2005: Has 16 catches for 165 yards on the season, surpassing the total number of catches he had in 2003 and in 2004 as well as his total recieving yards in both years ... Caught two passes for 11 yards including a six-yard touchdown catch vs. Wisconsin...Hauled in three passes for 42 yards and a three-yard touchdown catch vs. Indiana ... Also had a career-long 28-yard reception against Indiana ... Had two receptions for 12 yards at Iowa ... Caught one pass for 19 yards against Cal ... Set career highs for catches and yards with four for 52 yards against San Jose State ... Hauled in one pass for eight yards in the season opener against Rutgers.
2004: Hauled in 12 passes for 111 yards and three TD's ... Had the best game of his career vs. Florida A&M, setting career-highs in yards (34), long reception (26 yards) and touchdowns (1) while tying a career best with three catches ... Made two catches for 26 yards vs. UCLA ... Caught two balls for 15 yards and a TD at Wisconsin ... Had two receptions for 17 yards and one TD vs. Indiana.
2003: Caught 12 passes for 114 yards to lead Illini tight ends ... Had two catches for 29 yards in season opener vs. Missouri, including a season-long reception of 21 yards ... Set career-highs in receptions (3) and yards (33) vs. Minnesota ... Had two catches for 22 yards vs. Northwestern.
2002: Redshirted the 2002 season.
High School: SuperPrep All-American ... 10th-ranked tight end in nation according to SuperPrep ... Ranked No. 13 nationally at tight end by Tom Lemming ... Ranked the 24th-best tight end in the country by Rivals.com ... Prep Star All-Region ... Started at both tight end and defensive end as a junior and senior ... Three-year letterwinner at tight end and defensive end for Muncie Central ... Versatile receiver who caught 49 passes for 779 yards and six touchdowns ... Also starred on defense totaling 87 tackles, 15 sacks and 12.5 more tackles for loss ... Was called "the best run blocker on the team" ... First-team All-Indiana selection at tight end by the Indiana Football Coaches Association ... First-team Big State selection by the Bloomington Herald ... Named the East Central Indiana Defensive Player of the Year in 2001 ... Also named to the East Central Indiana first team on offense ... First-team Indiana Class 4A All-State selection in 2001 ... Two-time All-North Central Conference pick ... Caught 80 passes for 1,254 yards and 10 TDs as a starter at tight end his junior and senior seasons ... Head coach was John Hochstetler ... Also a standout basketball player at Muncie Central, earning two letters ... Lists winning the sectionals in basketball as his greatest sports thrill.
Personal: Full given name is Melvin Lynn Bryant II ... Born Sept. 1, 1984 in Muncie, Ind. ... The son of Tracie Johnson ... Has two brothers ... Majoring in sport management ... Listed in the Who's Who Among African American Students.
Career HighsReceptions: 4 vs. SJSU, 9/10/05Receiving Yards: 52 vs. SJSU, 9/10/05Long Reception: 28 at Indiana, 10/8/05TDs: 1, four times (last time at Indiana, 10/8/05)
Receiving StatisticsYEAR G NO YDS AVG Y/PG TD LP2003 11 12 114 9.5 10.4 0 212004 9 12 111 9.2 12.3 3 262005 10 16 165 10.3 16.5 2 28TOTAL 30 40 390 9.8 13.0 5 28
