Ty Bryant gave Kentucky a big night in Norman, but what he did after the final whistle meant just as much to him.
The fourth-year safety finished with two interceptions and nine tackles in the Wildcats’ win at Oklahoma on Saturday night, then headed straight to the stands to be with his family after the game. While other UK players were celebrating, Bryant had something else on his mind: calling the family of Neven Coofer, a 6-year-old Lexington child who died unexpectedly two weeks ago. Neven was a first-grade student at George Washington Carver STEM Academy for Boys.
Bryant had already made it clear before kickoff that Neven was with him. He sent the family a pregame video Saturday and told Neven’s parents, Gordana and Dominick Coofer, that he would wear “Neven Forever 6” on his eye black.
“He felt very strongly about representing him in the game. He wanted the family to know their grief was felt and they were not alone. Anything he could do to help folks remember Neven he wanted to do,” Coleman said.
Angela Coleman, Bryant’s mother, said the bond ran deeper than one night. She said Neven played baseball at the same park where Bryant’s nephew played, and that the children around there naturally gravitated toward him.
“Ty was playing in his honor,” said Angela Coleman, Bryant’s mother. “He played baseball at the same park where Ty’s nephew played.
A lot of kids would gravitate to Ty and Ty communicated with Neven and his older brother. He got to know them very well.”
Coleman said Bryant had visited the family and spent time with them after Neven’s passing, and that his reaction after the Oklahoma win caught her off guard.
“When the game was over, he immediately ran up and wanted my phone to let them know what he did was for Neven,” Coleman said. “He is a kind and thoughtful kid and wants to love on the community that has always wanted to love on him.
“It all kind of surprised me. I was not thinking about him doing that after the game.
When he came and said he wanted to call it caught me off guard. He had just got the interception (with 21 seconds to play) to end the game.
His teammates were all celebrating but the first thing he did was make that call.”
Bryant’s first interception helped Kentucky set up a touchdown in the third quarter, and coach Will Stein called it a “huge play” for the Cats. His second pick, with 21 seconds left, sealed the win. Bryant also had two interceptions against Ole Miss in 2025.
Before the game, Bryant had one regret: he wanted to turn one of those interceptions into a score so he could use the celebration Neven’s brother wanted to see.
“I wanted to run one (interception) back (for a touchdown) so I could do the celebration he wanted,” Bryant said.
Neven’s brother had hoped Bryant would hold up six fingers for the 6-year-old if he scored. But the family said they appreciated everything Bryant did, and they shared their support on Facebook.
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