Just 40 days out from kickoff, former Coastal Carolina defensive end Jayden Bryant is already generating some serious buzz, but maybe not the kind you’d expect. This redshirt sophomore, a big body at 6-4 and 230 pounds after a 10-pound weight cut, made a transfer move, and the early word has him projected straight onto the scout team. For a guy with his resume, that’s a head-scratcher.
The High School Tape Doesn’t Lie, He Was a Playmaker
Back in his high school days, Bryant was an absolute force under head coach Perry Woolbright at Clover (S.C.) High School. We’re talking about a two-time all-region honoree who also earned a spot on the all-state team. Not only that, he was crowned the Class 5A defensive player of the year. The dude helped lead the Blue Eagles to a regional championship, lining up at both outside linebacker and defensive end. Oh, and he was a beast on the wrestling mat too, which tells you everything about his motor and physicality. He was rated a three-star recruit at edge for the Class of 2024 by On3. When he committed to Coastal, he chose them over offers from Elon, Kennesaw State, and Lenoir-Rhyne, plus he had recruiting interest from schools like Appalachian State, Dartmouth, Harvard, Mercer, Middle Tennessee, Rutgers, UMass, and Wofford. That’s a serious list for a high school kid.
From Chanticleer Contributor to a New Fight
His time at Coastal Carolina showed glimpses of that high school potential. In 2024, as a true freshman, Bryant played in three games, grabbing six tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and half a sack, while still retaining his redshirt status. He really showed out with three tackles against both William & Mary and UTSA in the Myrtle Beach Bowl, where he logged a season-high 28 defensive snaps and a full tackle for loss against the Roadrunners. He even posted half a sack in 26 snaps against the Tribe. Then, last season, Bryant really stepped it up, playing in all 13 games for the Chanticleers, accumulating 16 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks across 248 defensive snaps. He set a career high with five tackles against James Madison , all solo stops, including a huge 10-yard sack. He also got a sack against Georgia Southern. Pro Football Focus even gave him a solid grade of 67.9 out of 100 when rushing the passer. He carded two tackles apiece against Virginia, Old Dominion, Louisiana-Monroe, and Louisiana Tech, with that last one coming in the Independence Bowl.
So, what does this scout team projection actually mean for Jayden Bryant? He’s still got three years of eligibility left and he’s on scholarship, which is huge. He’s majoring in communication studies, and he’s gonna need to communicate his presence on the field pretty loud and clear if he wants to break into that top-six rotation at defensive end. It’s a tough road ahead, but if his past is any indication, this kid loves a fight.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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