An outstanding multisport athlete and top 15 player at his position coming out of Crisp County High School in Cordele, Georgia, in the spring of 2017, defensive lineman Big Kat Bryant settled on attending Auburn after visiting the Plains.
"I asked myself if I wanted to go to other schools and be just another player, just 'a guy,' or go to Auburn and be 'the guy,'' Bryant recalled. "I trusted Coach G [Rodney Garner] and everything he did with the defensive linemen. I bought into everything he taught me, because he was and is such a great leader."
With plans to graduate in December in interdisciplinary studies, Bryant is confident in his decision to remain at Auburn for his senior season, despite having the opportunity to leave early to try his hand at professional football.
"I really wanted my time, my senior season," said Bryant, who wants to provide leadership for Auburn's defensive line.
Bryant says a big part of his decision was to grow the same type of legacy for his name that former defensive players Marlon Davidson, Derrick Brown and Bryant's cousin, Montravius Adams, left behind. "There are things I still want to help this team achieve," he said.
Bryant remains positive in keeping the team's morale high in the face of the uncertainty surrounding the season.
"As a leader, I try to remind them what the goal is," he said. "Even with the possibility of no season this fall, I need to be the biggest leader and motivator I can be for all my teammates."
A seasoned student-athlete, Bryant offers advice for younger football players: don't doubt your ability.
"You never know what you can do until you bring it," he said. "You came for a reason, and you're here for a reason, so have a positive mindset about that."
Bryant played a pivotal role in Auburn's 20019 Iron Bowl victory over Alabama, pressuring the opponent's QB into a rushed throw that Zakoby McClain intercepted and returned 100 yards for a touchdown.
"I told Chandler [Wooten] I was going straight to the quarterback," Bryant said. "I ran straight and hit the quarterback. I didn't know for a minute that it was Zakoby until I was rolling over and saw him catching the ball. Looking down the field, I just remember seeing and feeling the energy. It was great."
As the Tigers prepare for the upcoming season, Bryant reflected on how the coronavirus has affected him personally.
"That time at home gave me peace of mind because I got back to the things that I got away from," he said. "It helped me learn more about myself and my faith. Faith is the biggest thing for me, and I was able to get better with that."
Bryant says the time away from campus and football during the spring semester of his junior year was a reset button for him. "I hate that it happened, but for me it was a blessing in disguise," he said. "It makes you think about things like what would you do if you didn't have this?
"And if I didn't have Auburn? I would be without my family. Every time I hear War Eagle, I hear family. I think about Auburn and I think about how much I want to represent as an Auburn Man, a hard-nosed, blue collar, hard-working man who loves his family. And we are one big family at Auburn."
Anne Jackson McClure is a student worker in Auburn Athletics media relations