STARKVILLE — Brandon Bryant wants to become a focal point of the Mississippi State football defense.

So instead of wearing No. 20, which he wore last season as a redshirt freshman, the rising sophomore decided to change his number to something that was more conducive to the way he was feeling about his game and his role.

The safety, who is expected to make an impact, will wear No. 1 this upcoming season and has already donned the number as the Bulldogs are going through spring practice.

“I just want to be the No. 1 player on the field,” Bryant said. “I just want people to know my existence when I step onto the field on defense.”

The Tunica native made Bulldog fans and opposing Southeastern Conference teams take notice of him last season as he registered 63 tackles (two for loss), 1.5 sacks, three interceptions, three pass breakups and one forced fumble.

He began the season as a backup, but senior Kendrick Market suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Oct. 3 against Texas A&M and Bryant became the starter. He started the final eight games, including five SEC games and the Belk Bowl win against North Carolina State.

Last year was a learning curve for Bryant who had to watch from the sidelines in 2014 as the Bulldogs rose to No. 1 for five weeks. But with the experience under his belt, he is viewing this spring very differently from last spring.

“I have to come in with a different mind-set every day, keep coming out and competing,” Bryant said. “I just learned a lot of techniques, fundamentals, why we do things on the field and why we run the plays that we run against these kinds of formations and sets.

“I feel very comfortable because I’ve got that experience to come here and play every day. Now it’s just me learning and keep moving forward.”

During the last two seasons, Bryant spent time learning from coach Tony Hughes, but Hughes left after the season ended to take over the Jackson State program. Former Iowa State coach Maurice Linguist was hired this offseason and before ever seeing Bryant on the field, he was impressed with him.

“He jumped in my meeting room and he was eager to want to know everything,” Linguist said. “He wanted to ask questions. What are we running? Where are you from? He’s like a young puppy, a young dog. He just wants to learn, run and hit. He’s got great energy about himself.”

Linguist said the biggest thing with Bryant is focusing and controlling that energy, but said there is no doubt that Bryant is confident in himself and his game.

Linguist wants that confidence to continue to grow in Bryant, but said it has to come from Bryant’s ability to learn the game and grasping concepts that are being taught and not having them pointed out.

“True confidence is when you have a demonstrated ability in something,” Linguist said. “I can jump, yell and shout, but when a guy does it himself, that confidence in his heart and his mind really grows.”

The safeties were young last season and the only loss is Market, who wasn’t a factor down the stretch. Linguist understands that there will be trust issues being a new coach, but he said it can’t be a two-year process and that there has to be blind trust from both parties.

That’s where the veterans and leaders step in to get the ball rolling with the transition to Linguist. Bryant has taken that upon himself.

“I think me and (senior) Kivon (Coman) are the top leaders in our unit right now,” Bryant said. “We’re not playing as one individual, we’re playing as a unit. We’re out leading each other and helping each other every day.”

There is no doubt in Linguist’s mind that the 5-foot-11, 205-pound Bryant has a lot of potential because of his athleticism. But he says being a good athlete won’t make Bryant a good player.

He believes that Bryant has all the intangibles to be a great player, but ultimately, it’s up to Bryant.

“His mental temperament right now is really good,” Linguist said. “He wants to learn, he wants to come in here and meet extra, he wants to watch extra film, he wants to stay after practice, that’s why I feel like he’s going to have a high ceiling.”

Bryant is not taking the No. 1 jersey lightly because players like Nickoe Whitley, Chad Bumphis and most recently De’Runnya Wilson have worn it. He understands there is an expectation with the jersey, but he’s ready to accept the challenge.

“Now that I’ve got it, I’ve got to be a playmaker too,” Bryant said. “Everybody thinks No. 1 is the best player on the field, so that’s what I want to be this year.”

Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait

Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.