Consistency Is The Goal Now For Ty Bryant

Vicky Graff Photo

True freshman Ty Bryant was one of the major surprises for the Kentucky defense in 2023 when he played almost 300 snaps in 13 games. The Frederick Douglass High School product made three starts, something that does not often happen for a true freshman in the Southeastern Conference.

Bryant was one of UK’s best defenders in a four-game SEC stretch but was not used nearly as much in the final games against South Carolina, Louisville and Clemson when other players got healthy and returned to the field. However, defensive coordinator Brad White said there was one other factor in his reduced  playing time.

“Now it just becomes consistency. It’s stacking years. He had a couple of good games. I thought — and he would probably readily admit — that sort of down the stretch when you play a full SEC season and you’re a true freshman and you played as many snaps it kind of probably the monkey jumped on his back,” White.

“And he slowed down a little bit the last couple of games. Now it’s about getting to that point physically and mentally that you can handle the full length and the full load.”

Zion Childress and Jordan Lovett are expected to be the starters at safety but Bryant will be one of the top reserves and likely play even more snaps this season.