FAU’s Bryant accepts invite
Senior TE will get to play in 2020 Senior Bowl
BOCA RATON Florida Atlantic’s Harrison Bryant is going to have the opportunity to improve his NFL draft stock by working with NFL coaches.
The senior tight end accepted his invitation to the 2020 Senior Bowl, which takes place on Jan. 25, 2020 in Mobile, Ala.
Bryant is the third FAU player to accept a Senior Bowl invitation since the event’s inception in 2007. Running back Alfred Morris and cornerback D’Joun Smith participated in 2012 and 2015, respectively.
Both players were selected in the ensuing NFL draft.
“Four years ago if you would’ve told me this when I came in — I was like 215 pounds — I probably would’ve laughed at you,” Bryant said. “A lot of hard work, great teammates, great coaches and it happened, so it’s pretty cool.”
Bryant was named to the 2019 Senior Bowl Watch List in August and was a 2019 Conference USA Preseason Team honoree after being a First Team All C-USA selection in 2018.
FAU coach Lane Kiffin personally delivered the news to Bryant on Tuesday evening after calling and telling him to meet him at the Owls’ athletic center.
“I don’t even remember giving those at the other places,” said Kiffin, who was the head coach at Tennessee in 2009 and USC from 2010-13. “I just think it was assumed we’d have a bunch of guys go to it. I never had a kid come thank me for coaching him to the level to where he gets to the Senior Bowl. It was a first for me too.”
Jim Nagy, the Executive Director of the Senior Bowl, tweeted that Bryant has been a staff favorite of their since last spring.
Bryant had 45 receptions for 662 yards and four touchdowns during the 2018 season. He’s recorded 44 receptions for 651 yards with one touchdown through nine games this year.
Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller ranked Bryant as the 10th best tight end in his big board last month while ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. placed him at eight. Bryant is projected to be selected in the middle rounds by most mock drafts.
The NFL teams with the lowest winning percentage that season typically get the first opportunity to coach the Senior Bowl, but only if a majority of their staff — and head coach — are intact. Of course,the 1-7 Miami Dolphins could end the season with the lowest winning percentage.
Bryant said he’s looking forward to having the opportunity to work with NFL coaches and go against some of the top players in the country.
“It’s just cool to come in and learn that terminology before you even get there and just get a head start in building relationships,” Bryant said. “We play Ohio State and Oklahoma — they’re obviously really good teams with really good players — but now it’s the best at every position. It’ll be cool to match up like that.
“I’m really trying to focus on staying here. Hopefully, we have five games left with a conference championship and a bowl game. That would be awesome to go out as the senior class that won two conference championships and [had] two 11-3 seasons.”
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