There’s a saying in the sports world that pressure makes diamonds.

Wearing the same jersey your father once did while playing under the bright stadium lights of your hometown team could certainly count as enough pressure to make one feel like they’re destined to be the Hope Diamond, but for Kentucky football safety Ty Bryant, it’s just the opposite.

“I don’t feel any pressure when I walk out there,” Bryant said. “I play the game because I’ve been playing this game my whole life, since I was seven years old on the Southland Chiefs. I just go out there, play and have fun.”

Born in Lexington, Bryant’s football journey started with the aforementioned Southland Chiefs, but accelerated as a Frederick Douglass Bronco in high school.

Along with his teammates, Bryant was a part of four district championships, three-straight region championships and two-state title runner-ups before capturing the KHSAA 5A State Championship in 2022 as a senior. Bryant himself was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in that state championship victory.

In high school, Bryant’s athletic ability shined as he was a weapon for the Broncos playing defensive back, wide receiver, punt returner, kick returner, gunner on punts and place-kick holder. Bryant also set the school record for all-time tackles with 273.

His athletic versatility was on display off the football field as well as, in the springtime, you could see him playing in the infield on the baseball diamond.

Bryant’s love for the game of baseball began at just three years old when he began playing. He shared that love with his father, who’s favorite game, despite also playing football, is baseball.

While he may be on ESPN now on game days for the Cats, his first taste of the national stage came at just 12 years old.

“I would say probably like my sophomore year of high school, I was set on probably playing baseball somewhere, and then just I got a lot of attention in football,” Bryant said. “I’m not gonna say overnight, but over a period of time, I just got a lot of attention in football.”

Once committing to Kentucky for his second sporting choice, Bryant even flirted with the idea of becoming a two-sport athlete, but realized if he wanted to make a future in football, he needed to fully commit to the gridiron.

While his baseball playing days may be over, Bryant still uses some of the skills from baseball on the football field. 

“Me playing middle infield, you gotta be quick on your feet in everything you do,” Bryant said. “Tracking the ball as well. Ball skills, I feel like ball skills is a great tool to have in both baseball and football. Just being able to bend down and make plays that people don’t expect you to make, I feel like I definitely brought that onto the football field and got that from the baseball diamond.”

Moving back to the football field, following the state championship win, Bryant arrived on campus for his freshman season as a three-star recruit to the team his father, Cisco Bryant, played for from 1983-85.

During his time as a Wildcat, Cisco was a wide receiver under head coach Jerry Claiborne and he hauled in 29 career catches for 482 yards and six touchdowns.

While his son would not be suiting up at wide receiver for his freshman season, as a safety he saw action in all 13 team games including three starts.

“I’ll readily admit I thought Ty played at a level I did not anticipate (him) playing (at) as a true freshman,” Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White said. “We knew he was a mature young man, we knew he was conscientious, we knew his work ethic, all the things we loved about him, but to be able to step up in the moments he stepped up in was huge.”

On the season, Bryant accumulated 40 tackles and a pass breakup with his best performance coming in a start against Tennessee in which he tallied a career-high 12 tackles, which tied the most in a game in the 2023 season. 

He also led the Cats in tackles with eight against Alabama and earned SEC Co-Freshman of the Week honors for his performance against Georgia.

Coming into his second campaign as a Wildcat, Bryant will look to take the next step in his progression and a sophomore slump seems to be the least of the worries for the safety. 

“I just feel like he’s a guy that’s going to continue to get better with every rep, because he just puts his head down, he’s very reliable,” Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops said. “He’s a very good player and he’s done a really good job. I love the way he goes about his business.”

Coach Stoops also pointed to Bryant’s leadership as something that he’s noticed coming into the 2024 campaign.

Now that he is an upperclassman, Bryant noticed that several freshmen have come to him seeking advice on the things he went through and the best ways to navigate a freshman year. 

Being a leader is something that Bryant acquired at a young age from his father and it’s been something that has stuck with him into the modern day. 

“I remember when I was young, all my teachers used to say that I was just a natural leader,” Bryant said. “No matter if I wanted to or didn’t want to, I was just a natural leader. So I feel like it’s very important for me, and I take pride in that.” 

When it comes to expectations, Bryant does not like to set expectations by saying he’s going to set the record for the most tackles or do this or that. Instead, he lets a different part of his life control what’s going to happen on the field. 

“I kind of just want to go out there and play and just see what God has for me because I feel like everything’s already written, I just haven’t seen it yet,” Bryant said. “I’m definitely expecting a big year for myself.”

Bryant’s faith is something that has always been part of him growing up as he was raised around the church. His faith only strengthened with curiosity as the young defensive star sought to learn more and took to reading his Bible every night since he was a junior in high school.

When looking at the scripture, Bryant credited Romans 8:18 as a verse that has stuck with him. The verse reads, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.”

“Tough times don’t last, but tough people do,” Bryant said about why the verse spoke to him. “I feel like during those times, you feel like your back’s against the wall, the world’s against you, just stay forward, keep your head down, keep going. Eventually you’re gonna look back on those times and (be) like, ‘Man, I really needed that.’ The glory that’s gonna be revealed to you here soon.”

When it comes to motivations for Bryant, he credits all aspects of his family from his dad, who made sacrifices and put his own aspirations aside to help him pursue his dreams, to his mom, who did a lot for him off the field. 

Another motivating factor seems to be the naysayers — or people who have already told Bryant he couldn’t do something — or even the ones who continue to doubt the sophomore.

Above all else, the biggest factor for Bryant is being a role model for his niece and nephew. 

“I know how much of a role model I am to them,” Bryant said. “They look up to me and growing up I had people tell me, ‘You can’t do this, you can’t do that.’ I know people gonna tell them the same thing, and it’s like, ‘Nah, just look at your uncle, he’s paving the way for you.’” 

Wearing the same uniform as his father before him, making the change from baseball to football and strengthening his faith while also establishing his motivations as a pillar of who he is has created the perfect storm for Bryant to have a storied career with the Kentucky Wildcats and that all continues with his sophomore season this year.

Bryant will return to the field along with his UK teammates on Saturday, Oct. 19, on the road against Florida. Kickoff against the Gators is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. ET and will air live on the SEC Network.