Countdown to 2019 IUFB Kickoff: 92 Days (Alfred Bryant)

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

2019 Countdown - #92

Name – Alfred Bryant

Position – Defensive Line (Redshirt Sophomore)

Hometown – Fresno, Texas (Manvel)

Height – 6’2”

Weight – 256 pounds

The 2019 Hoosier Huddle Countdown and once again it is Friday as we hit 92 days until the Hoosiers kick-off against the Ball State Cardinals at Noon on August 31st at Lucas Oil Stadium. Today we talk a look at Alfred Bryant, a redshirt sophomore looking to build on a solid freshman season.

Bryant was a two-time all-district honoree at Manvel High School in Fresno, Texas. He finished his high school career with 120 tackles, 38 tackles for loss and 22 sacks. IU brought Bryant to Bloomington to create havoc in the backfield.

During his redshirt season in 2017, Bryant won Scout Team Player of the Week twice as his potential could be seen on the practice field. Bryant was a player that people wanted to see on the field in 2018.

Bryant finally found his way into the defensive line rotation in 2018 as he played in 10 games and collected 10 tackles including two for a loss. Bryant’s biggest play of the season came in IU’s 34-31 win over Maryland when he stuffed All-Big Ten running back Anthony McFarland and stripped the ball away for a fumble recovery that would set up Logan Justus’s game-winner.

. Defensive line an area of concern and importance for Tom Allen and his staff. Allen said in a recent interview with Hoosier Huddle that “I think d-line play is number two (first down defense was number one) that to me is how you become a top-25 defense is creating pressure in both the run game and in the pass game because negative plays in the run game, tackles for loss, puts them behind the chains and creates more third down-and-longs.”

With 10 games of experience under his belt, the expectations will be even higher for Bryant as he should be one of the main-stays on the defensive line. Bryant will probably need to increase his production as the Hoosiers desperately need an edge rusher who can make opposing quarterbacks feel uncomfortable and rush more throws into a talented secondary.

 HUTCH’S TRIVIA QUESTION

In honor of the late Terry Hutchens, we are including a daily IUFB trivia question from his book So You Think You Know Indiana University Football. Hutch is dearly missed and this is our way of keeping his memory with us this season. Please leave your answers in the comments section.

 What was the original playing surface of the current Memorial Stadium?

(check back tomorrow for the answer)

 Yesterday’s Answer: N/A