ORLANDO, Fla — Take one step on the field and the energy can be felt in the air at a Jones High School football practice.

That’s exactly what Malik Bryant is looking for every day.

“That electric energy all throughout practice. Seeing the excitement in the guys. Seeing them all really want to get after it. It’s all just a blessing to be back with them, playing with them, and chasing greatness this year,” said Bryant, who is a rising senior at Jones High School.

The 6-foot-two-inch linebacker is back with the Tigers for his senior year.

“Oh awesome. Anytime you get a player of his caliber to come back home, last time he was here we went to the state championship,” said Elijah Williams, the head football coach at Jones.

That was Bryant’s freshman year back in 2019 when Jones came up just short of the 5A State Title.

After that, he transferred to IMG Academy for his sophomore and junior seasons, where he was able to gain a lot of attention from college coaches. Bryant racked up more than 40 college football offers, but after two years, it was time to come home for one last dance.

“The feeling of being home and being able to play in front of my friends and family, where I started at, the community. I just feel like I’m just giving back to them, giving them what they deserve. Go out here and try to win a state title my senior year,” said Bryant.

Bryant is chasing greatness for a town that made him who he is today.

“A lot of people say it takes a village to raise a child. Just being from this community, you have family and friends all over. So you could talk to anyone from your community, be able to mentor anyone from your community, and they listen. Just gravitate towards your energy because they know where you came from and they know where you’re trying to get to,” said Bryant.

“It’s hard to find one like him. He’s very mature beyond his years. He understands, he observes, and he’s a leader. Just a great young man,” said Williams.

As Bryant continues to climb to the top, he wants his story to come full circle.

“That’s who I really want to impact is the youth, so just being able to show them the right role model and say this is the way to do it the right way. You can either play sports or throw your life away to something that’s not important. I want to be the outlet and the leader for them to look up to,” said Bryant.