FANNIN COUNTY SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2023
By Mike Harper
Bryant Meeks was one of the strongest athletes who ever wore the blue and white of Fannin County High School. His exploits in the Rebel weight room were legendary. At Fannin, he set all-time school records in the bench press and squat weightlifting categories. He finished third in the 2008 GHSA Area 1 Weightlifting Competition. By the time his senior year rolled around in 2008, Bryant had grown to an imposing 6’4”, 283 pounds of muscle.
His strength, complemented by an ample supply of athleticism, made Bryant a formidable force as an interior lineman for the Fannin football squad from 2005 through 2009.
Bryant garnered a host of honors during his football career at Fannin County High School where he was a starting offensive and defensive lineman for three years. He was named to the All-Region first team as a junior and again as a senior. The GACA (Georgia Athletic Coaches Association) made him a first team All-State selection after his junior season in 2007. The next season, 2008, saw him honored again as a first team All-Stater as selected by the Atlanta Journal/Constitution.
He had an overall career blocking efficiency rating of 86% and was named to the Georgia North vs South All-Star team following his senior season. He was one of an elite group of 40 outstanding players selected to compete for the North squad in the All-Star contest played in Columbus December 29, 2008.
He was selected as the team Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2007 and 2008. He was selected by the Fannin coaches to the 2001-2010 All-Decade offensive team as a Guard/Tackle.
Team highlights during the career of Bryant Meeks at Fannin High include a 2007 Region Championship and a string of three consecutive victories over archrival Gilmer County.
Bryant had a monster season during the 2007 region championship season. He was one of the team’s leading tacklers and was named as the Defensive Player of the Week twice for his performances in games with Gilmer and Putnam County. In the Putnam County game, a narrow 13-11 Rebel victory, he led the team with seven tackles, including three for a loss. In the final regular season game against Morgan County, Bryant had a team high eleven tackles, including three sacks leading the Rebels to a 21-14 victory and the Region 7AA championship. Coach Clark Drennan used Bryant at several positions defensively, primarily as a defensive end.
Bryant also competed in the shot put and discus throw for the Fannin track and field team for three seasons. He won both events at the War Eagle Invitational in April of 2008.
Following his graduation from high school in the spring of 2009, Bryant was awarded a full scholarship to continue his athletic career and education at Georgia Southern University (GSU) in Statesboro, Georgia. He joined an elite group of previous Fannin County High School offensive lineman, who are also members of the Hall of Fame, in having the opportunity to play at the college level. In addition to his fellow 2023 inductee Logan Daves, who also competed at Georgia Southern, former Rebel offensive lineman who played at the next level include Tim Jabaley at UTC, Alan Collis at Carson-Newman and Chris Williams at the University of North Alabama.
A chronic knee condition had plagued Bryant late in his high school career. He had been able, however, to ‘play through the pain’ and perform at a very high level. After one year at Georgia Southern, the condition made it impossible for Bryant to continue his football career. He stayed at the school and went on to earn a degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. He also earned his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certificate and worked with the GSU strength and conditioning staff during this period.
At present, Bryant lives in Atlanta and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist at BAM Fitness and Nutrition. He also works as a guide at Ocoee Rafting leading groups in whitewater rafting adventures on the Ocoee River, site of the 1996 Olympic whitewater events.
Bryant Meeks is enjoying life in the big city. building his career and enjoying a lot of outdoor time. He and his girlfriend Sandra have two dogs, a pit bull and a half miniature schnauzer and half Chihuahua mix.
Bryant is a member of something of a ‘youth movement’ in the 2023 Fannin County Hall of Fame induction class. Four of the inductees, including Bryant, are in their early 30s and much of their life stories are still to come. The Hall of Fame is proud to recognize Bryant and the other youngsters for their accomplishments to this point in their lives.