Big Kat Bryant nominated for Piesman Trophy

[aubiefifty 18,230]

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Auburn’s Big Kat Bryant nominated for Piesman Trophy

Posted Dec 04, 2019

3 minutes

Auburn Football

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ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 31: Big Kat Bryant #1 of the Auburn Tigers runs on a fumble recovery against the Oregon Ducks in the second quarter during the Advocare Classic at AT&T Stadium on August 31, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson may have competed throughout the season for the most SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week Honors (a competition that Davidson narrowly won, 4-3, by the way) but it’s another Auburn defender who is up for the most -- ahem -- prestigious award a lineman can receive at any level of college football.

Big Kat Bryant was among 13 nominees announced Wednesday morning for the fifth annual Piesman Trophy, which is awarded annually to a college football lineman on either side of the ball who does an “un-lineman like thing.”

“Ha, I’m not fat,” Bryant said Saturday after Auburn’s 48-45 win in the Iron Bowl. “It just be them (Brown and Davidson).”

Past winners of the trophy include Southeastern Louisiana’s Ashton Henderson (2015), Pitt’s Brian O’Neill (2016), Heidelberg’s Brock Riggs (2017) and Tennessee’s Kyle Phillips (2018). Bryant is the second Auburn player to be nominated for the Piesman, joining former defensive tackle Montravius Adams, who was up for the award in 2016.

Bryant’s nomination stems from the defensive end’s 85-yard fumble return during Auburn’s season-opening win against Oregon. With Oregon leading, 14-3, and facing first-and-goal at the Auburn 8-yard line, Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert fumbled on a read in the backfield, and the 6-foot-5, 247-pound Bryant scooped it up and rumbled 85 yards the other way before being taken down by speedy Oregon receiver Bryan Addison just shy of the goal line.

Auburn went on to win the game, 27-21.

Brown was notably snubbed for a nomination for the Piesman this season for his near scoop-and-score against Florida in October, when the defensive tackle recovered a fumble and returned it 42 yards before tripping over himself. Had Brown not tripped, he would have had a touchdown and likely would have been up for the Piesman -- as he is for just about every other major applicable individual award this season.

Fans can vote for their top-four Piesman Trophy candidates here.

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

[gr82b4au 5,576]

He deserves it based on the tackle he made on Mack Jones that caused the 100 yard int. Huge play.