2021 Countdown to Kickoff: 92 Days (Alfred Bryant)

Written by Nate Comp

The Hoosier Huddle countdown to kickoff has begun! There are just 92 days until Indiana’s first game of the season against Iowa in Kinnick Stadium. Today, we will highlight a pair of players: outside linebacker Alfred Bryant and punter Chase Wyatt.

Alfred Bryant (Redshirt Senior)

Hometown: Fresno, Texas

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 250 Pounds

Position: Outside Linebacker

Having redshirted the 2017 season and all players being granted a free year in 2020 due to COVID, Alfred Bryant will be entering his fifth season with the Hoosiers in 2021 with still two years of eligibility remaining. He has played in 28 games, including six starts, amassed 42 tackles, and forced two fumbles. This all came in time spent as a defensive end, but in 2021 he’ll be taking that experience and joining DK Bonhomme and Michael Ziemba at a new position: the bull position, a hybrid weak-side defensive end/outside linebacker.

Bryant came on strong late in the 2019 season with a career-high six tackles in the victory against Nebraska and another four in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against Tennessee. The coaching staff may have expected more of a jump in production last season, but the competition along the defensive line was stiff and his size may make him a better fit at the bull spot nonetheless. He did have two pass breakups last year and is back down to the 250 pounds he entered his freshman year at, so he may be looking to use his athleticism and cover skills more frequently in 2021.