Senior Spotlight: Eurndraus Bryant

RALEIGH, N.C. - Eurndraus Bryant has been a top contributor at defensive tackle for the Pack since he arrived on campus and player as a true freshman in 2015.

Bryant had a stellar performance against Louisville last season, with two sacks on Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson in NC State's victory over Louisville. In the year prior, Bryant came into the 2016 game against Louisville and tallied three solo tackles, including a five-yard sack.

This season, the 6'1 330 lb. senior has earned the starting nod at nose tackle.

Looking back, Bryant feels he has come a long way from the 2016 version of Eurndraus Bryan.

"I've grown a lot," said Bryant. "I feel like I'm way more experienced. Whenever I'm out there, I don't guess as much and I don't question a lot of things. I'm really just unconcerned and let the game come to me.

"I feel I've developed more as a player in the film room and physically."

In his first game of the 2018 season, Bryant suffered a head and neck injury against James Madison that required him to be carted off the field on a stretcher. It was an emotional scene, as the entire Pack football squad kneeled, surrounding Bryant before he was eventually carted off the field. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital for further examination.

While concern about the extent of Bryant's injury enveloped Carter-Finley Stadium, Bryant had only one concern: getting back on the field.

"My thought was to just to get back on the field as soon as possible," said Bryant. "At that point in time, I was trying to get back out there during that time. That was my mindset: to just get back out there."

Bryant came back to Carter-Finley in the second half to watch the Pack wrap up a 24-13 win. He felt it was part of his mantra to return to the sidelines for the second half after his X-rays came back negative.

"Once you start something, you finish it. I felt like if I started that game, there's no way I'm going to end the game with me not being here. I came back to finish what I started."

Bryant not only played the very next week against Georgia State, but made a big impact by blocking a 34-yard field goal attempt in the fourth quarter to stall the score at 27-7.

The last time the Pack had blocked a field goal was on Nov. 28, 2009 against UNC. In the game following his injury, Bryant had ended the 104 game streak without a blocked field goal.

"It's a good feeling," said Bryant. "It was a big turning point in the game. You want to keep points off the board. Our coach harps on that a lot. I just wanted to go out there and do my job and I ended up blocking one."

Throughout the process, Bryant is thankful for the Pack football family.

"I'm going to miss my brothers. Throughout the years, I've gained a lot of relationships with the guys here. I appreciate all the coaches for bringing me in and treating me like family, especially Coach Doeren. He gave me the opportunity to play here."

North Carolina State University Athletics

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