Gary Brightwell

RB

#37

Experience: R

Height: 6-1

Age: 23

Weight: 218 lbs

College: Arizona

Biography

Originally a 6th-round (196th pick overall) draft choice by the Giants in 2021.

TRANSACTIONS:

Originally a 6th-round (196th pick overall) draft choice by the Giants in 2021.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

Played in 40 games with 7 starts at Arizona…After playing slot receiver as a freshman, Brightwell switched to running back and had 245 carries for 1,305 yards (5.3-yard avg.) and 9 touchdowns. He also recorded 19 receptions for 121 yards and one score…Averaged 17.2 yards on 5 kickoff returns…Recorded 8 tackles (7 solo) on special teams.
As a senior in 2020, started all 5 of Arizona's games…Named All-Pac-12 honorable mention…Led the Wildcats with 88 carries for 390 yards and one touchdown…Caught 13 passes for 53 yards…Eclipsed the 100-yard mark in 2 of his 5 games after entering the year with three 100-yard rushing games in 23 career appearances…Recorded a season-high 117 yards and scored his only touchdown of the season on a career-high 22 carries vs. Colorado…Had 21 attempts for 112 yards and registered a season-best 132 all-purpose yards vs. USC…Set a career high with 4 catches at Washington.
In 2019, played in 11 games with 2 starts…Rushed for 390 yards and 5 touchdowns on 66 carries (5.9-yard avg.) and caught 4 passes for 59 yards and one touchdown…Added 39 yards on 3 kickoff returns and had 3 special teams tackles...Rushed for a career-high 141 yards on just 5 carries, including a 94-yard touchdown, vs. Northern Arizona…The 94-yarder was the Wildcats' longest play from scrimmage in 2019 and tied Nic Grigsby (2009 vs. Northern Arizona) for the 2nd-longest run in school history...Carried 21 times for 85 yards and 2 touchdowns vs. Texas Tech…Started vs. UCLA and rushed for 33 yards and one touchdown on 7 carries...Finished with 54 yards and one touchdown on five carries and caught a 38-yard touchdown pass vs. Oregon State (Nov. 2), while also adding a 38-yard touchdown reception against the Beavers...Concluded the season with 33 yards on 5 carries and one catch for 6 yards at Arizona State.
In 2018, played in 11 games…Finished with career-high totals of 91 carries for 525 yards (team-leading 5.8-yard avg.) and scored 3 touchdowns…Posted 100-yard rushing games at Oregon State (113 yards) and at UCLA (121 yards)…Caught 2 passes for 9 yards and returned 2 kickoffs for 47 yards…Tallied first career 100-yard rushing game with 113 yards on 13 carries at Oregon State… Established a then career high with 121 yards on 15 carries, including a season-long 72-yard run, at UCLA…Picked up 81 yards on 9 rushes vs. Southern Utah…Carried 4 times for 36 yards while adding a 32-yard kickoff return vs. Arizona State.
In 2017, played in all 13 games, primary as a key contributor on special teams…Lined up as a slot receiver, but did not record any offensive statistics…Made 2 special teams tackles.

PERSONAL:

Majored in literacy, learning and leadership…Began his prep career at St. George's Tech in Delaware, where he rushed for 1,309 yards as a junior…Transferred to Baltimore's St. Frances Academy as a senior in 2016 and ran for 1,715 yards and averaged 6.7 yards a carry…Served as team captain as a senior, when he was named first-team all-conference and first-team All-State MIAA…Son of Gary Brightwell Sr., and Carla Young.