Dorien Bryant
Encyclopedia
Dorien Lamar Bryant is an American football
wide receiver
who is currently a free agent
. He went undrafted in the 2008 NFL Draft
, but later signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers
as a free agent.
Known as an electrifying player, Bryant placed claim to 23 school and Big Ten Conference
records during his time with the Boilermakers. A dangerous weapon at the slot receiver position, he is a capable deep threat with his speed, and was also an outstanding kickoff returner. Bryant attended Kingsway Regional High School
, where he was ranked as ninth-best wide receiver and 75th-best player in the nation by Rivals.com
. Bryant signed a letter of intent to attend Boston College in 2003. But he failed to qualify academically and spent the season at Fork Union Military Academy. He caught 30 passes that year, including nine touchdowns.
He then enrolled at Purdue in 2004, and caught 38 passes for 584 yards and three touchdowns, adding 85 yards on seven carries with a score. He totaled 829 all-purpose yards. In 2005, Bryant received second-team sophomore All-American honors from College Football News
. He was selected College Offensive Player of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Southern New Jersey. He also led the Big Ten Conference and ranked eighth nationally with an average of 7.3 receptions per game and ranked second in the Big Ten and 30th nationally with 87.3 receiving yards per game. That season, Bryant led the team with 80 receptions for 960 yards and four touchdowns. He rushed 21 times for 101 yards and three scores, adding 500 yards and a touchdown on 21 kickoff returns. His 1,561 all-purpose yards rank eighth on the school's single-season list. As a junior, He earned first-team All-Big Ten Conference honors from the media and led the league with 6.2 receptions and 76.3 receiving yards per game, while finishing fourth with 122.0 all-purpose yards per game. His 87 receptions rank fourth on the school record list and eighth in Big Ten history, as his 1,068 yards receiving rank seventh on the Boilermaker annual record chart. He had six touchdown catches, 150 yards and two scores on 19 carries and returned 25 kickoffs for 490 yards. His 1,708 all-purpose yards rank fifth in school history. In 2007, Bryant again received All-Big Ten Conference recognition. He led the league and ranked eighth nationally with 7.27 receptions and finished second in the Big Ten with an average of 87.27 yards receiving per game. He set the school record with 2,121 all-purpose yards, as he matched his career high with 87 receptions, good for 936 yards and eight scores. He had 14 carries for 85 yards, 15 punt returns for 93 yards and set the Big Ten record with 1,007 yards on 36 kickoff returns with two scores.
In 50 games at Purdue, Bryant started 36 contests as a slot receiver. He ranks second in school history with 292 receptions, third with 3,548 yards receiving and tied for fifth with 21 touchdown grabs. He gained 421 yards with six scores on 61 carries and totaled 125 yards on 22 punt returns. His 88 kickoff returns rank fifth in Big Ten history and his 2,125 yards set the school record and ranks third in conference history, scoring three times. His 6,219 all-purpose yards set the Purdue all-time record and rank fourth in Big Ten history and 16th in NCAA FBS history.
in Woolwich Township, New Jersey
. There he participated in football, basketball
and track and field
. For football he played for coach Tony Barchuk. As a senior tailback/wide receiver, he earned SuperPrep All-America honors, while also gaining All-America accolades from Tom Lemming, after he rushed for 1,248 yards and 20 touchdowns. As a junior, he ran for 1,200 yards and 18 touchdowns on 111 carries, while also making 35 receptions for 500 yards and seven touchdowns while leading Kingsway to the 2001 South Jersey Group 2 title. After high school Bryant signed a letter of intent to Boston College
in the same recruiting class that landed Matt Ryan
, but he failed to qualify accademically, so he went to Fork Union Military Academy
for a prep year before he could re-enter college recruiting pools.
Bryant committed to Purdue University
on February 4, 2004. Bryant also had FBS scholarship offers from Boston College
, Michigan State
, NC State
, Pittsburgh
and Tennessee
.
He also excelled the Purdue track team in 2004-05. He finished first in the 200 meters at Gene Edmonds Cup with a clocking of 21.81. He was also a member of the 4x400 relay team (along with former football players Zach Logan and Ray Williams) that finished seventh at the Big Ten Indoor Championships with a time of 3:15.81.
, Bryant was projected to be drafted in the seventh round by NFLDraftScout.com and as high as the second round. He was rated as the thirty-first-best wide receiver in the draft.
Bryant was invited to the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, which started on February 20, along with teammates Dustin Keller
, Cliff Avril
and Stanford Keglar
.
with the Pittsburgh Steelers
. He was released in May 2008 due to a failed physical.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He went undrafted in the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
, but later signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
as a free agent.
Known as an electrifying player, Bryant placed claim to 23 school and Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
records during his time with the Boilermakers. A dangerous weapon at the slot receiver position, he is a capable deep threat with his speed, and was also an outstanding kickoff returner. Bryant attended Kingsway Regional High School
Kingsway Regional High School
Kingsway Regional High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grade from five communities in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Kingsway Regional School District...
, where he was ranked as ninth-best wide receiver and 75th-best player in the nation by Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
. Bryant signed a letter of intent to attend Boston College in 2003. But he failed to qualify academically and spent the season at Fork Union Military Academy. He caught 30 passes that year, including nine touchdowns.
He then enrolled at Purdue in 2004, and caught 38 passes for 584 yards and three touchdowns, adding 85 yards on seven carries with a score. He totaled 829 all-purpose yards. In 2005, Bryant received second-team sophomore All-American honors from College Football News
College Football News
College Football News is a magazine and website published by College Football News, Inc., headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. News coverage includes scores, statistics, rankings, and reports on college football games. Analysis includes comparisons between teams, predictions of game outcomes and...
. He was selected College Offensive Player of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Southern New Jersey. He also led the Big Ten Conference and ranked eighth nationally with an average of 7.3 receptions per game and ranked second in the Big Ten and 30th nationally with 87.3 receiving yards per game. That season, Bryant led the team with 80 receptions for 960 yards and four touchdowns. He rushed 21 times for 101 yards and three scores, adding 500 yards and a touchdown on 21 kickoff returns. His 1,561 all-purpose yards rank eighth on the school's single-season list. As a junior, He earned first-team All-Big Ten Conference honors from the media and led the league with 6.2 receptions and 76.3 receiving yards per game, while finishing fourth with 122.0 all-purpose yards per game. His 87 receptions rank fourth on the school record list and eighth in Big Ten history, as his 1,068 yards receiving rank seventh on the Boilermaker annual record chart. He had six touchdown catches, 150 yards and two scores on 19 carries and returned 25 kickoffs for 490 yards. His 1,708 all-purpose yards rank fifth in school history. In 2007, Bryant again received All-Big Ten Conference recognition. He led the league and ranked eighth nationally with 7.27 receptions and finished second in the Big Ten with an average of 87.27 yards receiving per game. He set the school record with 2,121 all-purpose yards, as he matched his career high with 87 receptions, good for 936 yards and eight scores. He had 14 carries for 85 yards, 15 punt returns for 93 yards and set the Big Ten record with 1,007 yards on 36 kickoff returns with two scores.
In 50 games at Purdue, Bryant started 36 contests as a slot receiver. He ranks second in school history with 292 receptions, third with 3,548 yards receiving and tied for fifth with 21 touchdown grabs. He gained 421 yards with six scores on 61 carries and totaled 125 yards on 22 punt returns. His 88 kickoff returns rank fifth in Big Ten history and his 2,125 yards set the school record and ranks third in conference history, scoring three times. His 6,219 all-purpose yards set the Purdue all-time record and rank fourth in Big Ten history and 16th in NCAA FBS history.
Early life
Bryant attened Kingsway Regional High SchoolKingsway Regional High School
Kingsway Regional High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grade from five communities in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Kingsway Regional School District...
in Woolwich Township, New Jersey
Woolwich Township, New Jersey
Woolwich Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 3,032....
. There he participated in football, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
. For football he played for coach Tony Barchuk. As a senior tailback/wide receiver, he earned SuperPrep All-America honors, while also gaining All-America accolades from Tom Lemming, after he rushed for 1,248 yards and 20 touchdowns. As a junior, he ran for 1,200 yards and 18 touchdowns on 111 carries, while also making 35 receptions for 500 yards and seven touchdowns while leading Kingsway to the 2001 South Jersey Group 2 title. After high school Bryant signed a letter of intent to Boston College
Boston College Eagles football
The Boston College Eagles football team is the collegiate football program of Boston College. The team is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, a Division I Bowl Subdivision league governed by the NCAA. Within the ACC, the Eagles are one of six teams in the Atlantic Division...
in the same recruiting class that landed Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for Villacher SV of the Austrian Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, but he failed to qualify accademically, so he went to Fork Union Military Academy
Fork Union Military Academy
Fork Union Military Academy is a private, military boarding school located in the town of Fork Union, Virginia. The school is more commonly known by its acronym FUMA ....
for a prep year before he could re-enter college recruiting pools.
Bryant committed to Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
on February 4, 2004. Bryant also had FBS scholarship offers from Boston College
Boston College Eagles football
The Boston College Eagles football team is the collegiate football program of Boston College. The team is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, a Division I Bowl Subdivision league governed by the NCAA. Within the ACC, the Eagles are one of six teams in the Atlantic Division...
, Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
, NC State
NC State Wolfpack football
The NC State Wolfpack football team represents North Carolina State University in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Wolfpack currently compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference....
, Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
and Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
.
2004 season
in 2004, starting two of 12 games at the slot receiver position. He snatched 38 passes for 584 yards (15.4-yard average) and three touchdowns, adding 85 yards on seven carries (12.1 avg) with a score. He totaled 829 all-purpose yards and recorded three tackles on special teams, averaging 21.3 yards on six kickoff returns and 4.6 yards on seven punt returns.2005 season
In 2005, Bryant received second-team sophomore All-American honors from College Football News. He was selected College Offensive Player of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Southern New Jersey, appearing in all 11 games, including nine starts at slot receiver. He led the Big Ten Conference and ranked eighth nationally with an average of 7.3 receptions per game and ranked second in the Big Ten and 30th nationally with 87.3 receiving yards per game. That season, Bryant led the team with 80 receptions for 960 yards (12-yard average) and four touchdowns. He rushed 21 times for 101 yards (4.8 avg) and three scores, adding 500 yards and a touchdown on 21 kickoff returns (23.8 avg) while posting two solo tackles. His 1,561 all-purpose yards rank eighth on the school's single-season list.2006 season
As a junior, Bryant started 13 games, coming off the bench vs. Maryland in the Champs Sports Bowl. He earned first-team All-Big Ten Conference honors from the media and led the league with 6.2 receptions and 76.3 receiving yards per game, while finishing fourth with 122.0 all-purpose yards per game. His 87 receptions rank fourth on the school record list and eighth in Big Ten history, as his 1,068 yards receiving (12.3-yard average) rank seventh on the Boilermaker annual record chart. He had six touchdown catches, 150 yards and two scores on 19 carries (7.9 avg) and returned 25 kickoffs for 490 yards (19.0 avg). His 1,708 all-purpose yards rank fifth in school history.2007 season
In 2007, Bryant again received All-Big Ten Conference recognition and was named Player of the Year by the Brooks Irvine Memorial Football Club of South Jersey and Touchdown Club of Southern New Jersey. He led the league and ranked eighth nationally with 7.27 receptions and finished second in the Big Ten with an average of 87.27 yards receiving per game. He set the school record with 2,121 all-purpose yards, as he matched his career high with 87 receptions, good for 936 yards (10.8-yard average) and eight scores. He had 14 carries for 85 yards (6.1 avg), 15 punt returns for 93 yards (6.2 avg) and set the Big Ten record with 1,007 yards on 36 kickoff returns (28.0 avg) with two scores. In 50 games at Purdue, Bryant started 36 contests as a slot receiver. He ranks second in school history with 292 receptions, third with 3,548 yards receiving (12.2-yard average) and tied for fifth with 21 touchdown grabs. He gained 421 yards with six scores on 61 carries (6.9 avg) and totaled 125 yards on 22 punt returns (5.7 avg). His 88 kickoff returns rank fifth in Big Ten annals and his 2,125 yards set the school record and ranks third in conference history, scoring three times. His 6,219 all-purpose yards set the Purdue all-time record and rank fourth in Big Ten history and 16th in NCAA 1-A annals. Bryant is one of seven players in school history to record 100-plus yards in two statistical categories in the same game and one of two to accomplish the feat twice.He also excelled the Purdue track team in 2004-05. He finished first in the 200 meters at Gene Edmonds Cup with a clocking of 21.81. He was also a member of the 4x400 relay team (along with former football players Zach Logan and Ray Williams) that finished seventh at the Big Ten Indoor Championships with a time of 3:15.81.
Statistics
Source:| Receiving | Rushing | Kickoff Returns | Punt Returns | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | Avg | Long | Yds | TD | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | ||||||||||||
| 2004 2004 Purdue Boilermakers football team The 2004 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University in the 2004 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Joe Tiller and played its home games at Ross-Ade Stadium. Purdue played twelve games in the 2004 season, finishing with a 7-5 record and a loss in the... | Purdue Purdue Boilermakers football The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of... | 2 | 12 | 38 | 584 | 15.4 | 3 | 65 | 7 | 85 | 1 | 6 | 128 | 21.3 | 0 | 53 | 7 | 32 | 4.6 | 0 | 17 | ||||
| 2005 2005 Purdue Boilermakers football team The 2005 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University in the 2005 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Joe Tiller and played its home games at Ross-Ade Stadium. Purdue played eleven games in the 2005 season, finishing with a 5-6 record and missing a... | Purdue Purdue Boilermakers football The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of... | 9 | 11 | 80 | 960 | 12.0 | 4 | 44 | 21 | 101 | 3 | 21 | 500 | 23.8 | 1 | 95 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | -- | ||||
| 2006 2006 Purdue Boilermakers football team The 2006 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Joe Tiller and played its home games at Ross-Ade Stadium... | Purdue Purdue Boilermakers football The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of... | 13 | 14 | 87 | 1,068 | 12.3 | 6 | 53 | 19 | 150 | 2 | 25 | 490 | 19.6 | 0 | 48 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | -- | ||||
| 2007 2007 Purdue Boilermakers football team The 2007 Purdue Boilermakers football represented Purdue University in the Big Ten Conference during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Joe Tiller, in his 11th season at Purdue, was the team's head coach. The Boilermakers' home games were played at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette,... | Purdue Purdue Boilermakers football The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of... | 13 | 13 | 87 | 936 | 10.8 | 8 | 53 | 14 | 85 | 0 | 36 | 1,007 | 28.0 | 2 | 98 | 15 | 93 | 6.2 | 0 | 35 | ||||
| Totals | 37 | 50 | 292 | 3,548 | 12.2 | 21 | 65 | 61 | 421 | 6 | 88 | 2,125 | 24.1 | 3 | 98 | 22 | 125 | 5.6 | 0 | 35 | |||||
- Numbers in Bold are Purdue school records
Pre-draft
Prior to the 2008 NFL Draft2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
, Bryant was projected to be drafted in the seventh round by NFLDraftScout.com and as high as the second round. He was rated as the thirty-first-best wide receiver in the draft.
Bryant was invited to the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, which started on February 20, along with teammates Dustin Keller
Dustin Keller
-New York Jets:Keller was drafted by the New York Jets 30th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. Keller was slowly phased into the offense and eventually finished with productive numbers in part of the presence of the veteran Brett Favre. Keller finished a strong rookie season with 48 receptions, 535...
, Cliff Avril
Cliff Avril
Clifford Samuel Avril is a defensive end for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Lions in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue.-Early years:...
and Stanford Keglar
Stanford Keglar
Stanford Sherock Keglar is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue....
.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Bryant signed as undrafted free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. He was released in May 2008 due to a failed physical.