Tag: Juantarius Bryant

Hoaxed ex-college DB Juantarius Bryant to attend tryout camp

The Austin Peay DB, Juantarius Bryant, who was victim of a hoax has been invited to a tryout camp next week in San Diego.

The former college football defensive back from Austin Peay, Juantarius Bryant, will get a chance at his NFL dream … kind of.

Bryant, who was turned away from Atlanta Falcons rookie camp last week after believing the team had invited him for a tryout, has been invited to the HUB Football tryout in San Diego on May 23.

Bryant believed he had been invited to the Falcons’ camp via a text from defensive coordinator Dean Pees. The text was sent from a “404,” which is the area code for Atlanta and its closest suburbs.

Bryant became a first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference defensive back by his senior season in 2019 after making 107 tackles (2.5 for loss). In his career, he played in 43 games for Austin Peay with 242 tackles, three forced fumbles, and an interception.

 

 

Free-agent DB tricked by person imitating Falcons DC Dean Pees

For small-school prospects, especially those who go undrafted, NFL opportunities are few and far between.

For small-school prospects, especially those who go undrafted, NFL opportunities are few and far between. They have to make the most of their chances and even then, it doesn’t work out more often than not. 

But what happens when you get a text from Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees inviting you to Atlanta’s three-day rookie minicamp, and arrive only to find out you were scammed by an impostor and there is no tryout spot for you?

That’s what happened over the weekend to defensive back Juantarius Bryant, an undrafted free agent out of Austin Peay that fell victim to a cruel prank. Bryant released the following message over Twitter explaining what happened.

“I do not know or understand why this happened, but I do know that everything happens for a reason,” wrote Bryant. “Yes, this was heartbreaking or me, but just another stepping stone that I am not afraid to admit or overcome. At the end of the day, this will not make or break me.”

Hopefully someone gives the the aspiring NFL safety a real opportunity in the near future. Things are hard enough for undrafted free agents, being cat-fished by an impostor defensive coordinator is just throwing salt in the wound. 

[lawrence-related id=73001,72973,72912,72989,72931]

[vertical-gallery id=72944]

Former Austin Peay DB victim of brutal Atlanta Falcons tryout hoax

Someone played a cruel hoax on ex-Austin Peay DB Juantarius Bryant

This crosses the line between cruel and evil.

Juantarius Bryant, a former defensive back at Austin Peay, received a text from a 404 area code claiming to be from Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees. Bryant was being invited to the Falcons’ camp for a tryout.

Only the text was not from Pees, it was an impostor claiming to be the 71-year-old longtime NFL assistant.

When Bryant arrived at what he believed was going to be a tryout, he was turned away. COVID-19 protocols limited the number of tryout players a team could have at its rookie minicamps.

Bryant showed total class in his response to being the victim of a cruel hoax.

“I honestly would not like the person who pulled this stunt on me to be publicly humiliated,” he told ESPN via email. “I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.”

USAT

Bryant’s agent has been in touch with the Falcons.

Bryant became a first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference defensive back by his senior season in 2019 after making 107 tackles (2.5 for loss). In his career, he played in 43 games for Austin Peay with 242 tackles, three forced fumbles, and an interception.