Striving For Perfection

NOTE: This feature story on Bryce Huff first appeared in the Sept. 7 Memphis Football GameDay program when the Tigers hosted Southern.

For those Tigers fans finishing up their summer reading, were any of these books on your lists: The Art of War by Sun Tzu, or Relentless by Tim Grover, or Mind Time: How Ten Mindful Minutes Can Enhance Your Work, Health and Happiness by Megan Reitz and Michael Chaskalson?

Those books were on a University of Memphis player's list. His name: Bryce Huff. His reason: attempting to become more unplugged.

"Lately, I've been reading motivational books and books that hone leadership skills and maintain mental focus, being able to clear your mind," said Huff, who is from Mobile, Ala. "In an era where we're always stimulated by our phones or laptops or tablets, I'm learning to clear my mind and control my thoughts.

"During the summer, I read two to three books a month. But since camp started, most of my time has been taken up by practice and film study."

His next read is The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell. Huff said Director of Recruiting Operations Sherman Morris recommended it to him.

"I've read the summary, and I'm going to pick it up from him (Morris) and start reading," said Huff. "If a coach recommends it, I read it."

And that's how his intense passion for reading began. It was last season in his position meetings that Huff received his packet of information to prepare for that week's opponent. The packet included the game plan along with a chapter from a book to read. Huff was hooked.

"Last year, Coach (Joe) Lorig, my position coach, would give us a tips folder with our keys for the game," said Huff. "At the end of our packet, there was a chapter from the book, Relentless by Tim Grover. I'd read a chapter every week, and at the end of the season, we still had some chapters left so he just gave me the book. I finished the book, and I've re-read it as well."

Huff's development on and off the field is something that's been noticed by head coach Mike Norvell.

"Bryce wants to grow, continue to develop," Norvell said. "That's something you like seeing in your players. Going into your senior year, to see that personal challenge he's had for himself to be a more well-rounded individual is great. To put that with his physical development is something
I'm really pleased with."

The development is something that delights the Memphis coaches, but has proven troublesome for opponents' staffs as they try to find ways to stop the 6-foot-3, 255-pound Huff.

Last season, Huff was a human-wrecking ball for opposing offenses. He led the Tigers in tackles for loss (19), tackles for loss yardage (80), sacks (9.5) and sack yardage (53) and ranked among the top-three in the American Athletic Conference in all four statistical categories. He also tied for the team lead in quarterback hurries. Huff's tackles for loss, tackle for loss yardage and sacks cracked the top-10 on the season charts in the Memphis record book.

"Bryce has been such a good player for us," said Norvell. "It's been fun to watch his development. He plays with great passion, and he has a lot of talent. We're expecting big things from him."

Those good things Norvell and his staff are expecting from Huff will come closer to the line of scrimmage with his position change in 2019. Huff played linebacker his first three seasons as a Tiger and now moves to the defensive line. According to his coaches, the position change was a no-brainer.

"That's where his skills are," said defensive coordinator Adam Fuller. "He plays with an unrelenting effort to the ball. He's got a good skill set for the position he plays because he plays with good speed. You watch him in conditioning, he conditions with the defensive backs, so he pushes himself. He's got a high motor, and we're relying on him this year."

Defensive line coach Tim Edwards added, "He's impactful. Hopefully moving him closer to the ball will get him physically closer to the ball. We moved him to the line to develop his game. I know he has dreams of doing other stuff, and this adds another piece to his game to show his versatility."

The move was brilliant in Memphis' season opener against Ole Miss. From his new defensive end position, Huff led the Tigers with five solo stops, including the biggest tackle of the game. After an Adam Williams' punt pinned Ole Miss near its goal line, the Rebels looked to pass on first down. Huff, though, flew unabated around the left end of the offensive line and sacked the quarterback in the end zone for a safety with just over six minutes remaining. The Rebels never got another chance to touch the ball.

From his play in the season opener, Huff was comfortable in his new role. However, he was at ease through the entire process.

"When Coach Fuller came here, he told me I was going to play hybrid (linebacker) again," said Huff. "As we got closer to spring camp, he told me I was moving to end. I was already mentally preparing myself to be in the three-point stance. I know some people resist change, but I played in the three-point stance most of my high school career, so the transition was pretty easy for me.

"It's helped speed up my game a little bit. Being in the three-point stance, I can be aggressive and go make things happen. I can make a lot of impact plays."

While the move was smooth, growing into a leader is something Huff has had to work on, so he turned to reading books on the subject in his spare time.

"Heading into this season, I've been thinking a lot about my playing career. I've been playing football since I was four years old," Huff said. "My entire life has led up to this moment, this year. If I don't take full advantage of it, then I have wasted the past 16, 17 years of my life. I'm trying to take steps to be a better player and a better leader."

The coaches also have noticed Huff's desire to develop his leadership qualities.

"He's learning to be a leader," said Edwards. "That's not a role he's familiar with, but he's trying. He's trying to expand his game. With every opportunity he gets, he's putting more tools in his toolbox.

"Bryce is hungry for knowledge. He probably asks the most questions of anyone in our meetings. He doesn't want to fail. He has a perfectionist type of mentality to get it done and get it done right."

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