Hey all, I have a very encouraging update to share about WR transfer target Gary Bryant Jr.'s Arizona visit last weekend.
I have a good relationship with his father, who just texted me this:
"I was absolutely blown away on everything they have to offer," Gary Bryant Sr. said. "I mean, we went to Miami and the facilities at Arizona are right there -- everything looked brand new, everything was well manicured, state of the art, the locker room was beautiful, the coaching staff, [NFL] pedigree. I told the coaches if they started sending out videos and showing people exactly who they are, more people [would] want to come who would never have thought that Arizona, Tucson had all this to offer. We were blown away."
Bryant would be a huge get for Arizona. I covered him as a recruit and watched him the last three years at USC. He got a slow start his freshman year due to injury and it being the shortened pandemic season, but he emerged as USC's No. 2 WR (behind first-round draft pick Drake London) as a sophomore with 44 catches for 579 yards and 7 touchdowns. Lincoln Riley then came in, brought in four wide receiver transfers and Bryant had a limited role the first two games this year (while mostly returning kicks). He and his family made the decision to redshirt after two games to protect his eligibility. He continued practicing with the Trojans all fall, even making the trip to Dallas for the Cotton Bowl. Initially, the thought was he would stay and compete for a role next year, they decided it was time to move on and find a fuller opportunity to showcase himself. He's a natural downfield target who just glides down the field -- one of those guys who is moving faster than it looks like he is. I have a lot of confidence that he would put up a big statistical season if given steady targets.
Bryant graduates from USC this spring so that's why he didn't look to enroll elsewhere this semester. He's going to stay and get his degree and then relocate at the start of summer, but his father tells me they want to make the decision ASAP so he knows where he's going and can start learning the offense remotely.
And it sounds like the Wildcats are in great position to reel him in ...
"I think Arizona is [at] the top," Bryant Sr. said. "Georgia just called, but for me -- this is me speaking -- I think it's a beautiful fit at Arizona. Gary ... wants to find his new home, start the new chapter, this way he can focus on finishing [his degree] in the spring and he can start doing Zoom [meetings] and be ready to go."
I have a good relationship with his father, who just texted me this:
"I was absolutely blown away on everything they have to offer," Gary Bryant Sr. said. "I mean, we went to Miami and the facilities at Arizona are right there -- everything looked brand new, everything was well manicured, state of the art, the locker room was beautiful, the coaching staff, [NFL] pedigree. I told the coaches if they started sending out videos and showing people exactly who they are, more people [would] want to come who would never have thought that Arizona, Tucson had all this to offer. We were blown away."
Bryant would be a huge get for Arizona. I covered him as a recruit and watched him the last three years at USC. He got a slow start his freshman year due to injury and it being the shortened pandemic season, but he emerged as USC's No. 2 WR (behind first-round draft pick Drake London) as a sophomore with 44 catches for 579 yards and 7 touchdowns. Lincoln Riley then came in, brought in four wide receiver transfers and Bryant had a limited role the first two games this year (while mostly returning kicks). He and his family made the decision to redshirt after two games to protect his eligibility. He continued practicing with the Trojans all fall, even making the trip to Dallas for the Cotton Bowl. Initially, the thought was he would stay and compete for a role next year, they decided it was time to move on and find a fuller opportunity to showcase himself. He's a natural downfield target who just glides down the field -- one of those guys who is moving faster than it looks like he is. I have a lot of confidence that he would put up a big statistical season if given steady targets.
Bryant graduates from USC this spring so that's why he didn't look to enroll elsewhere this semester. He's going to stay and get his degree and then relocate at the start of summer, but his father tells me they want to make the decision ASAP so he knows where he's going and can start learning the offense remotely.
And it sounds like the Wildcats are in great position to reel him in ...
"I think Arizona is [at] the top," Bryant Sr. said. "Georgia just called, but for me -- this is me speaking -- I think it's a beautiful fit at Arizona. Gary ... wants to find his new home, start the new chapter, this way he can focus on finishing [his degree] in the spring and he can start doing Zoom [meetings] and be ready to go."
