The Los Angeles Times has named Washington commit Deven Bryant back of the year.

“There are higher profile and higher ranked players on the powerful defense of CIF Open Division champion Bellflower St. John Bosco High, but no one was more valuable and more versatile than senior linebacker Deven Bryant,” the Times story said.

The story went on to describe how the 6-0, 210 pound linebacker from St. John Bosco, in Bellflower, California possesses tremendous football instincts.

”He’s always around the ball,” concurred RealDawg.com’s lead scout Trevor Mueller.  “Sure, he quickly diagnoses plays, but the opponents respect his speed and he repeatedly forces them into bad decisions.”

He led the nation’s number 1 team in tackles with 96, in twelve games.  Similar in physical stature to current Washington linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio when he prepped at national powerhouse Bishop Gorman, Bryant displays a very high football IQ that goes beyond instinct.

”Like Edefuan, teams had to account for Bryant on every play, presnap,” Mueller continued.  “When teams didn’t they’d pay the price.”

Even when accounted for Bryant’s speed allowed him close on ball carriers.

”Many teams could account for where he was on the field, but they miscalculated his speed,” Muller noted.

RealDawg.com has rated Bryant as a 4-star linebacker.