Three-Star 2021 WR Patrick Bryant Says He’ll Commit Sunday To Illini Or West Virginia

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Patrick Bryant has decided he’ll either be giving a verbal commitment on Sunday to Illinois or West Virginia.

The three-star wide receiver in the 2021 recruiting class from Jacksonville, Fla., announced on Twitter Wednesday that his college decision will be an either or proposition between the Illini or a Big 12 Conference power led by second-year head coach Neal Brown. Before announcing his final two candidates to secure his commitment, Bryant tweeted that he’d be making his verbal pledge on June 14.

RESPECT MY DECISION 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/ogdbfBxWlm
— 𝑷𝑨𝑻 𝑩𝑹𝒀𝑨𝑵𝑻 ¹³ (@duvalpat3) June 10, 2020

Bryant has reportedly, according to 247Sports.com, ran a 4.87-second time in the 40-yard dash at the The Opening Regional prospect camp in February and the 6-foot-3 receiver also holds scholarship offers from Penn State, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Miami (Fla.), Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa and Indiana.

Bryant was offered a scholarship by Illinois on April 21 and is being primarily recruited by Illini wide receivers coach Andrew Hayes-Stoker. Hayes-Stoker joined Lovie Smith’s Illini staff shortly after he was named head coach and Hayes-Stoker worked under Smith with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a total of nine seasons, including five in coaching roles. Illinois is hoping the potential of a commitment of Bryant to continue its tradition of solid recruiting efforts in the state of Florida.

“Andrew Hayes-Stoker is one of the brightest young coaches in the game,” said Smith when he hired Hayes-Stoker in 2016. “Since joining our staff with the Bears, I’ve seen him continue to learn the game and develop as a teacher. I know he’ll be outstanding in coaching our receivers and as a recruiter.”

West Virginia has been recruiting Bryant for over a year and is using former Purdue interim head coach Gerad Parker, who currently serves as the Mountaineers offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach, as his primary recruiter.

Bryant was a All-First Coast first-team selection by the Florida Times-Union and participated in the Legend's Football All-Florida Junior Showcase after earning 45 receptions for 684 yards and 11 touchdowns in his junior season at Atlantic Coast High School.

Wide receiver is clearly a pressing need for the Illini in this 2021 class as they’re due to lose leading targets Josh Imatorbhebhe, Trevon Sidney and Ricky Smalling to graduation and haven’t secured a verbal pledge of a full-time wide receiver in the 2021 recruiting class. Prince Green, a 6-foot-2 athlete has said he’d prefer to play both defensive back and wide receiver at the college level with Illinois but it is still unknown whether the three-star prospect from Georgia will get that opportunity.

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