RIP UAB Running Back Greg Bryant

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Just wanted to close the day out with a quick remembrance of Greg Bryant, found shot in a car early Saturday morning on the side of the Florida interstate. Cops are declaring it a homicide and are currently looking for the pieces of trash responsible.

Bryant was the #6 running back in the country back when he signed with Notre Dame in 2013. Things didn’t work out there because of bad grades and homesickness so he went back to Florida and had been working out getting ready for his next shot, at the newly re-launched UAB program. This in-depth profile of the team trying to get back on track shows how pumped he was for a second chance:

With interest from Louisville, Minnesota, Indiana, Auburn and others, Bryant joined Garrett in announcing his commitment.

“I’ve had a ton of people ask me why UAB,” Bryant said. “They really don’t know my background and what they’re doing for me. Once I went on a visit and met them in person, I knew I was safe. I knew I was in a safe environment. They’re basically giving me a second chance.”

Instead of being forced to wait until summer to join a program, UAB welcomed Bryant in January. While he understands the weight of his commitment—taking great pride in what the return will mean now and moving forward—there was more to it than that.

A door opened at just the right time. For him, there is no more waiting. The wait came last year when he was all alone.

“It’s a whole year of football, but it’s better than sitting in a hotel,” Bryant said. “I can possibly get my degree heading into 2017, and that’s a dream come true. Somebody like me getting a degree where I come from is unheard of.”[BR]

RIP.