Senior Bryson Hankins is coming off a successful final season as a Roadrunner in which he was named First Team All-Big West, becoming the first CSUB athlete to earn the honors. During the 2023 season, Hankins earned 10 points with 3 goals and 4 assists as a full back on defense. While at Bakersfield, he amassed 42 starts in 44 total appearances for a total of 3,596 minutes played. The Bakersfield-native reflects on his career and time representing his hometown in this segment of Getting to Know. 

Being a veteran student athlete, what advice would you give to the new athletes just beginning their careers at CSUB? 
I would say that CSUB is a tough program, but for all the right reasons. CSUB will teach you about hard work, dedication, and what it means to work for something that is bigger than yourself. It is a tight knit program that is very culture-driven and my advice would be to pay attention and learn from the culture because it will not only help you improve on the field but as a person. Another piece of advice would be to not take moments spent here for granted. To be a student-athlete at Bakersfield is a special thing and it is important to cherish every moment, because the college years will fly by. 

What were your favorite memories while being at Bakersfield? 
My favorite memories at Bakersfield were the home event games. When we were able to bring big crowds to the games, it brought a special feeling when you walk onto the field and see a big crowd supporting you. Also, the team became family for me, so hanging out with them outside of school and soccer brought and continues to bring tons of memories.  

You grew up in Bakersfield and transferred back here, what was that decision like for you? 
The decision was easy for me. I felt like I needed to come home, and I am so glad that I did. After being away for about 4 years, I made my mind up right away that I wanted to come back and be close to my family. Richie Grant also played a big part in my decision; he was able to show me about the culture of the program and that excited me, making me want to be a part of CSUB Men's Soccer. 

What was it like representing your hometown and playing in your backyard these last couple of years? 
It is a different feeling when you can do what you love around the people you love. I am lucky to have a family that will always be my #1 supporters so it meant the world for me to be in a spot where they can come to all the games and support me. Being able to represent my hometown also gave me more motivation. I can relate to the kids growing up here playing soccer and I want to be someone that the kids in Bakersfield can look up to and I hope that I can motivate kids in the community to chase their dreams and become whoever they want to be. 

You were named First-Time All Big West, what does that honor mean to you? 
Being named All Big West was a big accomplishment for me and I am very happy that I was given this honor. It is something that I have been working for since I arrived at CSUB. I am very grateful to have a good coaching staff and players around me, I wouldn't have been able to do it without them. 

What are some other activities you like to do outside of soccer? 
I like to go golfing with the boys.  

As a business major, what are your career goals after soccer? 
I would like to find a career in marketing. I would want to stay in the sports scene and get a job in marketing with a sports team, but even if that didn't work out, I would be happy doing marketing in a company. 

What does it mean to be Bakersfield made? 
Bakersfield is a hard-working, blue-collar community. Being from Bakersfield, this meant that you must work hard to get what you want in life. The men's soccer team has a saying that we want to be "Bakersfield tough" and for us this means that through honest, hard work in training you will outwork the team you are facing because you are grittier than them and have more dedication. I think that being "Bakersfield tough" is a good reflection on the city and the people that live here. Also, Bakersfield is a tight community, especially in the soccer world, and because of that, there is a ton of support that you can't get anywhere else.