Dorien Bryant

in 2004, starting two of 12 games at the slot receiver position. He snatched 38 passes for 584 yards (15.4-yard average) and three touchdowns, adding 85 yards on seven carries (12.1 avg) with a score. He totaled 829 all-purpose yards and recorded three tackles on special teams, averaging 21.3 yards on six kickoff returns and 4.6 yards on seven punt returns.

In 2005, Bryant received second-team sophomore All-American honors from College Football News. He was selected College Offensive Player of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Southern New Jersey, appearing in all 11 games, including nine starts at slot receiver. He led the Big Ten Conference and ranked eighth nationally with an average of 7.3 receptions per game and ranked second in the Big Ten and 30th nationally with 87.3 receiving yards per game. That season, Bryant led the team with 80 receptions for 960 yards (12-yard average) and four touchdowns. He rushed 21 times for 101 yards (4.8 avg) and three scores, adding 500 yards and a touchdown on 21 kickoff returns (23.8 avg) while posting two solo tackles. His 1,561 all-purpose yards rank eighth on the school's single-season list.[6]

As a junior, Bryant started 13 games, coming off the bench vs. Maryland in the Champs Sports Bowl. He earned first-team All-Big Ten Conference honors from the media and led the league with 6.2 receptions and 76.3 receiving yards per game, while finishing fourth with 122.0 all-purpose yards per game. His 87 receptions rank fourth on the school record list and eighth in Big Ten history, as his 1,068 yards receiving (12.3-yard average) rank seventh on the Boilermaker annual record chart. He had six touchdown catches, 150 yards and two scores on 19 carries (7.9 avg) and returned 25 kickoffs for 490 yards (19.0 avg). His 1,708 all-purpose yards rank fifth in school history.[6]

In 2007, Bryant again received All-Big Ten Conference recognition and was named Player of the Year by the Brooks Irvine Memorial Football Club of South Jersey and Touchdown Club of Southern New Jersey. He led the league and ranked eighth nationally with 7.27 receptions and finished second in the Big Ten with an average of 87.27 yards receiving per game. He set the school record with 2,121 all-purpose yards, as he matched his career high with 87 receptions, good for 936 yards (10.8-yard average) and eight scores. He had 14 carries for 85 yards (6.1 avg), 15 punt returns for 93 yards (6.2 avg) and set the Big Ten record with 1,007 yards on 36 kickoff returns (28.0 avg) with two scores. In 50 games at Purdue, Bryant started 36 contests as a slot receiver. He ranks second in school history with 292 receptions, third with 3,548 yards receiving (12.2-yard average) and is tied for fifth with 21 touchdown grabs. He gained 421 yards with six scores on 61 carries (6.9 avg) and totaled 125 yards on 22 punt returns (5.7 avg). His 88 kickoff returns rank fifth in Big Ten annals and his 2,125 yards set the school record[6] and ranks third in conference history, scoring three times. His 6,219 all-purpose yards set the Purdue all-time record[6] and rank fourth in Big Ten history and 16th in NCAA 1-A annals.[6] Bryant is one of seven players in school history to record 100-plus yards in two statistical categories in the same game and one of two to accomplish the feat twice.[6]

He also was on the Purdue track team in 2004-05. He finished first in the 200 meters at Gene Edmonds Cup with a clocking of 21.81. He was also a member of the 4x400 relay team (along with former football players Zach Logan and Ray Williams) that finished seventh at the Big Ten Indoor Championships with a time of 3:15.81.[7]