by LARRY VAUGHT
Junior safety Ty Bryant was one of four Kentucky football players named to the Division I Academic All-District team by the College Sports Communicators. It was his second straight year to make the team which requires at least a 3.50 grade-point average and significant playing time.
Bryant led UK in tackles (76) and interceptions (4) last season while starting all 12 games. He also led the SEC in interceptions and ranked 24th nationally. He also had two tackles for loss and a pass breakup.
Bryant’s father, Cisco, is a former UK receiver who played for coach Jerry Claiborne. He liked what his son did on the field but likes what he’s done in the classroom even more.
“That makes me more proud than anything,” Cisco Bryant said about the academic honor. “That’s the biggest thing. Me, his mom and family have emphasized it is about academics. He takes care of his business in the classroom and that helps him on the field
“Defenses are so complicated now. It’s not like high school football. If a player goes in motion you have got to change the defense. The offense knows what it is running and the defense is guessing, so you have to know what to do.”
Cisco Bryant made it clear early to his son how much he valued academics.
“When he got all A’s on his report card in middle school, I still have that hanging on my refrigerator,” the former UK player said. “He stayed at about 4.3 (GPA) in high school and at UK it has been around 3.8 or 3.9. So he gets his work done.”
