This story originally appeared in the August 2 edition of the weekly LINK Reader. To get these stories first, subscribe here.
Torin Bryant is a multifaceted senior at Highlands High School, excelling in both academics and athletics. Standing nearly 6-foot-1 and weighing 250 pounds, Bryant is a formidable presence on the football field. He plays multiple positions, including center, long snapper, guard, tackle and defensive tackle, showcasing his versatility and skill.
In addition to his football prowess, Bryant is a talented swimmer for the Bluebirds, competing in backstroke and freestyle events. His dedication extends to the classroom, where he maintains an impressive 4.17 GPA on a weighted scale, placing him in the top quarter of his class. Known for his leadership, Bryant was elected class vice president in his junior year and later stepped up as class president. He is also the reigning Highlands prom king and an active student fundraiser.
“Great student, class president, prom king, and a heck of a football player,” said Highlands coach Bob Sphire. “He embodies everything we want in a student-athlete.”
Bryant juggles multiple roles outside of school. He continues to shine at the Fort Thomas Swim Club, where he has been a dedicated teammate for 13 years and also works as a lifeguard. At home, he is a beloved son and grandson as well as an avid sports fan, occasional fisherman and friend to man’s best friend. He and his dog, Darby, enjoy each other’s boundless energy.
This football season, Bryant has taken on a new role as an inspiration to his teammates and coaches. After tearing his ACL in his left knee during the second game of last season against Covington Catholic, he faced a challenging recovery. The injury, a non-contact incident during punt return coverage, sidelined him for the rest of his junior year.
“Injuries are part of the game, I realize that, but I felt real bad about this,” Sphire said. “The only good thing about it is that it didn’t happen when he was a senior. Thank goodness he didn’t lose his senior season. We still have it.”
Bryant plans to capitalize on the opportunity after staging a miraculous comeback.
“I feel like I lost a big part of my life,” he said. “That’s why I wanted a quick recovery, so I could get back on the field.”
Five months after surgery, Bryant successfully rehabbed his knee to the point that he participated in the annual Highlands Lift-A-Thon and lifted the same combined weight as the previous year. He cleared 1,000 pounds in the bench press, deadlift and squat, raising more than $1,000 in the process over the last two years.
“I’m pretty surprised how he has bounced back so fast,” said Highlands junior lineman and lifelong friend Brody Cook. “I’ve known him since we were little boys and he’s always been a pretty resilient kid. It’s super nice to have him back, for sure. He’s a great player and a great leader.”
At Highlands’ graded NFL-style combine in July, Bryant scored the second-most points. He participated in the EKU Lineman Challenge in Richmond. He’s looked solid at the Bluebirds’ three-station circuit in the weight room, in speed training and agility drills.
“I feel really good about what I’ve done,” Bryant said. “I had no setbacks, just a little soreness.”
Sphire is inspired by his lineman’s quick rebound from football inactivity.
“He seems to be fully recovered and ready to roll,” Sphire said. “I don’t have a crystal ball, but my projection is that he will probably make all the O-line calls when he plays center and have a lot of responsibility when he’s at tackle. He may end up being one of our key players on the line and at long snapper. He’s our most versatile lineman. He’s one of our strongest players, smartest players, most competitive players and best leaders.”
Despite the injury, Bryant is attracting college interest. He received his first offer in June from Mount St. Joseph University.
“What he’s done is incredible. We obviously want to be cautious, but the doctors say he can handle it,” coach Sphire said. “His dad, Doug Bryant, is on staff as a line coach. We are constantly going to him to make sure about everything and that has helped. Torin knows his body better than anybody and he’s a smart kid, so we trust him to help us make the right decisions for him.”
The injury and time away from football provided a new perspective for Bryant.
“I kept trying to look at positives,” Bryant said. “If I had any advice for somebody, I’d tell them to keep working hard and don’t always look at it as a bad thing. Look at it as an opportunity to see things differently.”
Bryant said his quick road to recovery was enabled by friends, family, teammates, coaches and doctors, and he couldn’t be more thankful.
“Having my coaches and teammates around me and supporting me really helped,” Bryant said. “My doctors, physical therapist, personal trainer, they all helped with my rehab.”
With that, Highlands’ man with many hats is ready to cap his high school football career with a final inspiring performance.
“I’m excited to get back to it,” Bryant said. “I’m ready to play.”