Rick Bryan

Rick Bryan was born in Tulsa and was all-state at Coweta High School, where a coach moved him from linebacker to defensive tackle. He was later named to the Tulsa World's all-century team. At Oklahoma he was first-team All-Big Eight three times and the Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year twice (1982, 1983). He was a consensus All-American in 1982 and a unanimous All-American in 1983. Atlanta drafted him ninth overall in 1984, and he spent his whole 10-season career with the Falcons (1984–1993), finishing with 29 sacks. Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report have called him the best college player ever to wear No. 80. His brothers Steve and Mitch also played at OU. He died on July 25, 2009. The Oklahoman wrote on November 18, 1981: "Tackle Rick Bryan is the only Oklahoma defensive player with a legitimate chance to make first-team All-Big Eight." The Oklahoman wrote on September 15, 1984: "Nor does Steve Bryan, younger brother of Rick, the two-time OU All-America now a rookie starter for the Atlanta Falcons, and Mitch, another ex-Sooner."