Message received: Bryant thrives in NIU secondary

Northern Illinois junior safety David Bryant's third - and final - position switch was instigated in the most modern of ways.

With a text message.

After an informal 7-on-7 practice this summer, the defensive back/turned linebacker/turned running back from St. Louis texted NIU secondary coach Jay Sawvel.

"I was driving my daughters to a birthday party," Sawvel said. "And I get a text and all it says is, 'David Bryant.' And I'm like, 'OK, that's great. What's he want?'"

Turns out, Bryant wanted to become a cornerstone of Northern Illinois' secondary.

"I think he knew we had a lot of running backs," said Huskies coach Jerry Kill, "and (moving) might give him an opportunity to play."

The 5-foot-10, 205-pound Bryant didn't move to safety until just before fall practice began, but it took little time to establish himself as a starter and playmaker.

"He's a physical player who's smart," Sawvel said.

And productive.

As the Huskies head to No. 17 Ball State to face the undefeated Cardinals today (7 p.m., ESPN2), Bryant leads the Mid-American Conference's No. 1 defense with 42 tackles. He also has forced 2 fumbles.

"I think he's played good," Kill said. "He's had a good year up until this point in time."

"I feel comfortable with it now," said Bryant, who rushed for 265 yards and 2 TDs last year. "I've been through enough games, I feel like I've always been playing there."

And the coaches can hardly wait to see Bryant as a senior, when he's had a full season and spring ball under his belt.

Why? It has to do with what Bryant modestly refers to as his "God-given athleticism."

"Yeah, I would agree with that," Sawvel said. "There's no question about that. I think he'll be a really, really good player a year from now.

"No, he's not going back to running back."