Malik Bryant had Gators make a late push, but stuck with Miami Hurricanes and has signed
SIGNEES (with link to feature story on each): Francis Mauigoa … Damari Brown … Christopher Johnson … Antione Jackson … Collins Acheampong … Kaleb Spencer … Riley Williams … Samson Okunlola … Robby Washington … Bobby Washington … Rueben Bain … Mark Fletcher … Malik Bryant … Jackson Carver … Emory Williams … Antonio Tripp … Marcellius Pulliam … Jayden Wayne … Frankie Tinilau … Joshua Horton … Raul Aguirre … Robert Stafford … Tommy Kinsler … Ray Ray Joseph … Australian P Dylan Joyce
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The Miami Hurricanes had almost a three-year courtship with Orlando (Fla.) Jones High School LB Malik Bryant. UM was one of his first three offers all the way back in Jan., 2020, and the standout prospect committed to Miami on July 27.
Now Bryant has made it official signing with the Canes.
There were some concerns Florida would make headway and flip him, but it didn’t happen.
“I like the way coach (Mario) Cristobal recruits, he makes me feel like I’m a need for them,” Bryant said.
Bryant adds that Cristobal stresses “where I fit in and how I can lead the defense.”
Even early in his recruitment Bryant says he was drawn to Miami because of “the tradition of Miami and what The U football is all about.”
Bryant adds that “Coaches have a unique plan for me, my skillset.”
So what is that plan?
“They pretty much pointed to me how the linebacker role looks, the idea they had as far as using me and rushing off the edge on third down,” Bryant said, adding that UM coaches made the comparison with him to how the Dallas Cowboys used Micah Parsons.
“Micah – when they showed me the plan they had for me they showed how they’d use me like him,” Bryant said.
Others that chased Bryant hard at different parts of his recruitment included Alabama, Florida, USC and Georgia.
As an interesting aside to his recruitment, former Cane RB great Edgerrin James was one of his mentors growing up.
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“He was a mentor in my life ever since my father passed,” Bryant said. “He’s just been mentoring me, making sure I’m making the right decisions in life. Trying to make sure I’m not taking a step back in any way possible. He’s definitely been a mentor role in my life for sure.”
So what has Miami added here?
Bryant’s high school coach, former Gator Elijah Williams, says “He’s an exceptional athlete, all the things he can do. He can be a great edge rusher, great ILB a great tight end as well, can catch and run. We play him everywhere possible. He’s very intuitive and very football-smart, great football instincts.”
The On3 Scouting Report reads that Bryant is an “athletic, high-energy rusher who wins with power and speed along with positional versatility. Lines up in the slot, as a stand up linebacker and edge rusher. Transferring back home to Jones High School after starring for IMG Academy as a sophomore and junior. Violent with his hands against the run and does an excellent job stacking and shedding. Gives offensive tackles issues with his quickness and burst. … Posted an electronically-timed 4.72 second 40-yard dash, a 4.38 second shuttle and 32” vertical. Lacks the length of most top pass rushers. Could potentially kick to inside linebacker in college depending on scheme and fit. Older for the class, having turned 18 years-old during his junior season.”
Bryant’s vision of the future at Miami?
“This is a program that’s on the uprise,” he said. “You definitely need players to make that transition happen. With guys like me and myself and more big-time recruits that are on the way, I feel like we can definitely get the job done.
“I know we’ll win a national championship within the time I’m there.”
