Byrd named third-team All-American by HERO Sports
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech graduate wide receiver Dontez Byrd received another honor on Wednesday as he was named to HERO Sports’ Football Championship Subdivision All-American team on the third-team roster. Byrd, who was most recently named the football team’s Robert Hill Johnson Award winner for the 2017 season, became the first Golden Eagle receiver to catch passes for more than 1,000 yards in a single season.
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech graduate wide receiver Dontez Byrd received another honor on Wednesday as he was named to HERO Sports' Football Championship Subdivision All-American team on the third-team roster.
Byrd, who was most recently named the football team's Robert Hill Johnson Award winner for the 2017 season, became the first Golden Eagle receiver to catch passes for more than 1,000 yards in a single season.
He ended the 2017 campaign with an all-Ohio Valley Conference first-team nod as he compiled 1,003 yards on 78 catches – both school records. He finished the season with 1,190 all-purpose yards and averaged 7.1 catches and 91.2 yards per game and 12.9 yards per catch.
He finished 46th nationally and third in the OVC in all-purpose yardage, 50th nationally and fifth in the OVC in receiving touchdowns, 16th nationally and first in the conference in receiving yards, 18th nationally and first in the league in receiving yards per game and 10th nationally and first in the conference in receptions per game.
Byrd was also recognized for his academics as he was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America's Academic All-District team.
Byrd will be participating in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in January.
The full HERO Sports FCS All-America team can be found here.
Photo by Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
