James Bryant

CAREER: Highly recruited player who was the backup fullback and a top special teams player in 2005…Switched to linebacker in 2006 and will play as a reserve competing for increased playing time…Versatile athlete who has impressive size and strength…Has exceptional speed and is a tremendous closer in pursuit…Can cover the entire field because of his range…Is a big hitter both on defense and as a blocker on offense, and he loves contact…Has shown the ability to overpower blockers who get in his way…Saw most of his playing time on special teams as a true freshman in 2004…Elementary education major.

2005 (SOPHOMORE): Team’s No. 2 fullback who played in all 12 games, making one start…Rushed one time for eight yards and caught two passes for 44 yards…Also returned two kickoffs for 34 yards…Made 15 tackles on special teams (second on the team)…Served as the backup fullback to Quadtrine Hill all season…Returned kickoffs at Florida State (13 yards) and vs. Georgia Tech (21 yards)…Made his only carry of the season vs. Colorado for eight yards…Got his first reception vs. South Florida, a 22-yarder, and added another 22-yarder at Temple…Started the Virginia Tech game.

2004 (FRESHMAN): Played in 11 of 12 games as a true freshman, mostly on the special teams kickoff coverage units…Only game missed was Georgia Tech…Finished the season with eight tackles…Made two tackles vs. Florida State, Houston and Wake Forest, and one tackle vs. Louisville and Clemson.

HIGH SCHOOL: Reading (Pa.)…An exceptional two-way player who was regarded as one of the nation’s top linebacker prospects…Described by at least one recruiting service as, “the nation’s most physically imposing linebacker”…As a senior in 2003, made 182 tackles, had eight sacks, four interceptions, four fumble recoveries and returned two fumbles for touchdowns…Rushed for 950 yards and 13 touchdowns as a tailback on offense…First-Team USA Today All-American and U.S. Army All-American…SuperPrep All-American…The No. 50 player on the SuperPrep National Elite 50…The nation’s No. 9 linebacker by SuperPrep…Rated the No. 3 prospect in Pennsylvania by SuperPrep…Rated the nation’s No. 59 prospect and No. 6 linebacker by Rivals.com…Rated the No. 14 player on the Rivals.com Midwest Major 50, the No. 8 player on the Rivals.com Atlantic East Amazing 80, and the No. 5 player on the Rivals.com Pennsylvania Top 50…Rated the nation’s No. 24 prospect and No. 2 outside linebacker on Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report National Top 100…First-Team All-State selection as a senior and second-Team All-State selection as a junior…Also a starter on the basketball team…Was the MVP at linebacker at the 2003 Nike Camp at Penn State…Won the same award at the 2002 Nike Camp in Miami…As a senior, named first-team All-State linebacker by Associated Press and Pennsylvania Football News…Named to the Patriot-News Platinum 33 team…First-team selection to the All-South Team by Fox Sports Net’s Countdown to Signing Day show…Brother Sam is a linebacker at the University of Pittsburgh…Chose Miami over Florida, Ohio State and Pittsburgh…Coached by Al Wolski.

JAMES BRYANT’S CAREER STATISTICS

Additional statistics: 2 kickoff returns for 34 yards in 2005
Special teams tackles: 15 in 2005