Malik Bryant was one of the breakthrough players in spring, as he moved back to his high school role as a pass rusher and made a strong case for playing time. He spoke with CanesInSight about his progression:
On his transition from off-ball LB back to pass rusher: It was definitely a transition. But I feel like I’m just a natural football player. The help I had from the coaching staff and my teammates as well, made the transition easy.
On why he fits so well at JACK linebacker (stand-up rusher): My speed. My natural bend. My twitchiness. All those play a part in pass rushing, so I feel like I can excel as a pass rusher.
On dealing with adversity his first year: That’s the beauty of football. Nothing ever happens on your time. You need to keep putting in the work and trusting the process day by day and hopefully you get the outcome you’re wishing for.
On his weight goals: I’m at my target weight. I gained 8-10 pounds. I’m at 230-235, just need to continue to stay healthy and make an impact on the team.
On being in such a stacked room: It’s a blessing. We all learn from each other. We all lean on each other. We all coach each other, and we all can take it. We all know our purpose and why we’re here.
On the mentorship of Edgerrin James: He’s made a huge impact on my career from the beginning to right now. He’s been there since before all the cameras were there, before the recruiting process. He’s definitely been a tour guide for me and a mentor in my process to make it a bit smoother.
On Miami beginning to recruit Central Florida more: The coaching staff is starting to see the talent in Central Florida. That was the whole purpose and the whole goal, to get that talent recognized. That’s eventually what happened.
On playing special teams: I’m doing everything I can possibly do to help my team win.
On his reputation as a leader: Just trying to help the younger guys. I know how I felt coming in. A lot of the older guys helped us.
On his transition from off-ball LB back to pass rusher: It was definitely a transition. But I feel like I’m just a natural football player. The help I had from the coaching staff and my teammates as well, made the transition easy.
On why he fits so well at JACK linebacker (stand-up rusher): My speed. My natural bend. My twitchiness. All those play a part in pass rushing, so I feel like I can excel as a pass rusher.
On dealing with adversity his first year: That’s the beauty of football. Nothing ever happens on your time. You need to keep putting in the work and trusting the process day by day and hopefully you get the outcome you’re wishing for.
On his weight goals: I’m at my target weight. I gained 8-10 pounds. I’m at 230-235, just need to continue to stay healthy and make an impact on the team.
On being in such a stacked room: It’s a blessing. We all learn from each other. We all lean on each other. We all coach each other, and we all can take it. We all know our purpose and why we’re here.
On the mentorship of Edgerrin James: He’s made a huge impact on my career from the beginning to right now. He’s been there since before all the cameras were there, before the recruiting process. He’s definitely been a tour guide for me and a mentor in my process to make it a bit smoother.
On Miami beginning to recruit Central Florida more: The coaching staff is starting to see the talent in Central Florida. That was the whole purpose and the whole goal, to get that talent recognized. That’s eventually what happened.
On playing special teams: I’m doing everything I can possibly do to help my team win.
On his reputation as a leader: Just trying to help the younger guys. I know how I felt coming in. A lot of the older guys helped us.
