Michael Byrd was looking
for a college football program with supportive fans, good coaches and
that had early playing time available for a young tight end.
Byrd found that
combination in East Carolina.
“What drew me to East
Carolina was the fan base, the coaching staff and the players seemed to
be like good people to be around,’’ Byrd said. “And another factor was
they were talking to me about immediate playing time.’’
The 6-foot-4, 226-pounder
from Thomasville learned those things during an official visit to
Greenville for ECU’s October 8 victory over Virginia, and he decided
there was no need to look any further. Byrd fulfilled a major need for
the Pirates in recruiting this year by making made an oral commitment
before heading home on Sunday.
Since then, Byrd has been
helping the Thomasville Bulldogs to a perfect season — so far — and a
berth in the third round of the state 1-AA playoffs. A 27-yard touchdown
reception by Byrd was one of the highlights last Friday as the Bulldogs
knocked off West Montgomery 40-20 in the second round. They’ll play
Cherryville in round three on Friday.
This is Byrd’s third
season manning the tight-end position for the Thomasville varsity after
playing with the JVs as a freshman.
“He was a kid who
obviously when he came up here to the high school was a big kid for his
age,’’ veteran Thomasville head coach Benji Brown said. “We actually
played him at defensive end on the JVs and he did a pretty good job
there.
“But it just so happened
we had a need at tight end when he came up as a sophomore. We knew he
was an athletic kid for his size, and he ended up having a knack for
blocking people. He also caught the ball really well. It’s just seemed
like a good fit.’’
Playing for the
Thomasville varsity was the fulfillment of a childhood dream for Byrd.
He often attended the Bulldog games as a child, and later came to watch
cousin Jesse Tate play running back for Thomasville. Tate is now an
assistant coach at the school.
“I grew up in the Bulldog
tradition,’’ Byrd said.
Brown used Byrd on a
part-time basis as a sophomore, playing him mostly in passing
situations. Because Thomasville is primarily a running team on offense,
Byrd didn’t accumulate many receptions as a junior when he moved into
the starting lineup on a full-time basis. He did catch 10 passes for 136
yards and two touchdowns to earn all-league honors.
But Byrd was utilize
mainly as a blocker, who helped pave the way for tailback Quan Warley to
rush for 3,034 yards and 43 touchdowns as the Bulldogs won the state 1-A
championship.
East Carolina began
showing an interest during Byrd’s junior year, as did other schools such
as Clemson, North Carolina, N.C. State, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech.
But the Pirates were the first to come through with a scholarship offer
last April.
Brown believes Byrd has a
great future ahead at ECU.
“I do think he’ll be able
to help them out in some capacity and he should be able to play pretty
quick,’’ Brown said. “He’s a big, 6-foot-4, 235-pound kick with a lot of
room to grow and get stronger.
“Another thing about
Michael that a lot of people don’t know is that Michael is also a good
long snapper. He’s good enough to do that in college as well.’’
Byrd is ready to do
whatever the Pirates ask.
“I’m a team player,’’ he
said. “I told them I’d do whatever I could to make the team better and
get some victories.
“I’m a very aggressive
player, but I’m under control. I block well, I catch the ball very well
and I can run. Hopefully, I can put those to use at ECU.’’
