ABOUT BRYAN

Bryan Willingham lettered three years in football and track as a student at Pasadena High School. A go-to receiver for the Eagles football team, he was a member of the one-mile and two-mile relays that set school records in 1971.

Bryan earned all district honors as a safety and split end receiver his junior year and split end his senior year. He led the 1970 Eagles District Championship Football team in widereceiving with 48 receptions for 695 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning the Most Valuable Player award.

After graduation, Bryan represented Pasadena in the Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star Football Game in Fort Worth, setting an unprecedented receiving record of 11 catches for 172 yards and three touchdowns. Bryan subsequently earned the Most Valuable Lineman Award for the South’s 65-0 victory.

Bryan went on to sign with the University of Houston, setting receiving records as early as freshman year, earning the Walter Caldwell Jr. Award as the Most Valuable Freshman Football Player in 1971, and MVP award at the Shrine Bowl, with eight catches for 162 yards and five touchdowns.

He performed exceptionally well during his junior year at UH, catching an impressive 83-yard touchdown pass and completing 16 catches for 328 yards.

Bryan started three years as a split end, leading the No. 9 ranked 11-1 Cougars in receiving, averaging 20 yards per catch in 1973.