[LeeCoUKFan]

2015 linebacker Bryant open to rebuilding

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Thomasville (Ga.) County Central outside linebacker Austin Bryant likes the idea of getting on the field early at the next level, and that's a realistic aspiration in his case.

There aren't too many 6-foot-5, 244-pound linebackers at the high school level. There are still fewer at that size that can move like Bryant.

Whether he ends up as an imposing outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense or comes off the edge as a rush end, Bryant has elite talent and that's why he was given a 5.9, four-star ranking in the new Rivals250 to Watch in the class of 2015.

Derrick Ansley is recruiting much of Georgia for Kentucky and he's UK's primary recruiter for the Peach State prospect.

"Coach Ansley messaged me on Twitter and told me he's really excited about me and he wants me at UK," Bryant told Cats Illustrated. "I met him during the spring evaluation period and he seems like a real cool guy."

Bryant doesn't mind the idea of being part of a new foundation at a program that hasn't had much success in the past. Building something could be a message that resonates.

"I don't see that as a negative at all," Bryant said. "If you're rebuilding then freshmen can come in immediately and play."

But it's still early and Kentucky will need to aggressively make their case in order to have a chance. When asked whether he plans to visit Lexington Bryant responded, "I couldn't tell you yet," so nothing is in the works.

Since Sept. 1 he's been hearing from UK, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Auburn, Alabama, Miami, Florida State and Georgia, so there's no shortage of interest.

Bryant attended Auburn's game against Washington State over the weekend, a 31-24 victory for the Tigers.

"It was great and I loved it," he said. "I had been earlier but it was my first time going to a game there. I want to go to the Auburn-Alabama game, the Florida State-N.C. State game and the Florida-Tennessee game too."

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1546903