#2 Demetrius Byrd Season 2007
CAREER
Drafted in seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers … Involved in a serious car accident the week before the draft that left him hospitalized … Despite still being in the hospital, Chargers drafted him anyway … Played just two seasons with the Tigers after transferring to LSU from Pearl River Community College … Played in 27 games with 17 starts … Caught 72 passes in LSU career for 1,134 yards and 11 scores … One of the few players in college football history who have played for a national title in both the junior college ranks as well as the Division IA level … Byrd was a starter on LSU’s 2007 BCS national title team, which came a year after his junior college squad (Pearl River CC) lost to Blinn (Texas), 19-7, in the Pilgrim’s Bowl, which is the junior college national championship game.
SENIOR SEASON (2008)
Played in 13 games with 11 starts … Ranked second on team in receptions (37) and yards (513) … Averaged 13.9 yards per catch … Caught four TD passes … Caught at least one pass in all 13 games … Tied a career-best with six catches for 73 yards against Florida … Had season-high 76 yards receiving on four catches against Georgia … Opened season with three catches for 34 yards and a score vs. Appalachian State … Other TD receptions came against Auburn, Mississippi State and Alabama … Had season-long reception of 43 yards against Mississippi State.
JUNIOR SEASON (2007)
Junior college transfer who made an immediate impact in his first year with the Tigers … Played in all 14 games with six starts … Ranked first on the squad in receiving TDs (7), second in receiving yards (621) and third in catches (35) … Nine of his 35 receptions went for at least 20 yards and had four catches of 35 yards or better, including two against Alabama … After going without a catch in two of his first three games, caught at least one pass in final 10 games of season … Had career-best of 6 receptions against Alabama and Arkansas … Had career game against Crimson Tide as he had 144 receiving yards, which included a 61-yard TD as well as a 35-yard reception that setup an LSU field goal early in the fourth quarter … Biggest moment of season came against Auburn as he hauled in a 22-yard TD reception with one second left in the 30-24 LSU win … Had four catches for 72 yards and a score versus Tennessee in the SEC Championship game … Caught 27-yard TD pass in SEC Championship Game from Ryan Perrilloux that gave the Tigers a 13-7 lead early in the third quarter … Also had a spectacular one-handed catch in traffic against the Vols … Caught a career-high two touchdown passes against Arkansas, including a 2-yard grab with just under a minute left in regulation that tied the game at 28-28 … Also had TD catches against Auburn, Florida and Middle Tennessee.
PRIOR TO LSU
One of the most coveted JUCO wide receivers … Came to LSU after two seasons at Pearl River Community College … Received a four-star rating as a member of Rivals.com’s Top 100 junior college prospects … Caught 45 passes for 730 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore … Led the Wildcats to their fourth straight MACJC state championship … Hauled in the game-winning touchdown on a 36-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter of the title game resulting in a 21-20 victory … Originally signed with Florida International after graduating from Miami Central High School … Coached by Tim Hatten.
PERSONAL
Born June 30, 1986, in Miami, Fla. … Mom is Sharon Byrd … Has two siblings, Terrance and Monique … Majoring in general studies … Considered the best dancer on the team and keeps the team in stitches with his Michael Jackson that has him moonwalk, jump in the air, come down in a split and raise back up without using his hands.
Career Highs
Receptions: 6, three times (last: 6 vs. Florida, 2008)
Yards: 144 vs. Alabama, 2007
Touchdowns: 2 vs. Arkansas, 2007
Long: 62 vs. Middle Tennessee, 2007
Byrd’s Career Receiving Statistics
Year
2007
2008
13-11
37
513
4
43
Totals