TomVH: An Interview with Chris Bryant
Illinois OL Chris Bryant (4 Star, 6'5", 320 lbs) is on his way home from a recent trip out to Pitt and Michigan. His visit to Michigan lasted longer than expected, and his family ended up staying the night in Ann Arbor. Here's some film on Chris (it says he's 2012, but he's not), and what he told me about his visit to Pitt and his first meeting with Brady Hoke.
TOM: How did the Pitt visit come about, what made you decide to go out there?
CHRIS: The offensive coordinator from Michigan (Calvin Magee) got the job at Pitt, and we had a good relationship before. He wanted me to check it out and come see what they have to offer. The coaching staff was great there, and it was a nice place.
TOM: And after that you and your parents swung by Michigan to meet with Brady Hoke and (Offensive line coach) Darrell Funk. How did that go?
CHRIS: It was good. We sat down with both coaches individually and were just building a new relationship. They told me they knew me as a player, but not as a person so we were just having regular conversation trying to get to know each other. I talked with them and coach Singletary, too.
TOM: What were each of them saying as far as their offense and how you'd fit in?
CHRIS: Coach Hoke was telling me about the new pro style offense, a lot of schools run that and Michigan used to run it. Coach Funk was telling me how I would fit in their with it. I don't mind either the spread or the pro style. I don't prefer one over the other. We mixed it up in high school so that's not a problem. They were basically just telling me Michigan is still Michigan. I knew how the school is run and how academics go, so it was just building a relationship with them.
TOM: Did you and your parents come away comfortable with the coaches after the meeting?
CHRIS: My parents are both comfortable, and so am I. They asked their questions and said it was a great conversation overall. I feel comfortable with him too. He was a funny guy, he's a player's coach. He's someone that you would want to coach you.
TOM: Feeling comfortable with the coaching staff now, do you still feel the same way about Michigan overall?
CHRIS: I had a good relationship with the coaches there before, but coaching is a business. It's just an adjustment and you need to go on with it. Michigan is Michigan, and they're not going to just bring anyone in. I still really like Michigan.
TOM: When you make your announcement on the 28th what hats will you have on the table?
CHRIS: I'm not sure yet, but I might do three hats, I might do four and go with Michigan, Arizona, Pitt, and Illinois. I'm not sure yet.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:00 PM ^
January 17th, 2011 at 12:01 PM ^
That sounded very positive Tom. Thanks for the good news!
January 17th, 2011 at 12:02 PM ^
...excellent.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:03 PM ^
a BIG dude.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:07 PM ^
I think you mean he's a B1G dude.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:27 PM ^
He is a real big dude. It looks like he's got some bad weight to shed, but he's still quick. Rivals lists him at 330(!), and if after a year or two in a college weight program he's a leaner 330 or close to it, he'll be a monster on our O line.
January 17th, 2011 at 3:49 PM ^
At 330 he could drop 40 of fat gain 25 muscle and be 315 which would still make him a very large mammal
January 17th, 2011 at 12:04 PM ^
Thanks, Tom. Hope they can land this kid.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:04 PM ^
Thanks for always being the Minister of Information! Always a must read.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:04 PM ^
Coming soon!!......................................................I hope!
January 17th, 2011 at 12:16 PM ^
Let's hoke so!
Hey O!
January 17th, 2011 at 12:05 PM ^
Chris you know you want to wear that winged helmet!
January 17th, 2011 at 12:06 PM ^
Word. We need to get this guy, big time. Chris Bryant might be the most important recruit on the board right now.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:28 PM ^
He might be but don't forget about Kris Frost. He's pretty important as well.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:50 PM ^
I guess it would depend on who else ends up in this class, but we haven't recruited an OG for two straight classes now, so getting quality and quantity at OG in this class is as important as any other position. Frost might be a better individual player than Bryant, but whether he plays WR or LB, we have young talent at both of those spots.
If we don't get Bryant, who starts at OG after Omameh, Barnum and Mealer graduate? Unless QW moves back to OL (and it doesn't sound like he will) we don't have a single guard currently on the roster younger than those guys. If we don't get Bryant, Jack Miller and Tony Posada will be starting at the guard spots as sophomores, whether they're able to or not, and we don't even know that Posada will be in this class.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:06 PM ^
That is one big kid. Wow.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:10 PM ^
Gotta love it when a recruit says: "He's someone that you would want to coach you."
January 17th, 2011 at 12:10 PM ^
any indication which is the 4th hat so-to-speak in that group? it sounds like he's down to 3 but adding a fourth out of respect to the process...
January 17th, 2011 at 12:33 PM ^
Pitt is probably the odd man out since they're late to the party. I think it's down to Michigan and Arizona, but that's a guess.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:41 PM ^
"Sounds" like we are in a good spot to land him. He likes Michigan for Michigan, which, again, "sounds" good. Would love to land him and his 2012 teamate.
January 17th, 2011 at 4:20 PM ^
but when was his decision date, if it was even set?
January 18th, 2011 at 3:32 PM ^
go back and actually read the interview.... there you go.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:12 PM ^
That song choice for the video was slightly inappropriate....
Chris looks like a beast though...wow. Really quick feet for how big he is and he was tossing those dudes like they were nothing.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:16 PM ^
Not that I doubted Hoke, but this makes me feel pretty comfortable about his recruiting skills.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:29 PM ^
who was sold on Michigan. How this makes you feel better about Hoke as a recruiter is beyond me. All he has to do is not screw this up, but if we lose Fisher does it still make you feel better?
January 17th, 2011 at 12:37 PM ^
So if a guy was sold on UM before and is again sold that's no credit to Hoke? In that case, we can't blame him for guys who were sold on UM and now aren't. All of these guys need to be re-convinced that UM is for them. There will be three groups of recruits here on out - previous UM guys who Hoke will keep, previous UM guys who will decide to go elsewhere and guys Hoke is bringing that weren't on our radar before.
It's not better or worse, it's just different. Not every kid who liked RR will like Hoke, and not every player RR liked, Hoke will like.
January 17th, 2011 at 3:48 PM ^
for guys who are no longer sold on Michigan. I blame Brandon.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:21 PM ^
I hope we land Chris, he seems like a really good kid. I was really hoping to see Posada and Chris at guard with Fisher and Lewan as Tackles in a pro-style set. I think they would dominate in the B10.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:22 PM ^
I'm hoping for some positive recruiting results, starting with Chris.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:23 PM ^
Imagine 4 & 1 with Lewan Omameh & this guy leading the way...
January 17th, 2011 at 12:30 PM ^
Well, Omameh and Bryant are three years apart, so the only way this would happen is if Bryant was playing as a true freshman. That might happen, but we'll have 5th year seniors Ricky Barnum and Rocko Khoury on the team. I know Khoury is a center, but so is Christain Pace, and if we want both of those guys on the line, Khoury would be the one to move, I would imagine.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:32 PM ^
any pathetic two-digit number will get lost on his massive jersey.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:34 PM ^
Imagine watching games again when we were the team delivering the pancake blocks.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:35 PM ^
We need some linemen as big as db's ego and we would rock
January 17th, 2011 at 2:20 PM ^
Like the Mongolian BBQ guy?
January 17th, 2011 at 12:59 PM ^
Coach Singletary? I take it that refers to Chris, not Mike . . . or has the name of the surprise new DC just been leaked in a big way?
January 17th, 2011 at 1:13 PM ^
Is rumored to be going to the Vikings as the LB coach. Or the panthers as a LB coach. Either way he'll coach LBs for a former 85 Bears Teammate.
(Bear Down! Beat the Pack!)
January 17th, 2011 at 1:00 PM ^
Thanks Tom. Chris sounds like a bright kid. He would be a welcome addition to the class. Go Blue Chris!
January 17th, 2011 at 1:07 PM ^
Thanks Tom. Chris Bryant would be an enormous addition. Even, possibly "tremendous."
Have you heard anything about UM coaches making another run at Ray Hamilton? I've heard some rumblings about it.
Thanks.
January 17th, 2011 at 5:11 PM ^
I haven't heard yet if they're "making a run at him." But I would definitely keep an eye on it. He didn't like the spread aspect of the offense, but really liked Michigan.
If he sets up a visit it could get interesting.
January 17th, 2011 at 1:07 PM ^
Dear Chris Bryant,
Please come to Michigan. The Maize and Blue need you in the worst way.
Sincerely,
All U of M fandom
January 17th, 2011 at 1:13 PM ^
January 17th, 2011 at 2:01 PM ^
Heard he was staying at PSU. Also as I understand it if you transfer to another school in the Big Ten you have to pay your own way, so not happening.
January 17th, 2011 at 1:16 PM ^
Figured with the length of the visit last night that something good had to come of it. Great news and hope to see him in the fall.
January 17th, 2011 at 2:12 PM ^
...HOke is making headway with (its not good but is less of a disaster than it looked on, say, Friday). Now name a DC darn it.
January 17th, 2011 at 2:24 PM ^
Hopefuly we land him. He'd be a huge pick up, and no pun intended.
January 17th, 2011 at 2:26 PM ^
Thanks for the interview, great job as usual
January 17th, 2011 at 2:30 PM ^
Gotta love the kid swung by Michigan on his way back from a visit, then stayed in town for the night.
Hope he's Blue.
January 17th, 2011 at 2:40 PM ^
This is more incontrovertible proof that Hoke is the man.
January 17th, 2011 at 3:11 PM ^
Now that is a big man...he could definitely use some S&C (like all incoming players) but he looks like he's plenty quick. He'd be an excellent get.
By the way, I could be completely wrong on this, but was the guy at the end that Bryant decked Chris Wormley?
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