Kentucky commit Ty Bryant brings plenty of versatility to Frederick Douglass

Through the first two games of the 2022 season, Lexington’s own Frederick Douglass High School has outscored its opponents by a combined total of 109-15. The Broncos lost a handful of high-level players from last year’s 5A championship runner-up, but the program has yet to miss a beat in August.

For Kentucky football commit Ty Bryant, the first two contests of the season have been a cakewalk. Not just because of the final scores, but because of how little he’s actually had to do on the field. Lining up at safety, the class of 2023 three-star prospect hasn’t been challenged much early in the schedule. The Frederick Douglass defense has made it so the ball doesn’t even reach Bryant’s area of coverage the majority of the time.

Don’t take that as a knock on Bryant, either. He led Frederick Douglass in total points scored and overall tackles as a junior in 2021. His resume speaks for itself and his stats will increase once the competition steps up. But there is always room for improvement. Bryant has taken significant strides in his development since the spring and he’s just waiting for the opportunity to flex it.

“Definitely my speed, and just being a better player of the game,” Bryant told KSR on Friday about what he improved during the offseason. “I can’t really say much from the (defensive back) standpoint because I’m back there and nothing is getting thrown back there or nothing is reaching back there. But yes sir I think my speed and just my athleticism as a whole has improved.”

Frederick Douglass won its second game of the season by a final score of 57-8 on Friday night against Tates Creek. The scoreboard was set to a running clock out of the halftime break. Bryant only recorded a handful of tackles, but he busted loose for a 70-plus-yard touchdown run on offense. His head coach, Nathan McPeek, thinks Bryant could transition completely to the other side of the field with how much he’s developed.

“I think (Bryant) can play running back at the next level, too. I really do. I think he can bulk up and get to that point,” McPeek told KSR on Friday night.

Bryant was recruited by Kentucky to play safety, and that’s still the plan, but there’s nothing wrong with being able to see both sides of the field at a high level.

“It helps with my vision. With running back, you got to see the holes, you gotta hit the holes,” Bryant added.

Speaking of the Wildcats, Bryant plans to attend as many home football games as he can this year. With campus just a short drive from his home in Lexington, he’s going to take full advantage of that opportunity. Despite being committed for over a year now, the Kentucky coaching staff is still making sure Bryant knows he’s a vital piece of their ’23 class.

“They do a great job. They reach out to me a lot,” Bryant said of the UK coaching staff. “About like twice, three times every week. It’s always different coaches, too. That’s what I like. It’s never the same guy. I might have (Vince) Marrow call me today, (Frank) Buffano call me on Tuesday, and then Coach (Brad) White calling me on Wednesday. So I love that. They said whenever I want to I can come up there. Unannounced or announced. They make it feel like home.”