Senior defensive tackle Red Bryant is back to form a year after knee surgery.

“It’s been very fulfilling this year,” said Bryant, who has 28 tackles, including a sack. “Each week was a challenge, getting my confidence back, learning how to play through it, little small things.”

The 6-foot-5, 324-pound Bryant had 19 tackles with a sack in the first nine games last season. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against Oklahoma State and missed A&M’s final five games. He had surgery Nov. 17.

He was tentative heading into preseason camp, thinking about how easily he could re-injure the knee. Once the season started, the fear faded.

“I always had the confidence,” he said, “but you’ve still got to get out there and get cut-blocked, chop-blocked, during the course of a game.”

Bryant finally felt like his comeback was complete when he made five tackles in a 24-23 win over Oklahoma State three weeks ago.

“They do a great job with their blocking schemes,” Bryant said. “You just really had to push yourself and run to the ball. When we got a chance to watch the film (after the game), I felt like my old self, just being able to slant and move laterally. I put it together.”