ESPN’s Chris Fowler described what the rest of the country saw: “Hunter Bryant went up with one big hand and grabbed it!” Fowler’s call on the play failed to capture the degree of difficulty of Bryant’s remarkable play.
The Washington Huskies were trailing the Ohio State Buckeyes 28-17 with just over two minutes to play in the 2019 Rose Bowl. Bryant had been targeted twice earlier in the drive that started with 2:50 left in the game.
On first down, Jake Browning hit Bryant for a 7 yard pickup followed by another pass to Bryant that was batted down. Three plays later with the ball on the UW 47 yard line, Bryant reeled in the ball at the Buckeye 36 yard line with OSU’s 2nd team All Big 10 defender, Jordan Fuller, draped all over him.
Bryant’s only chance at catching the ball was to shield the ball with his body. He made it so that the only thing that a Fuller could do was make a weak wave at the ball or go through Bryant and risk a clock-stopping penalty. Few Tight Ends in the nation are savvy enough to make a difficult catch like that…much less make it appear easy.
Mr. Mismatch
With a month to scheme personnel mismatches, Hunter Bryant should have been at the top of the list. Washington fans were left wondering why Bryant had been essentially ignored for over 3 quarters until the Husky offense looked his way in their moment of desperation. Considering the Huskies entered the game 110th in the country in red zone efficiency in terms of TD production, it seemed a gross oversight to under-utilize the 6′-2,” 242 lb matchup nightmare in the passing game.
PHOTO: Jeff Halstead
Following the Rose Bowl loss to Ohio State, Coach Chris Petersen acknowledged that some upgrades were needed to the offensive game plan, “We need to look at our offense really closely, no question,” he said. Unleashing Hunter Bryant to do Hunter Bryant things is certainly a part of what Petersen was alluding to when he said, “We have to give them, as coaches, the chance to go make a play,” during a press conference in fall camp.
Pro Football Focus has named the 6′-2″ 242 lb junior tight end to their preseason All Pac 12 1st Team. Ever since Hunter Bryant arrived on Montlake as a Freshman with an NFL ready body, Husky faithful have dreamed of the possibilities he presents for the UW offense and the problems he poses for opposing defenses.
More Tricks in His Bag
Hunter Bryant has been on the PFF radar since his true freshman year, when he was rated the most impactful freshman in 2017, despite only playing in 9 games. Injury was the only thing to slow down Bryant as he missed the last 4 games of 2017 and the first 9 games of 2018.
In spite of his injury, Hunter Bryant returns as the most explosive returning Tight End in College Football, boasting an impressive 3.06 yards per snap according to PFF. But, as spectacular as Bryant has been in his limited opportunity, he has yet to be fully integrated into the Husky offense.
Expect that to change in 2019, as Bryant returns not only physically healthy, but mentally prepared for a feature role as a premier pass catcher. “It’s funny looking back at old film now, it’s basically two completely different players with everything that I have in my bag that I can do,” he told the media after day five of fall practice.
Bryant mentioned an increased understanding of how to read the defense and defenders, and not just relying on his raw athletic ability. “When DB’s are covering me, I can read what they are going to do now.” Bryant commented on his growth as a receiver. “I’m a lot smarter now.”
That is scary news for opposing defenses as Bryant’s size, strength and speed make him too fast for linebackers and too big for defensive backs. “He’s basically a Wide Receiver in a Tight End’s body,” said PFF’s Cam Mellor when describing Bryant.
Bringing the Mackey Back
Bryant brings an explosiveness to the tight end position that the Huskies have not had since Austin Seferian-Jenkins won the John Mackey Award for the nations best Tight End in 2013. After averaging 21.6 yards per catch in 2018, Bryant has been added to the watchlist for the Mackey Award this season.
The Eastside Catholic product does not take the opportunity before him lightly, saying, “This time last year I was just trying to walk again.” A humbled, hungry, and healthy Bryant is ready for anything his coaches throw at him. “I want to go and do anything the coaches want me to do.”
The Big Gun
Bryant built a reputation as a grinder in High School, regularly training at Ford Sports Performance while starring at local and national powerhouse Eastside Catholic. In his Junior year of High School, Bryant racked up 1137 yards and 17 touchdowns on 48 receptions… roughly the per catch average Bryant had as a sophomore at UW.
Consider the 2018 Apple Cup game Exhibit A for Bryant’s impact as a game changer: On back to back plays, the Husky offense called on number 1 to make a play- the first a 59 yard catch and run from Browning; the second a 22 yard touchdown on a double pass from Jake Browning to Aaron Fuller to Bryant. Bryant finished with 3 catches for 108 yards and a touchdown.
“He’s as sure-handed as they come. He’s just a unique, explosive athlete.” Washington coach Chris Petersen said after the game.
For second year Offensive Coordinator Bush Hamdan, in his arsenal of offensive weapons, Bryant is his big gun. Last season, when Bryant was out, the Husky offense was visibly less explosive without their primary playmaker.
The Best of Tight End U?
After Bryant returned to the lineup against Stanford, an enthusiastic Hamdan commented on Bryant’s impact on the offense. “It’s huge. Just to have a guy like that. A vertical type threat like that. Have to look to continue to get him in there more and more and get him opportunities.”
His abilities could move him to the top of the record books for single-season performances by a Husky Tight End. With Washington’s struggles in the Red Zone, Dave Williams’ 54-year old record of 10 receiving TDs could easily fall this year. Bryant’s 17.24 career receiving yards per catch by a tight end is also within reach of Williams’ record of 18.3.
When asked about his ability to reel in highlight catches like the one handed catch in the Rose Bowl, Bryant shared, “I don’t really practice it (one handed catches) specifically, but if I am in a situation where I need it I can pull it out of my bag.” Bryant’s bag of tricks is only getting bigger every day.
The Seattle-area native is more than just a human highlight reel, however, he is also the most reliable pass catching Tight End in the nation as he has recorded only one drop on 34 catchable passes, per PFF. Mellor says that Bryant’s receiving skills are “second to none.”
Bryant is as healthy as he’s ever been entering into a season. He hopes to bring another dimension to the post-Jake Browning era. There is nobody that a quarterback loves more than a tight end who can make tough catches over the middle and burn safeties deep down the field.
His one-handed catch in the Rose Bowl put the conference on notice. Like John Ross before him, in 2016, Bryant will command the kind of attention that should raise the level of play for the entire receiving corps. Hunter Bryant is ready to lift his game to new heights. But he will need other offensive play-makers to step up and share the load because he can’t do it single-handedly.
** Emily Tomczak (graphic)
