Hays High head football coach Tony Crough describes senior Bryce Salmans as "one of the five best football players in my five years here."
Lofty praise for a program that has turned out numerous players every year that have landed every where from the junior college ranks to Division I.
Thursday morning, Salmans signed his National Letter of Intent to stay in Hays and play for the Tigers of Fort Hays State University.
Bryce Salmans
Salmans missed his entire freshman sports campaign with a broken leg. He would have been back in time for track season but that was canceled when school was shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic.
His sophomore season was spent at the varsity level primarily on special teams. Offense was the home for him as a junior and then became a two-way starter his senior year. On defense he became a defensive end, where he is projected to start his collegiate career, and was name the Defensive Player of the Year in the Western Athletic Conference. The 2022 campaign ended with Salmans recording 57 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, five sacks, three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.
While on offense, Salmans was an H-back and tight end. However, for one playoff game, he was starting running back when Malik Bah was out with injury. He piled up 120 rushing yards on 16 carries and scored two times.
Coach Tony Crough
Staying in Hays and playing for the Tigers at Lewis Field Stadium was something that appealed to the senior who has had a lifelong dream of playing college football. Now instead of maroon and gold, he will wear the black and gold of Fort Hays State University.