Auburn defensive end Big Kat Bryant (real name Markaviest Bryant) is expected to have a breakout junior season in 2019 after playing a supporting role on Auburn’s defensive line his first two seasons on campus.
The Crisp County, Georgia native has not gone by Markaviest in years. Bryant has spoken publicly before about how the nickname started with his mother, who called him Cat as a child. Family and friends picked it up quickly, as did coaches and teammates when he got to high school. But during the middle of practice his junior year, his former coach, Shelton Felton, yelled to Bryant, "Big Cat, bring you a-- here!