| abstract | - Dorien Lamar Bryant (born March 19, 1985) is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He went undrafted in the 2008 NFL Draft, but later signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a free agent. Bryant placed claim to 23 school and Big Ten Conference records during his time with the Boilermakers. Bryant attended Kingsway Regional High School, where he was ranked as ninth-best wide receiver and 75th-best player in the nation by Rivals.com. Bryant signed a letter of intent to attend Boston College in 2003. But he failed to qualify academically and spent the season at Fork Union Military Academy. He caught 30 passes that year, including nine touchdowns. He then enrolled at Purdue in 2004, and caught 38 passes for 584 yards and three touchdowns, adding 85 yards on seven carries with a score. He totaled 829 all-purpose yards. In 2005, Bryant received second-team sophomore All-American honors from College Football News. He was selected College Offensive Player of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Southern New Jersey. He also led the Big Ten Conference and ranked eighth nationally with an average of 7.3 receptions per game and ranked second in the Big Ten and 30th nationally with 87.3 receiving yards per game. That season, Bryant led the team with 80 receptions for 960 yards and four touchdowns. He rushed 21 times for 101 yards and three scores, adding 500 yards and a touchdown on 21 kickoff returns. His 1,561 all-purpose yards rank eighth on the school's single-season list. As a junior, He earned first-team All-Big Ten Conference honors from the media and led the league with 6.2 receptions and 76.3 receiving yards per game, while finishing fourth with 122.0 all-purpose yards per game. His 87 receptions rank fourth on the school record list and eighth in Big Ten history, as his 1,068 yards receiving rank seventh on the Boilermaker annual record chart. He had six touchdown catches, 150 yards and two scores on 19 carries and returned 25 kickoffs for 490 yards. His 1,708 all-purpose yards rank fifth in school history. In 2007, Bryant again received All-Big Ten Conference recognition. He led the league and ranked eighth nationally with 7.27 receptions and finished second in the Big Ten with an average of 87.27 yards receiving per game. He set the school record with 2,121 all-purpose yards, as he matched his career high with 87 receptions, good for 936 yards and eight scores. He had 14 carries for 85 yards, 15 punt returns for 93 yards and set the Big Ten record with 1,007 yards on 36 kickoff returns with two scores. In 50 games at Purdue, Bryant started 36 contests as a slot receiver. He ranks second in school history with 292 receptions, third with 3,548 yards receiving and tied for fifth with 21 touchdown grabs. He gained 421 yards with six scores on 61 carries and totaled 125 yards on 22 punt returns. His 88 kickoff returns rank fifth in Big Ten history and his 2,125 yards set the school record and ranks third in conference history, scoring three times. His 6,219 all-purpose yards set the Purdue all-time record and rank fourth in Big Ten history and 16th in NCAA FBS history.
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