The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Baseball Signs Tanner Bryant From Junior College Ranks
11/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 16, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Tanner Bryant, a right-handed pitcher and infielder from Southern Union State Community College in Wadley, Ala., has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at UAB.
A former all-state prep player in Georgia, Bryant posted a .295 batting average as a freshman at Southern Union in 2010. He compiled 18 RBI and 16 runs scored in just 88 at-bats while also saving three games and working 22 innings on the mound. Bryant will be a sophomore at Southern Union this coming spring before enrolling at UAB for the 2011-12 academic year.
"Tanner is definitely a true two-way player," UAB head coach Brian Shoop said. "We fully plan to use Tanner both on the mound and in the field as well. That is one thing that made him so attractive to us.
"Several professional scouts expressed to us that Tanner was, in their opinion, the top junior college pitcher in the state of Alabama. He throws from a three-quarter arm angle that will give hitters a different look. Tanner is extremely competitive and will not back away from any challenge. He is an athlete on the mound who can control the running game and field his position."
As a high schooler, Bryant was a three-year starter as a pitcher and shortstop at Landmark Christian School in Fairburn, Ga., helping his team to nearly 70 wins and two state runner-up finishes.
A two-time all-state selection, Bryant was tabbed by MaxPreps as a Small School Baseball All-American in 2008. He earned all-region honors three times and was named the Atlanta Journal-Constitution City Life Player of the Year in 2008.
Bryant concluded his high school career with a pitching record of 24-8, a 2.97 ERA and 134 strikeouts. At the plate, he was a .387 hitter with 29 home runs and 127 RBI.
"As a hitter, Tanner has been successful at every level he has played," Shoop said. "His numbers were incredible at the high school level. He has been an integral part of the Southern Union offense, and we believe he can do the same for us."
Also an all-state selection as a dual-threat high school quarterback, Bryant was chosen by The Citizen newspaper as its Athlete of the Year for football and baseball in 2008. He threw for 2,763 yards and 30 touchdowns and rushed for 1,471 yards and 11 scores in his two seasons as Landmark Christian's starting quarterback.
"Tanner has played in two outstanding programs, excelling at Landmark Christian before attending Southern Union Community College," Shoop said. "If you are fortunate enough to get a player from (Southern Union) Coach (Joe) Jordan's program, you know you will have a tough, competitive player who is well-coached and ready to compete at a very high level.
"As good a player as Tanner is, we were drawn to his outgoing personality and his off-the-field character. He makes our program better the day he steps on our campus, and we are thrilled to add Tanner to our baseball family."
