Transfer Spotlight – UCF DE Big Kat Bryant
At CFB Saturdays we recognize that the landscape is always changing in College Football and the undeniable impact transfers have had on our beloved sport in recent history. Transfers have gone on to make College Football Playoff runs, win the Heisman, the National Championship, and become top NFL Draft Picks (Joe Burrow recently accomplished all of the above). In the Transfer Spotlight we take a look at the potential impact of top Transfers in 2021. Today we take a look at UCF DE Big Kat Bryant who was a starter for Auburn.
A Two Year Starter At Auburn
Bryant was a four star recruit in Auburn’s 2017 recruiting class. He was a reserve his first two seasons on campus and earned a starting spot in 2019. Bryant made 16 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 pass breakups and 9 QB hurries in 13 games that season. Bryant showed a lot of promise and was expected to continue to grow in 2020, where some of those hurries could become sacks.
Big Kat Bryant was a captain for Auburn in 2020 and was expected to lead the defensive line. Bryant played in ten games for the Tigers but was limited by injuries for part of the season. He only missed one game, but it was apparent he was not 100 percent throughout the season. Bryant finished the year with 17 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 3 sacks and 4 QB hurries. While it was a solid season, it wasn’t the breakthrough season Bryant was expected to have.
Bryant decided Auburn was no longer the place for him and a change of scenery was in order. He followed his head coach Gus Malzahn to UCF shortly after Malzahn was hired as the Knights head coach. The Knights finished 6 – 4 in 2020, but were 35 -4 in the three seasons before that. Bryant will look to strengthen the defensive line and help the Knights get back to where they were a couple seasons ago.
Big Kat Bryant’s Game
Big Kat Bryant has an excellent physique for an edge defender at 6’5″ 250 lbs. He is a long and athletic defensive lineman who has the burst and speed to pursue plays away from him. He is a high motor player who gives good effort against the run and the pass. Bryant has the length to keep blockers from locking on to him, and the quickness to take advantage when they are off balance or reaching.
Bryant has the size, athleticism and motor to be a highly productive end, he just needs to continue to hone his technique and stay healthy. In 2020, he was nicked up early in the season and was never able to get going. With an off-season to get healthy and work on the nuances of his game he should be ready to breakout in 2021. Bryant is already a quality defensive end, but there is more room for him to improve and become a star.
Outlook at UCF
UCF has been one of the best group of five programs in the country recently, but the 2020 season was not up to their standards. The Knights finished 6 – 4, which continued a downward trend since the undefeated season in 2017. The team’s struggles were largely due to the poor defensive performance in 2020. The defense allowed 33.2 points per game, the most since UCF’s winless season in 2014.
The Knights need to rebuild the defense quickly so the offensive firepower the team has is not wasted in 2021. The defensive line lost a productive pair of players in Kenny Turnier and Randy Charlton, who transferred to TCU and Mississippi State this off-season. UCF needed to add impact talent on the defensive line that could contribute quickly and Bryant definitely fits the bill.
With linebacker Eriq Gilyard, defensive tackle Cam Goode and defensive end Josh Celiscar all back and improving, there is potential for the Knights to have a formidable front seven. With the way Dillon Gabriel and the offense have been able to score points recently, the defense does not have to be great, just better than 2020 for the team to have a bounce back season. There are pieces in place for that to happen, but some more help will likely be needed.
Bryant is a key piece of the puzzle on the defensive line and should help strengthen the front seven immediately. He has proven he can be an impact player at the highest levels of college football and will help solidify the UCF defense in 2021. Gus Malzahn has hit the ground running at UCF and is quickly adding game changing talents to the team.
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