Before He Became a Star Boxer . . . Bryant Jennings

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 On Franklin's hoops squad in '03

   On July 26, 2014, at Madison Square Garden, Bryant Jennings won a split decision over Mike Perez to earn a shot at the WBC world heavyweight title. Now going by "By-By," Jennings starred in football at Ben Franklin High (third team All-City defensive lineman) and was also a member of the basketball team (sixth man/starter). Below, you'll find a story written in the fall of 2002 (he's a man of many talents -- smile!) as well as a small chunk from a notes column in the fall of 2001 (also has a flair the unusual). Best of luck, Bryant!!   
 
Jennings artfully leads Franklin to victory
By TED SILARY
Bryant Jennings perhaps could have gotten away with slinging mud on his opponents' jerseys.

"It's what I do. It's who I am," he could have told the refs. "Artists. You know how we are. "

Jennings, a 6-3, 230-pound senior at Ben Franklin High, is being eyed by Syracuse, among others, for his prowess at defensive end.

But he also has an eye for fashion, hip-hop/urban variety, and the talent is putting cash in his pocket.

Bring Jennings a T-shirt, jeans, hat, sweatshirt, etc., and he'll splash-paint thereon a design or message of your choosing. The pricing policy is all over the map, on purpose.

"If you're one of our football players, and I'm cool with you, it's $10 to $15," he said, smiling. "If you're somebody from around the way, it's $20. If I don't know you, it's $25. That's mostly what people say it should be, anyway. I mean, I'm getting that price from them.

"I do great work. People like it. And you get it overnight. And the only reason it's overnight is so the paint can dry. "

The budding business is called B/Y Denim. B/Y is a shortened version of Big Young Boy, Jennings' ex-nickname. Two-way tackle Edwin "Goose" Cruz, an air-brushing specialist, is also in the fold.

Yesterday at Roxborough, showing an ability to run down ballcarriers even on the opposite sideline, Jennings made seven tackles (two were sacks for 19 yards) and forced a fumble as the Electrons rolled to an 18-0 Public League win against Overbrook.

While acknowledging Jennings is raw, Franklin coach Allen Rushing feels he has plenty of promise.

"He doesn't have much technique yet," Rushing said. "But at least now we have him constantly going forward. He gets held a lot. That's the only way teams can stop him. "

Jennings never played youth football, and was late in getting himself organized to play as a freshman.

"I'm caught up now, though," he said. "I'm pretty good.

"I love gettin' a piece of that quarterback. I love going in there and messing up what he's trying to do. The tackle right across from me? I love proving him to be soft. When the tight end comes to my side, I love bumping him hard and making sure he can't get out there to make a catch. "

Good, ol' Bryant Jennings is something of talker, eh?

"Oh, yeah," he said, laughing. "I talk that good stuff. I try to get in guys' heads. Make 'em a little scared.

"I've been listed on some recruiting lists as one of the top guys in the state. One of only maybe five guys from The Pub. That makes me feel good because usually it's the Catholic, Inter-Ac and suburban guys that get the attention. When Syracuse was here to play Temple, their assistant came to school to talk to me. "

Jestin Brisbon (12 carries, 111 yards) scored the first touchdown on a 55-yard dash, 1 minute, 50 seconds before halftime. As the third quarter began, Tariq Sabree caught the kickoff on the 18 and started running directly to his left. Jesse Edney came in the opposite direction, took a handoff and went 82 yards untouched - no one was even remotely close - for a score. Edney added a TD run in the waning moments.

Overbrook quarterback Neil Fisher turned a scramble into a marvelous, 58-yard TD, but it was nullified by a penalty.

Jennings lives near 25th and Oxford, in North Philly, and plans a career in sports or art.

"In time," he said, "I'm hoping to make my own stuff."

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       PASSING ALONG some city high school football tidbits . . .
      The Way-Strange Touchdown Club has a new member.
      Franklin's Bryant Jennings scored against Edison by recovering a punt in the end zone. Not a blocked punt. Just a punt.
      Keenan Nelson kicked the ball at the goal line, but it popped straight up and bounced a yard deep, where Jennings fell on it.
      Mastbaum's Forrest Pearson scored an identical TD vs. Edison in 1992. Lest we forget, Edison also "completed" a punt in that game. Steve Wallace chased down a bad snap and somehow kicked the ball into the stomach of teammate Robert Bettis, who held on and rumbled for a 6-yard gain. The refs said the play was legal because Bettis caught the ball behind the line of scrimmage.