2020 - All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team
2020 - All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team (Pro Football Focus)
2020 - All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team (Phil Steele)
2019 - All-Sun Belt Conference First Team (Phil Steele)
2019 - All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team
2018 - All-Sun Belt Conference Honorable Mention
2017-18 - Sun Belt Conference Honor Roll
2020-21: Played in all 13 games, starting 12 … Saw action on 748 snaps (637 on defense, 111 on special teams) … A second-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection by the league, Phil Steele and Pro Football Focus … Recorded a team-high 77 tackles, including 6.5 for loss and two sacks, along with two interceptions, four pass break ups, two quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery … Had three tackles in the opener against Campbell … Tallied eight stops, including half a tackle for loss, against Louisiana … Had a game-saving tackle at the 1-yard line as time expired in the win at ULM … Finished the game with five tackles and a pass breakup … Led the team with 10 tackles, including one for loss, against UMass … Had eight tackles and an interception against Coastal Carolina … Had eight stops against South Alabama … Had a tackle, two pass break ups and a quarterback hurry against Troy … Tallied four tackles and an interception against Texas State … Had 12 tackles, including one for loss, and a fumble recovery at Army West Point … Recorded seven tackles, including 1.5 for loss and a sack, at Georgia State … Had four tackles, including one for loss, a pass break up and a forced fumble against Florida Atlantic … Had five tackles against App State … Had two tackles and a pass break up against Louisiana Tech in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
2019-20: Played in and started all 13 games … Saw action on 738 total plays (685 defensive) … A second-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection … Named to Phil Steele’s first team … Tallied 85 tackles on the season, second-most on the team … Included in those 85 tackles were 9.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks … Had two interceptions, two pass break ups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery … Scored two non-offensive touchdowns … Had a career-high 16 tackles at No. 6 LSU in the season opener … Played 53 defensive snaps against the Tigers … Had four stops against Maine … Had a monster game at Minnesota, tallying 11 tackles … Had a sack forcing a fumble, which he picked up and returned for a 44-yard touchdown late in the game to give the Eagles the lead … His play against the Gophers earned him Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors … Was limited by injury against Louisiana, but still played 43 total snaps with three tackles … Had four tackles, including half a stop for loss, at South Alabama … Had eight tackles against Coastal Carolina … Had five tackles, including one for loss, and returned an interception 7 yards for a touchdown against New Mexico State … Tallied eight tackles and a break up against No. 20 Appalachian State … Led the squad with 10 tackles and a forced fumble against Troy … Had four tackles, including one for loss, and an interception that he returned 32 yards against ULM … Had a sack at Arkansas State, but had to leave the game in the third quarter with an injury … Had five stops, including one for loss, against Georgia State … Had six tackles against Liberty in the Cure Bowl … Made the Honor Roll in the spring.
2018-19: Played in 10 games, starting three … Was on the field for 362 defensive snaps … Tallied 54 tackles, including 5.0 for loss … Had an interception, a forced fumble and a blocked field goal … An honorable mention All-Sun Belt selection after making several big plays throughout the season … Played in first four games, but was sidelined for the next three with an injury … Recorded six tackles, including one for loss, in the opener against South Carolina State … Had four tackles against UMass … Recorded five tackles, including one for loss, and an interception against second-ranked Clemson … Had a season high nine tackles and a recovered fumble against Arkansas State … Tallied five tackles at ULM … Had eight tackles, including two for loss, against Troy … Posted four stops against Coastal Carolina … Had five tackles and a blocked field goal at Georgia State … Finished the season with seven tackles in the Camellia Bowl win over Eastern Michigan … Made the Honor Roll in the spring for posting above a 3.0 GPA.
2017-18: Played in all 12 games … Was on the field for 421 snaps (322 defensive, 99 special teams) … Tallied 44 tackles on the year, including 2.0 tackles for loss … Also had four pass break ups … Had a 19-yard kick return against New Mexico State … Had an 11-yard kick return against UMass … Recorded nine tackles (8u, 1a) and a pass break up against Indiana … Had five unassisted tackles and a tackle for a loss of 2 yards against New Mexico State … Had seven tackles (4u, 3a) against Appalachian State … Made the Dean’s List in the spring.
2016-17: Redshirted … Dressed for several games, but did not play … Member of the Honor Roll for fall 2016 … Named to the Sun Belt Conference’s Academic Honor Roll for maintaining a 3.0-3.49 GPA for the year.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played at North Augusta High for Coach Brian Thomas … Ranked as the No. 119 outside linebacker in the country and the No. 31 player in South Carolina by 247Sports … Rated the No. 168 outside linebacker in the country and the No. 49 player in the state by 247Sports Composite Rankings … A 2015 HSSR-SCHSL Division II AAAA All-State Defense first-team selection … The Augusta Chronicle’s All-Area South Carolina football player of the year … The Aiken Standard Defensive Player of the Year in both 2014 and 2015 … Won the Deon Grant Player of the Year Award, presented by The Augusta Chronicle and the Augusta Sports Council … A first-team all-area pick … Had 172 tackles, five interceptions (returning two for touchdowns), a blocked punt, two sacks and 17 tackles for loss as a senior … Also threw two touchdown passes … Tallied 232 tackles as a junior to win his first player of the year award … Part of the South Carolina roster for the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas … Was the All-Area South Carolina baseball player of the year as a junior.
PERSONAL: Born Thomas Rashad Byrd on June 30 in Augusta, GA … Son of Carolyn and Charles Byrd.
MAJOR: Health Education and Promotions
