Bryant Living Out A Lifelong Football Dream
October 15, 2019 | Football
By Jillian Anderson
For most five-year olds, football is a fun activity to do with friends, an outlet for their abundant energy, an excuse to put on a fun costume, or maybe just a way to learn things like sharing and teamwork. Usually at a young age, football is just an introduction to sports, but for five-year old Hunter Bryant, football was much more.
Even at the age of five, Bryant knew the possibilities that the sport held for him. Fifteen years ago, Bryant was thinking of football as the rest of his life, his key to a good life.
"I have always wanted to play football, ever since I can remember, that has always been my dream," Bryant shared.
Every football season over the last 15 years for Bryant has been a building block in the foundation of his future. So far, his college seasons have been the biggest blocks, but haven't been the strongest pieces. Nine games into his freshman season, Bryant sustained an ACL and LCL injury that prevented him from finishing out the year. He then missed more than half of his sophomore season due to a meniscus injury. This season, Bryant is the strongest and healthiest that he has ever been since coming to the University of Washington.
"This is the best that I have felt during a season. It is pretty cool to feel healthy," Bryant shared. "I also know a lot more than I did before, so I have been able to play a lot better."
With it being his third year out of high school, this season holds the most potential for the 6-foot-2, 239-pound tight end as Bryant is allowed the opportunity to enter the NFL draft come April. However, Bryant has found that the best way to have a promising future is to focus on the present.
"This is a big growth year for me," he said. "It is an opportunity for me to get better in all of the little things. I just want to help my team win."
Bryant knows that he cannot be too focused on what is to come after UW when he still has blocks to make, catches to snatch, and games to win at the college level. To not get ahead of himself is a daunting task for a player who has known exactly what he has wanted since he started playing football. To be able to get paid to play the sport that he loves is something that Bryant will never not be in pursuit of, but he knows there is still work to be done before that dream can come true.
An added pull toward thinking about his future are the stories of his predecessors. There has been a sort of "tight end culture" that has been created in recent history at the UW. With players like Will Dissly, Darrell Daniels, Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Drew Sample all filling the tight end position on the Washington roster and graduating on to the NFL in recent years, it would be hard for Bryant to not imagine himself following in suit.
Bryant is not intimidated by these stories, but rather inspired, sharing, "they put in a lot of work while they were here and now they are getting paid playing the sport that they love. I am just trying to follow in their footsteps. I am trying to do all the little things like they did and do everything the same."
This year is very important for Bryant in the facet of what UW football can do for him. However, there is still a lot that he can do for UW football. What Bryant wants to accomplish this season, is not for himself, but rather for his team.
"I want to continue getting good wins with my teammates and see if we can win out. Then we will see where the season takes us," he shared.
"I don't really care what stats I (achieve), I just want to see the team win."
Not focusing on individual statistics is an aspect of Bryant's game that has allowed him to excel. Instead of looking at individual indicators, Bryant takes a team mentality, and measures his personal success directly through the accomplishments of the group. He says, "How I know if I am playing well or not is in how much my play effects the game and the final score for the team."
Taking this broader perspective is something that comes easily to Bryant as he has always been a level-headed player. Bryant has been described by teammates and coaches as being "even-keeled" and "steadfast". This part of his personality has been a prominent element in his success on the field.
"You will have good plays and you will have bad plays," he said of his character. "But you can't let either one effect you too much because that will mess you up for plays going forward."
Being able to have this level of mental maturity is not something that most college football players are able to grasp. But, Bryant has had a head start, since getting serious about football in pre-K. He also has had the opportunity to learn under the guidance of Coach Petersen, allowing Bryant to grow not only into an exceptional athlete, but an exceptional man.
"Most importantly, this team has taught me how to be a better man." Bryant shared, "It has taught me how to live my life and interact with others off the field."
As Bryant continues to mold his personality and build maturity off the field, he is learning there is no limit to what he can accomplish on the field. As an unstoppable force playing in front of packed stadiums around the country, Bryant is becoming more than what that five-year old self could have ever imagined.
For most five-year olds, football is a fun activity to do with friends, an outlet for their abundant energy, an excuse to put on a fun costume, or maybe just a way to learn things like sharing and teamwork. Usually at a young age, football is just an introduction to sports, but for five-year old Hunter Bryant, football was much more.
Even at the age of five, Bryant knew the possibilities that the sport held for him. Fifteen years ago, Bryant was thinking of football as the rest of his life, his key to a good life.
"I have always wanted to play football, ever since I can remember, that has always been my dream," Bryant shared.
Every football season over the last 15 years for Bryant has been a building block in the foundation of his future. So far, his college seasons have been the biggest blocks, but haven't been the strongest pieces. Nine games into his freshman season, Bryant sustained an ACL and LCL injury that prevented him from finishing out the year. He then missed more than half of his sophomore season due to a meniscus injury. This season, Bryant is the strongest and healthiest that he has ever been since coming to the University of Washington.
"This is the best that I have felt during a season. It is pretty cool to feel healthy," Bryant shared. "I also know a lot more than I did before, so I have been able to play a lot better."
With it being his third year out of high school, this season holds the most potential for the 6-foot-2, 239-pound tight end as Bryant is allowed the opportunity to enter the NFL draft come April. However, Bryant has found that the best way to have a promising future is to focus on the present.
"This is a big growth year for me," he said. "It is an opportunity for me to get better in all of the little things. I just want to help my team win."
Bryant knows that he cannot be too focused on what is to come after UW when he still has blocks to make, catches to snatch, and games to win at the college level. To not get ahead of himself is a daunting task for a player who has known exactly what he has wanted since he started playing football. To be able to get paid to play the sport that he loves is something that Bryant will never not be in pursuit of, but he knows there is still work to be done before that dream can come true.
An added pull toward thinking about his future are the stories of his predecessors. There has been a sort of "tight end culture" that has been created in recent history at the UW. With players like Will Dissly, Darrell Daniels, Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Drew Sample all filling the tight end position on the Washington roster and graduating on to the NFL in recent years, it would be hard for Bryant to not imagine himself following in suit.
Bryant is not intimidated by these stories, but rather inspired, sharing, "they put in a lot of work while they were here and now they are getting paid playing the sport that they love. I am just trying to follow in their footsteps. I am trying to do all the little things like they did and do everything the same."
This year is very important for Bryant in the facet of what UW football can do for him. However, there is still a lot that he can do for UW football. What Bryant wants to accomplish this season, is not for himself, but rather for his team.
"I want to continue getting good wins with my teammates and see if we can win out. Then we will see where the season takes us," he shared.
"I don't really care what stats I (achieve), I just want to see the team win."
Not focusing on individual statistics is an aspect of Bryant's game that has allowed him to excel. Instead of looking at individual indicators, Bryant takes a team mentality, and measures his personal success directly through the accomplishments of the group. He says, "How I know if I am playing well or not is in how much my play effects the game and the final score for the team."
Taking this broader perspective is something that comes easily to Bryant as he has always been a level-headed player. Bryant has been described by teammates and coaches as being "even-keeled" and "steadfast". This part of his personality has been a prominent element in his success on the field.
"You will have good plays and you will have bad plays," he said of his character. "But you can't let either one effect you too much because that will mess you up for plays going forward."
Being able to have this level of mental maturity is not something that most college football players are able to grasp. But, Bryant has had a head start, since getting serious about football in pre-K. He also has had the opportunity to learn under the guidance of Coach Petersen, allowing Bryant to grow not only into an exceptional athlete, but an exceptional man.
"Most importantly, this team has taught me how to be a better man." Bryant shared, "It has taught me how to live my life and interact with others off the field."
As Bryant continues to mold his personality and build maturity off the field, he is learning there is no limit to what he can accomplish on the field. As an unstoppable force playing in front of packed stadiums around the country, Bryant is becoming more than what that five-year old self could have ever imagined.
Players Mentioned
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