We continue our Draft Profiles with a look at another tight end. After profiling Notre Dame’s Cole Kmet and LSU’s Thaddeus Moss, I turn my attention to more of a 21st century type of guy in Washington’s Hunter Bryant.
Background
Who: Hunter Bryant 6’2″ 248lbs
School: University of Washington
Hometown: Issaquah, WA
Key Combine Stats:
| Off: 4.74 | UnOff: 4.75 | — | Bench: 23 | 3-Cone: 7.08 | Broad: 32.5 | Vert: 9-7 | Hands: 10 3/8 | Arms: 32 |
2019 Stats: 52 receptions, 825 yards, 3 touchdowns
Second Team All-American… First Team All-Pac 12… John Mackey Award Finalist (2019)… Attended Eastside Catholic High School becoming one of the top tight recruits in the country… Helped win state championship as a junior at Eastside… Father was Strength and Conditioning Coach at Washington in the 90’s.
What’s To Like
Good hands for the most part… Does not run like a tight end/Very elusive… Adjusts to the ball really well… Has the ability to block in open space… Impressive acceleration for his size… Matchup nightmare for linebackers… Doesn’t run ‘great’ routes but does a solid job of making it difficult for defenders… Works well in open spaces/Understands how to “be open” in these situations.
What’s Concerning
Injury history first and foremost. Torn ACL/MCL in Freshman campaign followed by another meniscus issue the following spring… Overall lack of true tight end size will likely force him into more duty as a slot type receiver… in-line blocking needs serious work/often beaten soundly at point of attack… Toughness is a question mark when blocking/EDGE guys will have him for lunch… Need to see more effort when ball goes away from him.
The Verdict
Bryant has a lot of things you like to see in a tight end today. Good athleticism, strong hands and can be a matchup problem for opposing defenses. I do not see him as any team’s featured tight end however for the time being. He doesn’t have the size, the toughness or the blocking skills necessary to be a number one tight end in my opinion and may need an offense that schemes him open so to speak. That said, if a team already has an established player at the position then a coordinator could have fun moving Bryant around the formation to use his skills. If he sitting there in the fourth or fifth round I think he’s worth a look for the Steelers.
Final Grade: Late Third to Early Fourth
Games Watched: 2019 vs Oregon, 2019 vs Arizona , 2019 vs Washington State
Credits: sports-reference.com, youtube.com,
