Bryant becomes a key cog
Tight end brings extra dimension to Owls’ passing game
BOCA RATON — Nick O’Leary, the standout tight end from Dwyer and Florida State, is not just having his name come up around Davie and Miami Dolphins’ practice facilities these days.
Florida Atlantic receiver Jovon Durante says he tells Owls junior tight end Harrison Bryant every day that he reminds him of O’Leary, who was recently called up to the Dolphins active roster from the practice squad and last Sunday scored his first touchdown with Miami in the win against the Chicago Bears.
“He’s big, he’s solid, he’s got for-sure hands. He got hands like a receiver,” Durante says of the similarities.
As FAU (3-3, 1-1) gets set for a pivotal Conference USA matchup at Marshall (4-2, 2-1) on Saturday, Bryant is coming off a career game against Old Dominion on Oct. 6. Bryant can easily get overlooked on the Owls offense between running back Devin “Motor” Singletary’s Heisman campaign and the depth on the receiving corps.
Bryant, who hails from Gray, Ga., had six receptions for a career-high 133 yards and two touchdowns, also a career high. His 44-yard reception on the opening play against the Monarchs was the longest of his career. Following that effort, Bryant was named the John Mackey National Tight End of the Week last Wednesday ahead of the team’s bye this past weekend.
On the season, he has 20 receptions for 300 yards and the two touchdowns and has also been lauded for his run-blocking efforts.
“He’s going to go out there and make a play,” Durante continues on the 6-foot-5, 240-pound passcatching target. “With the run game, with him blocking, he sacrifices his body for the team. You need players like that on the field. Harry, he brings the energy to the team on offense.”
While Bryant reminds Durante of O’Leary, Bryant feels more like a combination of various tight ends.
“I watched a bunch of film during the summer of a bunch of NFL guys,” Bryant said. “I mean, I actually really watch them all, so I just try to combine everything they do and do the best I can.”
The uptick in Bryant’s targets — he was thrown to seven times against Old Dominion — is what coach Lane Kiffin says the team’s advanced analytics point to.
“He’s shown that he’s, at times, our most productive guy — catching range and yards after contact. Just keep trying to find a way to get him the ball,” Kiffin said. “Hopefully it continues to go the way that it went last week.”
Bryant deflects the credit to his teammates and coaching staff, saying his production is a combination of the schemes Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. have devised and a team effort on offense.
“It takes somebody to throw the ball, somebody to block, everybody to run their right route, and then just catch the ball,” Bryant said. “I mean, it takes a lot just for one person to be successful — just like somebody running the ball, it takes people to block.
“I feel like I can provide a safety net, but like I say, whatever I can do to help the team win, whether that’s blocking or making a play whenever my number’s called.” Turn-Up Tuesday: In the short portion of practice open to the media, the Owls appeared energized in practice after the bye week.
Senior safety Ocie Rose was seen yelling “Turn-Up Tuesday” multiple times as he got in line for a tackling drill on a padded tackling dummy. Tuesdays have been noted by players and Kiffin alike as a rough day for the team to practice with high intensity. Part of it may be because of the opponent.
“I feel like they’re motivated,” offensive lineman Junior Diaz said of veterans who have been around the FAU-Marshall series. “They came to practice hard today.”
Defensive linemen were seen working on getting to the quarterback and finding loose footballs in a drill early in Tuesday’s practice. FAU has just seven sacks and two fumble recoveries through six games.