice squad for two seasons he got his shot to play nickel cornerback. He did not waste any time proving himself and in his first real game as a Bruin he picked off the University of Washington quarterback not once, not twice, but three times bring two back for touchdowns. This game changed Bryant’s career and future but was almost the only game that stood out in anyone’s mind when his career as a Bruin’s football player ended. He graduated with a 3.83 GPA and was set to pursue medical school until a sporadic phone call changed everything.
College Stats:
Freshmen – N/A
Sophomore – N/A
Junior – 10 Games – 24 tackles, 4 interceptions, 2 touchdowns
Senior – 10 Games – 36 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 touchdown
KJ received a call from his old high school coach about a new football league sprouting as a seed of the NFL almost. It was called the UFSL and Bryant took immediate interest in it. He couldn’t give up his passion for medicine but something was calling him. He began working out immediately on all aspects of his game and people took great note of his dramatic improvement as a player during open workouts. Bryant put on almost 30-40 pounds of muscle and was already standing at a solid six foot six inches. He was touted to be an athlete during the draft since he could technically play anywhere but with the new set of abilities he had been showing, it was obvious that he would end up playing tight end in the UFSL.
As draft day rolled around KJ was excited to see what was going to happen. It all happened so quickly but he remembers when his name was called and he will never forget. “With the 11th pick in the inaugural UFSL draft, the Seattle Stormtroopers select…KJ Bryant, tight end out of UCLA.” This is where his journey would begin. This is where he would finally put his name on the map. This is where he belonged. As time moved on, KJ realized his spot was not on the offensive side of the ball and due to lack of depth the Stormtroopers tried him at free safety. Bryant loved this position because his speed and catching ability where used quite often. Bryant is currently touted to be the best free safety in the league and his partner in crime Jamaal Stockton is no joke either. Together they create the most feared safety duo in the league right now.
Pros:
Speed – KJ has always been known for his speed and being one of the fastest guys on the football field. His training and muscle gain hasn’t seemed to slow him down any and by our observations made him faster. He ran a 4.36 40 yard dash at the UFSL combine which was one of the fastest out of all of the players eligible for the draft. This speed will translate well in the UFSL and especially at free safety where he will have to roam the field in both pass coverage and run stopping.
Mentality – KJ plays to win and that is his mindset every single play. He stands ready to take interception back to the house or make a solid tackle to stop the opponent’s offense from advancing. Victory runs deep in KJ back all the way to his childhood days in the street. Many believed his lack of work at UCLA would be a problem but his commitment to personal training and getting ready for the UFSL should prove the doubters wrong.
Passion – This is almost the same as mentality but that is just how much KJ loves the game of football. He has a passion to be the best, to a champion, and to be an elite athlete. He believes that nothing will stop him on his path to becoming the best free safety in the league and possibly the best defensive player. He has the determination to do big things and that is exactly what he will do.
Cons:
Height/Weight – As a free safety standing at six feet six inches and weighing 235 pounds, it would seem that KJ isn’t built exactly for the position. He will be able to cover the tallest tight ends and wide receivers but ultimately at that height and weight his unforgettable speed is actually slower than what he would be capable of. Hopefully this doesn’t affect him too bad but it is something to pay attention to.
Strength/Tackling – Even with putting on weight and playing defense most of his life KJ isn’t the strongest player and his tackling ability is beyond terrible. There is a reason he is more known for making interceptions than tackles. His stats showed he had the ability to make big plays but he also gave up some big plays since he couldn’t always bring down a receiver when they caught it. This will be a big thing to watch out for.
Vision – His speed makes up for this almost but he doesn’t have the best field vision at all. He is able to keep up with receivers and watch their eyes to make big plays but he loses out a lot on play action and double move routes. He has the ability to make plays but ultimate he might give up some huge plays.
