Byrd has the size and the speed to play Division I football. He functions best on the inside, where he can make plays in the running game, but he gets great depth on his zone drops and is an above-average pass defender. He’s sub-six-foot, but on film, his length stands out. He’s a guy with the strength to hold offensive linemen away from his body to shed tackles and make plays.

In a 3A class littered with elite upperclassmen talent, Byrd is representing for the class of 2027. I was really excited to see him continue to improve his game after he burst onto the scene as a freshman last season. This year, he looks faster, stronger and more decisive on his way to picking up a bunch of tackles. He’s producing more takeaways as well, with two interceptions and three fumble recoveries.

Normally we talk about running backs being slippery, but that adjective applies to Byrd as a linebacker. He’s difficult for offensive linemen to square up in the running game and as a result he’s able to make a ton of tackles on ballcarriers near the line of scrimmage. He’s also a powerful wishbone fullback, but his future is as a gap-shooting linebacker.