University of Richmond Athletics
Byrd Listed as Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List Honoree
07/14/2026 | Football
Byrd, who was named a Stats Perform FCS Second Team Preseason All-American on Monday, enters the 2026 season having appeared in 38 career games for the Spiders.
A 2025 Second Team All-Patriot League selection, Byrd started all 12 games last season and recorded 34 tackles, including 11.5 tackles for loss for 83 yards. He finished second on the team with 8.5 sacks for 66 yards, averaging 0.71 sacks per game to rank fourth in the Patriot League and 24th nationally. Byrd also ranked second in the Patriot League and 15th nationally with three forced fumbles while adding six quarterback hurries and one pass breakup.
A cornerstone of Richmond's defense, Byrd helped the Spiders lead the Patriot League and rank fourth nationally in passing defense, allowing just 155.3 yards per game. Richmond also finished second in the conference in scoring defense (22.7 points per game), sixth nationally and second in the Patriot League in total defense (290.3 yards per game), third in the Patriot League in tackles for loss (6.1 per game), and third in the conference with 11 interceptions.
Byrd is the latest Spider to receive Buck Buchanan Award recognition since Jeremiah Grant, who finished among the top three in voting for the award following the 2024 season and earned an invitation to the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet in Frisco, Texas.
