Willie Fritz Excited About 'High Football IQ' Newcomer On Defense

Digging the Cougars out of an abysmal 4-8 record in 2024 starts with bringing in new faces to help change the game and deliver results fast. For coach Willie Fritz, a guy his staff can see delieering such results is Bryant.

"His football IQ is really high; he does a good job of taking what we do in the media room and taking it out there on the practice field," Fritz said. "He's a really good athlete. He runs at almost 21mph on the GPS, and he's about 260 pounds."

A rare blend of speed and technique is paramount to creating the next generation's dominant pass rushers and it seems that Bryant has a chance to continue to wow in games as well as practices. Not only can he play defense, but also has promise on the kick return team.

"He played a really high level of football here in the state of Texas, so he's going to play for us on the slot of the kickoff," Fritz said. "He'll also get a chance to play for us defensively, as well."

Playing two-way in high school affords Bryant the ability to understand both sides of the ball and use it to his advantage at the point of attack. Named a three-star recruit by 247Sports, he has the tools readily available to grow to be more than the stars that put him on Houston's radar.

Additionally, Bryant was a multi-sport athlete, earning a spot at state as a wrestler and throwing the shot put for Fulshear High School.

Joining a young defensive line in a rebuilding team is a golden opportunity for players like Bryant to seize their moment in the time that they have in the spotlight and disrupt the pass when it matters most.