Football: West Adams has a 5-foot-5 wonder QB

You shake your head in wonderment when watching Faraji Bryant of Los Angeles West Adams play football. At 5 feet 5, 150 pounds, he’s the team’s starting quarterback.

When he takes off, it looks like he’s running on grass and his pursuers are running on ice. They slip, slide and almost crash into each other trying to catch up.

“Best athlete we have faced all season,” North Hollywood Coach Carlos Trujillo said after his team was beaten by West Adams, 48-28, in a City Section Division III playoff opener last week.

Bryant completed 10 of 16 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 150 yards and three touchdowns.

West Adams Coach Chae Jacobs said, “He loves football. He breathes it, sleeps it, eats it. He really wants to play at the next level.”

Bryant has played cornerback, safety, receiver, running back. He’s fast and squats 400 pounds, meaning his legs are very strong.

“You see him, then he’s gone,” Jacobs said. “He’s making people miss.”

He guided West Adams on a 99-yard scoring drive against North Hollywood. West Adams plays Reseda on Friday in a quarterfinal playoff game.

Reseda Coach Alonso Arreola was still trying to figure out on Monday how to emulate Bryant in practice to prepare his team.

“That kid is pretty fast,” Arreola said.

Bryant, a senior, said he does get puzzled looks when people find out he plays quarterback but afterward opinions change.

“Before the game, you can feel them looking at you, ‘This is the quarterback?’” he said. “After the game it’s, ‘You play hard even though you’re small.’ Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

Bryant said he’s comfortable operating in shotgun or behind center.

“People say ‘you can’t see over the line,’ but with our blocking scheme, the line moves based on where I want to go,” he said.

There’s roll outs, scrambles and even pocket passing. But when he takes off, beware.