By Tim Morse

The Albany Herald

ALBANY, Ga. — A quick glance across the Hampton Smith football practice fields at Albany State University and it’s hard not to notice No. 74.

That guy happens to be senior left tackle Danny Bunch, a 6-foot-5, 350-pound left tackle, whom teammates say they’re glad he’s on their team.

He is the guy tasked to protect quarterback Frank Rivers’ blind side, and there aren’t too many defensive linemen or linebackers that get the better of him.

“You’re going to know when he’s on the field,” sophomore cornerback Kel Miller said. “He’s a big guy.”

Bunch said he’s been bigger, as big as 390, before he lost weight this summer. When he started on the offensive front in high school at Warren Central, skill players always followed behind him.

“You know high school, we were a running team,” Bunch said. “Run, run, run. We always ran to the right.”

After high school, he landed at Hinds Community College before transferring to Division II Albany State.

His father’s side of the family has produced a few college athletes and even a professional standout. Defensive tackle Michael Myers, a former Vicksburg High star, is his uncle. Myers played 10 seasons in the NFL with Dallas, Cleveland, Denver and Cincinnati, from 1998-2007.

So how did Bunch get his size?

“I grew up in Mississippi, and we fry a lot of things,” he said. “My favorite food is fried chicken, so you know I’m going to be a big boy. It’s just good southern cooking. I came from a big family also.

“My mom, she knows how to throw it down. I’ve got seven sisters and brothers so every time we eat, it’s a big meal.”

Fried chicken, cornbread and black-eyed peas are just a few items on the menu that gets Bunch excited. He said he misses his family’s home-cooked meals in Mississippi, but he’s found a handful of soul food restaurants nearby to satisfy his cravings.

He said football wasn’t his first love, instead playing more basketball and baseball before eventually trying the game he in which he would find the most success.

His size and speed is what attracted ASU coach Mike White to sign him.

“He’s probably the most powerful guy we have,” White said. “He’s a very good offensive lineman. When he wants to he can be the man, there’s no question about that. But we needed offensive line help and he’s really good, especially on the run because he can move people out and that’s what we brought him here for. And he’s done a good job for us.”

Bunch is a player the Rams know they can depend on.

“We’ve got a couple of weakside plays we run on my side,” he said. “In the goal line formations, they’ll move me over. Run behind No. 74 if you want to score.”