Bryant is an All-American redshirt senior and became the first Trojan to capture the national title since 1962. Visit Bryant Profile to learn more about him.
Bryant had a winning shot put of 65-9 to double as both the 2007 NCAA indoor and outdoor champion. That made him one of just three collegiate male athletes to sweep an indoor-outdoor event in 2007. Bryant set the school shot put record earlier this season with a mark of 67-5 1/2 He also captured the Pac-10 title last month with a throw of 66-7, four feet longer than the nearest competitor.
The season marked a successful comeback from a freak injury that nearly killed him two years ago. Bryant lost his balance while throwing the 16-pound metal ball. The ball hit the protective chain-link cage and ricocheted back into his face.
He underwent surgery to repair facial bones that had shattered in 14 places and a right eye socket that had caved in. Doctors said that had he not instinctively raised his hand to deflect the ball, Bryant could have died.
He told the Eugene Register-Guard last month that “When you go through something like that, you realize that you might never throw again, or even die. In the long run, it helped me out. It’s not like I didn’t work hard before, but something went off for me, and now, whenever I go out there, I do all that I can while I’m able.”
