Auburn moves into top group for Georgia pass-rusher

AUBURN, Ala. | Markaviest Bryant didn’t have Auburn among his top schools Saturday morning, but the weakside defensvie end did by the afternoon.

Bryant, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound pass-rusher from Crisp County in Cordele, Ga., visited Auburn with several teammates. The group watched the Tigers scrimmage inside Jordan-Hare Stadium. Bryant spoke to several coaches.

“It was awesome,” Bryant said of the visit. “We went to stadium and I saw how it really is. I liked the intensity. I liked everything about it. It kind of stood out.”

Bryant spent time meeting with defensive line coach Rodney Garner, linebackers coach Travis Williams, defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and coach Gus Malzahn. They all had the same message for Bryant.

“Pass-rushers, that’s something they preached all day,” Bryant said. “Every coach that came up to me said they need pass-rushers. Coach Garner told me their d-line is in need of pass-rushers.”

Bryant is known for his pass-rushing abilities. He recorded 73 tackles, including 41 unassisted tackles, nine tackles-for-loss, seven sacks and eight quarterback-hurries as a junior. Auburn, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Florida State, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Miami, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Oklahoma, among others, have offered Bryant.

“Auburn would be one of my top five,” Bryant said. “Alabama, Georgia, Auburn, Florida and Florida State.”

Bryant, who is the cousin of Auburn defensive tackle Montravius Adams, plans to return to the Plains in the summer.

“I want to come back and work with ‘Coach G’ and let him teach me some things,” Bryant said of Garner. “I liked everything at Auburn.”

Rivals ranks Bryant the No. 18 weakside defensive end in the 2017 class and No. 34 overall player in Georgia.