2026: Transfer from Colorado ... 2025 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection … in 28 career games (18 starts) at South Florida and Colorado, compiled 143 tackles, 16.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks, two INTs, four PBUs, two caused fumbles, one fumble recovery and two QB hurries … carded 5+ tackles on 15 occasions and 7+ tackles nine times … registered double-digit tackles on four occasions, including a career-high 14 stops against Houston in 2025 … posted 1.0+ TFL 13 times, including a career-best 2.0 against Arizona State in 2025 … secured 1.0 sack against Navy (2024) and Charlotte (2024) … secured one INT versus Tulsa (2024) and Iowa State (2025) … returned INT a career-long 18 yards against Iowa State … logged a career-best two PBUs against Utah in 2025 … registered one caused fumble against Arizona (2025) and Arizona State (2025) … lone fumble recovery occurred versus Tulsa in 2024 … notched one QB pressure versus Wyoming (2025) and Arizona State (2025) … has played 1,306 career snaps … enrolled at Texas A&M in January 2026.
PRIOR TO TEXAS A&M: Two-year member of the football program at South Florida (2023-24), and one-year letterwinner at Colorado (2025) … All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2025 … in 16 career games (10 starts) with the Bulls, compiled 58 tackles, 8.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, one INT, and one fumble recovery … carded 2+ tackles on 12 occasions and 5+ tackles six times … secured a career-high 11 tackles against Charlotte in 2024 … logged 1.0 TFL seven times and a career-high 1.5 TFL against the 49ers … booked 1.0 sack in contests with Navy (2024) and Charlotte (2024) … recorded lone INT against Tulsa in 2024 … notched one fumble recovery versus Tulsa in 2024 … played 653 career snaps with the Bulls … in 12 career games (eight starts) with the Buffaloes, led the team with 84 tackles, while adding 8.0 TFL, 0.5 sack, one INT, four PBUs, two caused fumbles and two QB hurries … the eight TFL were the third most in a season by a safety in Colorado history … carded 2+ tackles on 11 occasions and 5+ tackles nine times, including a career-high 14 stops against Houston … notched 1.0 TFL on six occasions, including a year-best 2.0 versus Arizona State … posted 0.5 sack in a contest at Houston … logged lone INT against Iowa State … booked a career-best two PBUs against Utah … secured one caused fumble versus Arizona and Arizona State … registered one QB pressure against Wyoming and Arizona State … named the Pro Football Focus National Safety of the Week during week 7 … played 653 career snaps with the Buffaloes … lettered three seasons at DeMatha Catholic under head coach Elijah Brooks … consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports.com, Rivals.com and ESPN.com … charted as the No. 17, No. 19 and No. 36 prospect from the state of Maryland according to 247Sports.com, Rivals.com and ESPN.com, respectively … listed as the No. 101 safety nationally according to 247Sports.com … helped the Stags to a 19-6 three-year record with a trip to the WCAC championship game as a senior … earned first team honors as a defensive back in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference in 2021 … also lettered in track & field.
PERSONAL: Born February 25, 2005 … son of Kevin Byard and Andrea Hawkins ... majoring in communications … brother, Kevin, lettered four years (2012-13-14-15) in football at Middle Tennessee, earning two-time (2014 and 2025) First Team All-Conference USA honors and Second Team All-Sun Belt recognition in 2012 before being chosen in the third round (64th overall pick) in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans … three-time first team all-pro and three-time pro bowl selection in 2017, 2021 and 2025, while leading the NFL twice in interceptions in 2017 and 2025 … brother, Muaaz, is a current member of the UAB football program.