Background and career
Desmond Demond Bryant (born November 4, 1988) is an American former professional football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons, primarily with the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, earning consensus All-American honors as a sophomore in 2008. Bryant missed most of his junior season due to violating an NCAA bylaw. Bryant was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft, where he earned three Pro Bowl berths and was named an All-Pro in 2014. After eight seasons with the Cowboys, Bryant was acquired by the New Orleans Saints in 2018, but suffered a season-ending injury two days after signing with the team. After a year away from the NFL, Bryant signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 2020, where he was primarily a backup and alternated between the practice squad and the active roster.
Desmond Demond Bryant was born in Galveston, Texas at The University of Texas Medical Branch on November 4, 1988. Bryant had a troubled upbringing, born to a teenage mother, Angela, who was arrested for dealing crack cocaine when Bryant was eight years old. He went on to live in eight different homes while attending Lufkin High School. He and his family later moved to Lufkin, Texas, where he attended Lufkin High School. While attending Lufkin High School, Bryant and his family lived in eight different homes. While at Lufkin High School, Bryant played high school football for the Panthers football team. As a junior, he recorded 48 receptions for 1,025 yards and 16 touchdowns. Bryant led Lufkin to a 14–1 record, including an appearance in the 5A Division II state semifinals, where they lost 46–28 to Todd Dodge's Southlake Carroll. As a senior, Bryant had 53 receptions for 1,207 yards with 21 touchdowns, and was an All-State selection. Lufkin finished the season with an 11–1 record, after losing 38–25 to Round Rock in the area round of the playoffs. After the season, Bryant participated in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl. He was named an All-American by Parade and SuperPrep. Bryant competed in track and field and was one of the state's top competitors in the triple jump (top-jump of 14.17 m). As a standout hurdler, he had personal bests of 14.56 seconds in the 110-m hurdles and 40.70 seconds in the 300-m hurdles. Bryant was also a member of the 4 × 100-m (42.62) and 4 × 200-m (1:28.35) relay squads.
Regarded as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Bryant was listed as the No. 9 wide receiver prospect in the class of 2007, and the second from Texas behind only Terrence Toliver. Recruited by numerous major programs, including most Big 12 schools, Bryant took official visits to Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech, before committing to the Cowboys on January 29, 2007.
Bryant attended Oklahoma State University from 2007 to 2009 and was a member of the Oklahoma State Cowboys football team coached by Mike Gundy.
On September 1, Bryant made his collegiate debut against Georgia and had a seven-yard reception in the 35–14 loss. Three weeks later against Texas Tech, Bryant had five receptions for 51 yards and his first collegiate receiving touchdown on a five-yard reception from Zac Robinson in the 49–45 victory. On October 20 against Kansas State, Bryant had three receptions for 37 yards and two touchdowns in the narrow 41–39 victory. Three weeks later against Kansas, he set a school record for receiving yards in a game by a freshman with 155 in the 43–28 loss. In the 2007 Insight Bowl, Bryant recorded nine receptions for 117 yards and two touchdowns in a 49–33 victory over the Indiana Hoosiers. As a freshman in 2007, he finished second on the team with 43 receptions for 622 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games.
On September 6 against Houston, Bryant recorded nine receptions for 236 yards and three touchdowns to go along with a punt return touchdown in the 56–37 victory. For his game against Houston, he was named the Walter Camp Foundation's National Offensive Player of the Week. Three weeks later against Troy, he caught six passes for 118 yards and three touchdowns in the 55–24 victory. In the next game against Texas A&M, Bryant had 106 receiving yards, three receiving touchdowns, and a punt return touchdown during the 56–28 victory. On October 18 against Baylor, he recorded 11 receptions for 212 yards and two touchdowns in the 34–6 victory. Two weeks later against Iowa State, Bryant caught nine passes for 171 yards and four touchdowns in the 59–17 victory. On November 29 against Oklahoma, he had six receptions for 91 yards and two touchdowns in the 61–41 loss. On December 30 against Oregon in the 2008 Holiday Bowl, Bryant recorded 13 receptions for 167 yards and a touchdown in the 42–31 loss. He finished the 2008 season with 87 receptions for 1,480 yards and 19 touchdowns to go along with two punt return touchdowns.
