Brylan Lanier making the most of second chance in SEC
Some of the toughest people take the toughest roads to get where they need to be.
Brylan Lanier has had to take those kind of paths during his college career and he hasn’t lost his gratitude. The 6’1, 190-pound defensive back is impressing for Mississippi State during training camp as a newcomer.
A native of Tuscaloosa, Lanier started his career for his hometown playing for Nick Saban and Alabama. He transferred to Indiana and then spent a season in junior college at East Mississippi. Now, he’s a Bulldog.
“It’s been love. It was a great decision for me coming here,” Lanier said. “The coaching staff is developing me great, so it’s been a great process.”
Lanier has experienced much change over college career
There have certainly been some twists and turns for Lanier along the way.
He started by signing with Georgia State out of Paul W. Bryant High School in T-Town. Less than a month into his freshman year at GSU, Lanier entered the portal and he would transfer home to Alabama.
After sitting out for a full season, Lanier was on the move again and he landed at Indiana. After making 13 tackles and a sack in 12 games as a redshirt freshman in 2022, Lanier transferred for a second time to EMCC.
It was in Scooba that Lanier would put together a strong season and he would make some great friends along the way. Three of his defensive teammates would sign with State and they were a big reason for his decision to also come to Starkville as he follows fellow defensive back Tyler Woodard, DE Ashun Shepphard and LB Marcus Ross.
“I feel like we all made a great decision. We made a decision based on experience with each other. It’s been a great process for all of us. We just came from a JUCO so we’re different and we bring aggression and passion.
“We’ve played on the big stage before going to the national championship so we’ve got to build off of that.”
Lanier let his defensive play do the talking while he was at EMCC last season. He earned Second Team All-MACCC honors a year ago after making 60 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumble and an interception on the way to a MACCC State Championship and a national championship appearance.
His work earned him a three-star ranking by the On3 Industry and offers came through from Georgia, NC State and Arkansas, among others. MSU would be where he would sign as he committed on New Year’s Day.
Even though he hasn’t played much inside the SEC, Lanier has been a part of one of the most successful programs in college football and he came in knowing what’s needed to compete in the SEC. He’s grown with his defensive back teammates as well and has been impressed with the progress of the corners and safeties. He’s also enjoyed working with Coleman Hutzler as the defensive coordinator.
“Coach Hutzler and I have a good relationship, a good bond,” Lanier said. “We’ve been knowing each other for three or four years so I respect him a lot. I love him. Great coach.”
In just a few more weeks, Hutzler, Lanier and the rest of the Bulldogs will be able to get on the field and do what they love again.
For Lanier, that first game will mean a whole lot more. It’s his official return to a stage he always dreamed of playing on and a chance to continue his redemption story. It doesn’t make him regret or forget the road that’s led him here.
“It just made me more passionate,” Lanier said of his last couple of years. “I went from playing at Bama to Indiana and then to JUCO. I feel like I lost it all and now I’ve got it back. Every day I’ve got to get better and attack everything.”
