Byrd names a top five
North Augusta, S.C., wide receiver prospect
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(6-3, 185, 4.5), released his top five schools that he is considering late
Monday. Georgia heads up a list that includes Clemson, Florida, Florida State,
and Southern Cal. "It's 100 miles from North Augusta, plays in a great
conference, and competes for championships every year," he said about the
Bulldogs in a release.
He continued: "I like the fact that Coach (Mark)
Richt really seems to care and take a personal interest in the lives of
each and every player. They will have some immediate openings at WR next year to compete for."
Byrd said that there is no leader at this time.
"I've been visiting or researching every school that offered me a scholarship
over the last six months, and these are my top five choices. I
really feel that I can't go wrong with any of the five. I am going check out a
lot of games at these five schools this fall and that will play a large part in
my final decision."
"Without a doubt, they have been one of the biggest surprise," he said about
the Clemson program. "Coach
(Tommy) Bowden is extremely personable, and the ACC is loaded now that Miami and
Virginia Tech has joined. I am very close friends with (former North Augusta
standout and Clemson sophomore tailback) Reggie Merriweather. Now I would never
pick a school because of another player, because everyone has to do what is best
for himself, but having Reggie at Clemson is definitely a plus."
On
Southern Cal he said: "If I decided to go far, far, far away from home to play for a
school, it would be only one school and that's Southern Cal. I really liked the
coaches from Southern Cal that I met or talked to on the phone, I like the
location of the school, and I think everyone knows they have had one of the top
two or three programs in the land over the last two or three years. And it
doesn't look like that is going to change anytime in the immediate future."
Two of the big three schools from the Sunshine State made the cut.
"Two words: Chris Leak," he said about the Gators. "He may be the top quarterback in college
football and I don't know of any WR that wouldn't like to catch passes from
an All-American."
And on the 'Noles: "My family grew up in same neighborhood as (former Florida State
standout) Jamal Reynolds so I've been hearing about them forever. FSU's
record over the last two decades speaks for itself. If you go there, you know you
won't be coming home for Christmas because you will be at a top bowl game every
winter break."
"Big Byrd" said it was tough narrowing down to five schools. He was asked
about leaving out South Carolina, which he followed during his childhood and
attended numerous games:
"South Carolina is a great school and Coach (Lou) Holtz is a living legend.
They were great to me up there. They didn't do anything wrong. It was just that
I had to narrow down to five schools, and there were other schools that I liked a
little better. There is nothing more to it than that. I wish South Carolina all
the best in the future."
"Big Byrd" began football practice last Friday and lowed his 40 time from 4.5
to 4.41, thanks to some tips on technique from former teammate Frayne Abernathy,
who plays at Northwestern. The coaches didn't believe the new time and asked
Byrd to run again; on the second attempt, he clocked in at a 4.37.