Hanna's Bryant excited to play in U.S. Army All-American Bowl

Photo by Sefton Ipock

T.L. Hanna receiver Martavis Bryant addresses the audience at a school ceremony in October when he was named a member of the U.S. Army All American Team.

Martavis Bryant didn’t expect the cold temperatures this week.

But outside of the wind chill dropping to around 10 degrees, the T.L. Hanna senior wide receiver has enjoyed himself in preparations for the 10th annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, which will be played at 1 p.m. Saturday, and be televised on NBC.

“It’s going to feel great,” Bryant said Thursday from San Antonio of playing in front of a national audience.

The game, one of two national all-american games, features 90 of the nation’s top high school football players.

Bryant arrived in south central Texas on Sunday and has enjoyed the usual off-the-field trimmings of a national all-star game.

He won the skills competition for receivers on Wednesday by catching 12 straight passes along the sideline.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” Bryant said of the other 12 receivers. “It seemed like we’d be pretty even, but evidently, I’m a little better.”

Bryant is the only Clemson verbal commitment playing in the game, and he has four teammates from South Carolina on the East squad.

They are Darlington defensive back Victor Hampton, Greenwood defensive lineman Kelcy Quarles, a South Carolina commit, Byrnes defensive lineman and Tennessee commit Brandon Willis, and Byrnes running back Marcus Lattimore.

This is Bryant’s second all-star game this postseason. Although he started in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas last month, he didn’t make a catch. He was thrown to twice.

Bryant said he expects to start in the slot position, but isn’t sure how much he would play.

While he’s worked on catching the ball in open spaces, and against better competition, Bryant said one of his bigger adjustments is playing on turf, because his feet stick in the ground more.

Bryant’s 6-foot-4 frame was one reason he was selected, as he’s the second tallest receiver on the East squad.

The selection committee’s statement about Bryant said he had “superior hands and body control.”

“He also has solid speed, and could be a real home-run threat every time he touches the football.”

When Bryant was selected in October, Hanna coach Kenya Fouch said the selection process took into consideration combine performances, statistics, and college offers, and to have talking points about players during the telecast.

This past season, Bryant caught 70 passes for 722 yards and 11 touchdowns, and has been offered a scholarship by nearly 30 schools.

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