photo courtesy of Tameula Trivett

This Johnson County High School (Tenn.) senior standout defensive back stands at 5'7", 155 pounds, but makes up for it with a positive attitude that led to him being a first-team all-Mountain Lakes selection last year.

Bryant is usually one of the smallest players on the field, but he doesn't let that stand in the way of making great plays. He uses a relentless work ethic and an unwavering faith in God to get him through.

"The first thing is you have to live for the Lord and if you do that everything will come in line," he said. "I am smaller and a little slower, but working hard makes up for it."

Bryant has some of the intangibles that go into making a great football player. One of those is having a big heart. In addition to being a caring person, Bryant has one of the most positive attitudes a player can possess.

"Heart is where everything is," he said. "I love the game. I love playing and I love working to play the game. My heart and the love and passion for the game has carried me through the last few years."

Though Bryant is a leader on the team, he's a quiet one. He doesn't criticize his teammates, but instead lets his actions do the talking for him.

"Your actions do speak louder than your words," he said. "I'm not going to lead by telling people what to do. As a leader they should be watching me anyway. It doesn't really matter if you're not leading vocally. If they're watching you, then you are leading. I do lead by my actions. If I lie down and give up, then everybody else will. But if I step up a notch, somebody else will step up a notch.”

Bryant started late in the season as a sophomore and then burst on to the scene last year. He made such a big impression that when it came down to pick all-MLC, Bryant was a clear-cut choice.

"I started that Tennessee High game my sophomore year and did all right, then my junior year I came in and figured it would be a little rough. But if you have the heart and passion to play the game, that's where the success comes in."

JCHS head coach Mike Atwood is proud of how Bryant has overcome so many obstacles to be a great football player.

"Cody exemplifies the kinds of players we like here," he said. "He's undersized, but he works hard in the off-season and if you have a lot of heart and give everything you have, you can be successful in football. Cody is probably our hardest worker and our most dedicated player and it shows. He's a real good guy. If all our kids were like him this would be the best job in the world."

Bryant is very open about his faith in God. He says that Jesus Christ has been his strength on and off the football field.

"We're supposed to do everything for the glory of God," he said. "He died for me and he gave me the talent to play football, so the least I can do is go out and play for Him. That's where it is. Even though I love playing the game, I love playing for Him. My relationship in Christ and Him working through me, speaks louder than words because people see that. People know I'm a Christian and that's leadership too. People see that and wonder, 'what's wrong with him, he's acting different than everybody else.' That's Christ living through me and that carries over to the football field as well. He gives me the strength to play the game."

With this being Bryant's final go-around at JCHS, he's hoping to be able to play at the next level.

"I would love to have four more years of playing ball, but it's according to God's will. It's up to Him, but I would love to play."

FCA Connection

Cody attended FCA Football Camp this summer at Gardner-Webb in North Carolina. After camp, Cody decided that his High School needed an FCA Huddle. So, he is currently working to get everything organized for JCHS to have an active Huddle for his senior year.