Bryant’s latest nod makes Owls’ history
Senior is program’s first unanimous All-American
BOCA RATON – Florida Atlantic’s Harrison Bryant has accomplished many firsts during his career with the Owls.
Bryant became the first nonPower Five player to win the John Mackey Award on Dec. 12. He also became the first FAU player to receive a national individual accolade when he won the award given to the nation’s top collegiate tight end.
And he’s added one more distinction to the list as his career at FAU comes to an end.
With Thursday’s inclusion on the Football Writers Association of America All-America First Team, Bryant became the first FAU football player in program history to be a unanimous All-American.
The NCAA uses five outlets’ honorees to determine consensus (three of five) and unanimous All-Americans (all five) honors.
Bryant has been named as the First Team tight end for each NCAA-recognized organization: Walter Camp Football Foundation, AP, Sporting News, American Football Coaches Association and the Football Writers Association of America.
He leads all FBS tight ends in
receptions (65) and yards (1,004), while scoring seven touchdowns. Pro Football Focus named him the 2019 C-USA Player of the Year and he received first-team All-Conference USA recognition on Dec 10.
Bryant, who will attend next month’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., is projected to be a mid-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. ranked Bryant as the nation’s fifth-best tight end.
He eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving this season in Saturday’s win over Alabama-Birmingham in the C-USA championship game, becoming the third Owls player in program history and third C-USA tight end to accomplish the feat.
FAU plays SMU in the Boca Raton Bowl on Saturday at FAU Stadium. Defensive coordinator and interim head coach Glenn Spencer, who will coach the Owls in the bowl game, said as of Tuesday Bryant “hasn’t decided yet” on whether or not he’s going to play on Saturday.