Interview: St. Louis RB Tre Bryant running towards Big 12, SEC, and Big Ten scholarship offers

Christian Brothers College (High School) running back Tre Bryant is just that, a running back, and a really good one at that. On inside handoffs, off tackle, cut-backs in a zone blocking scheme, and on outside sweeps, if he finds as much as a little crease he is gone. With great blocking in front of him, the Class of 2016 star recruit amassed over 1,400 all purpose yards while averaging 9.9 yards per carry lighting up the scoreboard with 20 rushing touchdowns in 2014.

What makes the 5’10”, 198 pound, back special is first contact, or better phrased, would-be first contact. If side stepping is ever considered an art form Bryant has it down. One-on-one with any member of the back seven of any defense seems unfair with the ball in the hands of the St. Louis area talent. Showing great balance he rarely goes down with first contact keeping his feet moving sliding through arm tackles while padding his stats.

Thanks in part to the great season Bryant turned in the Cadets steamrolled their way through the 2014 season ending with a 15-0 record and a state championship after beating Rockhurst (Kansas City) 31-24 for the hardware.

Coaches near and far started dropping offers for Bryant. Programs like Indiana, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Northwestern, Syracuse, UNLV, Ball State, and Buffalo are ready to take his verbal commitment today. Teams like Arkansas, Florida State, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Purdue, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, Iowa State, Purdue, UCLA, and Georgia are showing various levels of interest leading one to believe Bryant could quickly double his recruiting offers if he stays open through a standout 2015 campaign.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview we sat down with Tre to go over Christian Brothers’ 2014 title run, offseason workouts, and we received an update on his latest recruiting status.

 

Tre, you guys just rolled through the 2014 season. Going into the year did you have an idea the Cadets would be that darn good?

“I didn’t know we were going to have it that easy as far as the games go but we worked hard in the offseason. We put in 110 percent from January on all the way up through summer ball. We had the talent on both sides of the ball. We put everything together and then came together as a team. Our coach (Scott Pingel) stresses that once you play for the man next to you everything will be so much easier. We put that together, everything started to click and we kept rolling all the way through the season and into the playoffs.”

How does the team look heading into next year?

“We’ll be – the same thing as last year and maybe even better. We have to keep working. We have a lot of new starters on defense. We lost five starters on defense. We have new faces on the defensive side of the ball. On offense everything should be the same. We are returning four of our five starters on the offense line. Our skill players are pretty good too. We have some underclassmen that are stepping up. We should be pretty good.”

That bodes well for you with all the starters coming back on the offensive line.

“Yes sir.”

What was you best game last year in your opinion?

“I’d say my best game last year was against Rock Bridge. It was our last regular season game before we went into the playoffs. We were down 13-0 at halftime. Me and another running back started getting things going for the offense. I scored two touchdowns back-to-back that got us the lead. That was my best game this past season.”

*Christian Brothers won the game 40-26.

What makes you a dangerous running back when you get the ball in your hands?

“I would say my balance and my vision. I can find the wholes and I always try to break the first tackle. I try to make the first person miss no matter what. That’s one of my main things. My explosiveness up the field and my pass blocking as well. My running back coach stresses pass blocking so that is one of the main things I focus on, pass protection.”

What individual honors did you earn at the end of your junior season?

“I was First-Team St. Louis All-American, First-Team All-Metro, First-Team All-District, and Second-Team All-State. The St. Louis All-American was a big one for me.”

What are your goals for the 2015 season?

“I don’t have any individual goals. I’ll do whatever my team needs me to do to get the W so we can get back to state and get another state championship.”

Will you role expand next year? I know you were returning kicks some too last year.

“We have not talked about defense but I know I’ll line up at slot a little more than last year. Everything else will stay the same. I’ll be at running back and kick returner mostly.”

What are you doing in the offseason to prepare for your senior year?

“We just qualified for state in the 4×1. We have state next weekend. Other than that I’ve been working with Arlen Harris on position specific training. He does running backs only. I’m in the weight room as well, just normal offseason training.”

What other events do you run in track?

“Just the 4×1 and the 100.”

What is your best time in the 100?

“11.1. I have a good start and then everyone catches up with me. I’ve got football speed not track speed (laughing).”

You have 11 offers on the table. Which schools are showing you interest that has not offered you yet?

“Colorado, Kentucky, and Illinois as of right now.”

Of the schools that have offered which ones are showing the most interest in you?

“They all show pretty equal interest but I’d say Kansas, Kansas State, and Mizzou are showing the heaviest interest right now. I talk to them the most out of any of the coaches.”

When the coaches talk to you about your game what are they telling you they like?

“They like my versatility and like how I am able to line up at the slot. They like that I can also block out there on screens. They also like my play making ability with the ball. They like how I make big plays and find the end zone in big games.”

Because you are a versatile player which position are the different schools recruiting you to play?

“Kansas State and Kansas are recruiting me to play running back. Northwestern is recruiting me to play the slot. Mizzou is recruiting me as an athlete. They said they can see me at running back, slot, or maybe even as a defensive back.”

What position do you want to play at the next level?

“I want to stay on the offensive side of the ball. Running back or slot, I feel comfortable at both. My favorite position right now would be running back.”

What is your best 40-yard dash time?

“I went to the Nike Opening regional camp. They clocked me at a 4.53 laser.”

You seem faster than that. Do you think that time is accurate?

“I think that is pretty accurate. I think I can get it down to a 4.4. I’m going to try to hit a 4.4 at the finals in Oregon in July. I have hit 4.4s repeatedly hand-held time, like the low 4.4s. Laser is a little slower but I usually hit 4.4.”

I know you’ve been on some unofficial visits, where all have you been?

“I’ve been to Kansas State, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Mizzou.”

How did the Missouri visit go for you?

“It went really well. I got a chance to hang out with Coach (Cornell) Ford (cornerbacks coach) and I got to go into the RB’s meeting before practice and I got to sit in on the team meeting before practice. It allowed me to get a feel of how they do their day to day scheme of practice and game. It was pretty nice. It was a good visit.”

How did your unofficial to Kansas State go?

“Pretty much the same as Missouri. They toured me around the campus a little more. They showed me all the improvements they are making with the facilities and the stadium. I talked to most of the coaches. I talked to Coach (Dana) Dimel for a little while and I talked to Coach (Mo) Lattimore and I got a chance to sit down with Coach (Bill) Snyder and talk to him for a few minutes. It was a pretty good visit.”

This is not a knock against the other programs, Wisconsin is known for turning out great running backs. How did that visit go?

“It was a great visit. I went up there to show my interest in them. They already have a running back committed but they are still recruiting me just as a safeguard in case something happens, if he chooses somewhere else. It was a great visit.”

Do you plan on attending any one-day college camps?

“No.”

Do you plan on taking anymore unofficial visits over the summer?

“I’m going to visit some of the schools that are in my Top 7.”

Which schools in your Top 7 will you visit?

“Syracuse, I’m going back up to Indiana, and then UNLV. Those are the schools that I have set already.”

UNLV is a school to watch with Coach Sanchez taking over after what he did with Bishop Gorman over the last six years. How did that interest come about for you?

“That was actually a surprise offer. I was sending out my highlight tape via email to different coaches. I sent it to him at the right time. He followed me on Twitter and he offered me that same day. That was a pretty cool experience. I got to pick his brain a little bit. I was born in California at the Air Force base in Sacramento. He was from around that area too. We got to talk some football and the environment he is bringing to UNLV football. They’re a program on the rise.”

Are you going to trim your Top 7 down to a Top 5, Top 4, or a Top 3 anytime soon?

“I don’t know when but I am planning on announcing my Top 5 shortly after I take some of my visits in June. My Top 5 will probably come out in July.”

Do you have an idea of when you will verbally commit?

“I plan on doing it during the season or at the end of the season. I plan on taking some official visits first.”

Who has had the biggest impact on your football career so far?

“My mom (Laondria) has had the biggest impact. She takes me everywhere I need to go, she’s taken me to all of the practices all the way from Junior League. She buys me the equipment I need to use. She never lets me take everything too seriously. She’ll tell me to go out there and have fun with it. She remains me it is still just a game even though I am very passionate about it. She’ll tell me do what you need to do to help your team win but don’t get down on yourself about it and put all that pressure upon yourself, have fun, it’s still a game.

“Also my head coach (Scott Pingel). He taught me how to work hard and how to practice to become a better player. He taught me you can’t take plays off. You have to keep working to get better because there is somebody else out there working as well.”

What is your favorite part about playing football?

“I’d say it is the team aspect. Knowing you have to rely on somebody else in order to do your job. You have to trust the guy next to you. You have to trust that they will do their job and they have to trust that you will do yours. Once everyone starts trusting each other that is when things start to click.”

 

Written by Ryan Wright

Photo credit: Tre Bryant; Tre at Kansas State

Photo credit: Tre Bryant; Tre at Missouri

Photo credit: columbiamissourian.com; Tre against Rock Bridge

Photo credit: stltoday; Tre makes another one miss