Very few people are capable of performing all the jobs demanded by the position of a tight end. All these jobs make it nearly impossible for one guy to handle. Not only does that player have to block cornerbacks , safeties and linebackers from ambushing the quarterback, he must also catch the ball from the quarterback if it looks like he’s in trouble and does not see an open receiver.
But 6-foot 5-inch 265 pound George Bryan is in his last year of eligibility and with his experience makes him the man for the job.
Bryan will enter the 2011 season with 13 career touchdown receptions; tied for ninth in school history and the most among returning players. He is also a two-time All-ACC performer and the only tight end ever to earn all-conference honors twice along with being on the preseason All-ACC team for 2011.
The native from Castle Hayne , NC and a high school graduate of New Hanover is rated third on the team in receiving with 35 catches for 369 yards.
A graduate from NC State with a Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management major, the veteran is taking some postgraduate classes in his fifth year at NC State.
His teammates even elected the leader as captain of the 2011 Wolfpack football team with defensive end J.R . Sweezy by his side. Taking on the role of being a captain was something Bryan always had in mind.
“It is a great honor to be captain and a dream come true,” Bryan said. “I’m ready to take it on and I’m excited my team got to pick me but a little surprised because there are a bunch of great players that could have been nominated.”
Head coach Tom O’Brien is pleased at the way Sweezy and Bryan are performing as leaders of the team.
“I think they are doing a good job so far,” O’Brien said. “Being a captain is a great honor, so I think that they will provide the plays at a high level of playing ability.”
For the third year in a row, the talented athlete was put on the preseason “watch list” for the John Mackey Award. This annual award has been taking place since 2001 and is given to the most outstanding tight end in collegiate football. They must also support good sportsmanship-like behavior, good grades, and have leadership capability. John Mackey is considered one of the top tight ends of all-time and is an NFL Hall-of-Fame member.
On Dec. 8on ESPNU the Award Committee made up of media and former NFL players and the Nassau County Sports Commission will announce the winner. Last year Bryan was a semifinalist for the 2010 Mackey Award.
He is one of 34 tight ends named to the watch list. Other nominees from the ACC are tight ends from Virginia, Boston College, Duke and Clemson. But Bryan has high hopes for himself.
“Again this is a great honor and I am going to hopefully try and win it; that would be another goal of mine as well,” Bryan said. “But you know there are some great tight ends in the nation and it’s going to be a tough war to win.”
Bryan almost did not come back this year because he was going to be drafted in the NFL. But he decided to come back and now is playing a critical role as a senior with first-year starting quarterback Mike Glennon.
”I’m glad that I’m back. I want to win an ACC Championship and I feel like I have some things to work on before I go to the next level,” Bryan said. “This is a great conference and a great league with a bunch of great Division 1 athletes.”
There is a lot expected of the captain this year but he is hoping to put up some big numbers for the Wolfpack offense this year and also has high hopes for him and fellow tight ends on the team.
“I will try to at least hold up to the expectations of myself and keep doing what I’ve been doing for three years.”
His success and past experiences as a tight end make Bryan simply irreplaceable.
