STATESBORO – The roar of thousands of Eagles fans echoed through Allen E. Paulson Stadium as freshman walk-on Tripp Bryant stepped onto the field for his first career field goal attempt.
 
In that moment, Georgia Southern's trust in him – and his belief in himself – came full circle.
 
With an extensive high school résumé, Bryant set his sights on competing at the collegiate level, and Georgia Southern was the first one in line, setting the stage for his journey as an Eagle.
 
"Going into my junior year, this was my first offer to play at the next level, so I came on a visit," Bryant said. "At first, I wasn't completely sure, but as the recruiting process went on, I felt the atmosphere and saw how Georgia Southern ran its program, and I fell in love with it. I had other offers, but none of them felt as much like home. The connection I built with the coaching staff from day one was unmatched anywhere else."
 
Scholarship or not, the team's culture is built on accountability – a standard upheld by every player.
 
"The guys don't view me as a walk-on," Bryant said. "Actually, when I tell them, they are surprised. And it's not the first question they ask – whether you're a walk-on – they don't view you like that. They view you as somebody who can help the team, and that's special. Not many programs are like that. Everyone's committed to pushing each other in the right direction."
 
As the tight race for the starting kicker role unfolded in the preseason, it was Bryant's work ethic and consistency that gave him the slight edge over teammate TJ Hartley III.
 
"To start, TJ is my guy, and I wish him the best too, but at the end of the day, only one of us can step on the field," Bryant said. "That was tough. Our position differs from that of wide receivers because only one of us can be out there at a time. The competition started as soon as I got here and was told the spot was open. Throughout the summer and fall camp, we charted kicks and tracked results, and it ultimately worked out in my favor. I'm just blessed for the opportunity."
 
He recounted the moment his long-time dream finally became reality.
 
"Coming into it, I always had in the back of my head – as a goal of mine – to come in and play as a freshman," Bryant said. "But for it to actually happen was different. It really set in that I had to prepare like a starter, making sure I handled everything on and off the field, from treatment to preparation, so I'd be ready to go on Saturdays."
 
Surrounded by teammates who rally behind him, he pointed to accountability and trust as the foundation of the special teams' bond.
 
"From day one, we've always been supportive of each other, but we also hold each other accountable when things aren't going right," Bryant said. "That's one of the best parts about how close we are; we know not to take it personally but as motivation to improve. In my job, I rely on Jackson (Wheeler) and Alex (Smith). Jackson has to snap it, Alex has to catch and place it, and one mistake can throw off the whole operation. Coming in, they expected the most out of me, and that pushed me beyond what I thought I could do."
 
After going without an attempt in either game in California, Bryant finally got his chance in the home opener against Jacksonville State. In front of 24,585 fans – the fifth-largest crowd in the Paulson Stadium history which included his family – he drilled a 37-yard field goal at the end of the first quarter to officially kick off his collegiate career.
 
By the fourth quarter, he delivered again – drilling a 43-yarder to tie the game – a game in which the Eagles went on to win, 41-34.
 
"After the first game, the coaches told me, 'Just stay ready; your time will come,'" Bryant said. "Honestly, nothing changed for me. I prepared the same way every week, whether I was kicking none or several. Getting two field goals in the home opener was pretty special, and it's something I'll remember for a long time."
 
Looking ahead, Bryant had a candid message for the fans.
 
"We're moving in the right direction," Bryant said. "It's about leaving the past behind and focusing on continuing to get better every day."
 
Game Six will be played at Paulson Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 9, at 8 p.m. ET. Tune in on ESPN2 or the Georgia Southern Sports Network. Tickets are available through GSEagles.com/Tickets.