UAB safety sirad bryant making impact one big hit at a time

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - September 13, 2024

The impact that Sirad Bryant makes for the UAB defense comes one big hit at a time.

“Yeah, I love the hit because I feel like I have to instill some fear in the guys across from me,” Bryant said. “I got to bring it every time.”

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Bryant, who spent his first three college seasons at Georgia Tech, played a large role in his first two games in a UAB uniform. His blocked punt led to the Blazers second touchdown in the season-opening win over Alcorn State. He also had five tackles in that game. Last week at Louisiana-Monroe, Bryant’s role increased in the second half when starting strong safety Chris Bracy missed some time after being banged up. Bryant responded with a career-high 13 tackles to give him a team-high 18 tackles after two games.

Bryant’s performance boosted his confidence.

“Coming in, I didn't have the best fall camp,” Bryant said. “Bracy, he's a star, great player, I swear. I don't knock him at all. He's a great player. He's really great. He knows scheme. He's young. That guy, he makes me want to get better. When I came in, he got the starting spot. I wasn't mad because I knew he was good. We’re both good. I just came in and I was just like, stay down, do what I can do and that's what happened. Those first two games, I was just looking to just get better, make plays and just be a good teammate. At that point, it just be a good teammate, because you never know what's going to happen.”

Not much happened, at least on the field, for Bracy in his time at Georgia Tech. He came in with big expectations after compiling 147 tackles, 13 interceptions  and three defensive touchdowns and amassing 1,100 yards in receiving with nine touchdowns during his time at Crisp County High in Georgia. Much of his game time action at Georgia Tech came on special teams but he did see some time as a reserve safety in 2023.

“My decision to enter the portal was because of playing time,” said Bryant. “I wasn't getting a lot of playing time at Georgia Tech and I only had two years left. I was like, I could stay and hopefully play or can I go somewhere and actually get some playing time. It wasn't a hard decision. I talked about it with my mom and dad, they kind of wanted me to stay.  I just wanted to be on the field somewhere. It didn't matter where, I know I'm a ball player, so I know I can show up wherever I'm at.”

Bryant said the calls from coaches came quickly. He already knew UAB cornerback Ricky Lee III and transfer portal safety Adrian Maddox, both fellow Georgia natives, defensive line coach Miguel Patrick, a former high school coach in Georgia, and cornerback coach Kenneth Gilstrap, who recruited him at Middle Tennessee during Bryant’s senior year in high school.

“I knew guys here and I knew I can develop here, as well, as a player and a man,” Bryant said.

For Bryant, it’s another step in a football career that began when he was six years old. Much of that career came in the shadows of his brother, Markaviest “Big Kat” Bryant, who played collegiately at Auburn and UCF and spent time in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins and in the USFL with the Memphis Showboats. The 6-foot-5 defensive end, who is four years older than Sirad, was a four-star recruit in high school with offers from around the country, including nearly the entire SEC.

“Yeah, it was, actually,” Sirad said when asked if there was pressure following in his brother’s football footsteps. “When I was in middle school and my brother was a senior. I didn't think I was good enough, especially when my brother was getting a lot of offers. I used to come home and see mail on (the table).I'm like, man, I can't wait for that. It was a lot of pressure, because I didn't play until my sophomore year.’

He’s still following in his brother’s footsteps as he chases a professional football dream.

“I’d love to make it to the league,” Bryant said. “I want to be able to take it further than my brother. He played a little bit in the league, I want to take it further.”