2021 WR Pat Bryant on Rehab and Recruiting
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- In seeing class of 2021 wide receiver prospect Pat Bryant of late, one would notice two things: the junior is noticeably bigger both in height and mass, and of course the sling on his right arm.
The two-sport standout, also rock solid on the basketball court, is sitting out the remainder of hoops season as well as spring football in recovering from a torn labrum. It was suffered halfway through the 2019 football season.
"I was just trying to help my team out any way I could," he told SI All-American. "I was actually on defense, trying to catch a pick, and I feel my shoulder pop out. I thought that would end my junior season but a couple of weeks later I talked to my doctor and he said it was an injury I could play through.
"I just went to rehab everyday to keep it as strong as I could before surgery."
Opponents wouldn't notice much of a drop off in how the 6-foot-3, 193-pound Bryant dealt with the injury. Despite playing in just nine games as a junior, he racked up 684 yards and 11 touchdowns for Jacksonville (Fla.) Atlantic Coast.
Evaluators, including college coaches, won't get a true look at one of Florida's best in action until the 2020 season kicks off. In the meantime he will try to blend recovery time with extra work in the classroom.
"I'll miss spring since the recovery is three to six months," Bryant said. "Now I'm just focused on getting better for my senior season. I've got to work a little overtime to get my shoulder back right but I also have to finish classes, too, to get to college early.
"It will be tough but I'm excited to see it play out."
Well over a dozen FBS programs have offered Bryant a scholarship. Most remain in consistent contact after a 2019 season in which he looked more polished on the outside with or without the ball.
"Blocking-wise, I was going at somebody's head every single play," he said. "The blocking part of my junior season improved a lot. Also my route-running. My sophomore season I was just running and looking for the ball. But my coach had me focus on running routes at the correct depth so I worked on that my whole season."
While he will take his time with the recruiting process moving forward, Bryant has familiarity with a pair of ACC programs that have been courting him about as long as any to this point.
"Two that have been on my since my sophomore year, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech," he said. "They're both on me to make sure I'm doing good. They've been showing love since the beginning."
The Yellow Jackets made a splash in the area during the Early Signing Period.
"They've got a new coaching staff so it's not going to just happen overnight," he said. "But I'm with them in trusting the process. They picked up Jeff Sims, you know a pretty good quarterback, so I'm looking forward to seeing how that goes."
Bryant has been to Blacksburg a few times since the Hokies were added to the offer list. Another Jacksonville standout, wide receiver Tyree Saunders, has aided the cause.
"Virginia Tech, I've been there several times now and it's just the place to be," he said. "I love the environment. I've never been anywhere that cold but I kind of like it. Every visit I've been on up there has felt special.
"He (Saunders) is on my 24-7, and the other Jacksonville guys, too. And at Georgia Tech, Miles (Brooks) hits me up more than the coaches do."
Bryant will travel to see several campuses as the recruiting world collectively shifts to 2021, beginning with Tennessee this weekend. Penn State and Syracuse, each among the current offers, are possible visit destinations as well.
"I'm trying to get out of the South a little bit," he said. "My dad doesn't want me to rush anything...He tells me this decision will impact the rest of my life so that's what I'm focused on.
"I want to go somewhere where the coaches could be gone the next day and I'd still want to go there. I won't be stranded."
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