Byrd named STATS FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- The accolades keep coming in this week for Tennessee Tech junior return specialist Dontez Byrd. A day after being selected the Ohio Valley Conference's specialist of the week, Byrd was selected as the STATS FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week after his effort on Saturday against Mercer.
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- The accolades keep coming in this week for Tennessee Tech junior return specialist Dontez Byrd.
A day after being selected the Ohio Valley Conference's specialist of the week, Byrd was selected as the STATS FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week after his effort on Saturday against Mercer.
Byrd returned the opening kickoff against Mercer 100 yards for a touchdown and also compiled 227 all-purpose yards during the Golden Eagles' 34-27 loss on Saturday against the Bears.
The return touchdown play ties for the longest in Tech school history, and it is the 13th 100-yard kickoff return in OVC history -- the first since 2014 -- and Byrd is the only Football Championship Subdivision player to accomplish the feat so far this season.
Byrd ranks first in the OVC in all-purpose yards and 29th in the country with a 129.33 yards per game average after recording 227 in Saturday's game against Mercer.
He also ranks second nationally in kickoff returns, averaging 38.5 yards per return. Against Mercer, Byrd had four returns for 183 yards.
