Dontez Byrd

Dontez Byrd (born August 9, 1995) is an American football wide receiver who is currently the Running Backs Quality Control Coach for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. He played college football at the University of Louisville and Tennessee Tech University. He was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent after the 2018 NFL Draft.

Dontez Byrd
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1995-08-09) August 9, 1995
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High school:Ballard
(Louisville, Kentucky)
College:Tennessee Tech
Undrafted:2018
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards

College career

Louisville

Byrd graduated from Ballard High School in Louisville, Kentucky, with zero scholarship offers to play collegiate football.[1] Byrd was a walk-on at the University of Louisville and played 23 games at Louisville between 2013 and 2015 where mostly played special teams.[2]

Tennessee Tech

Byrd transferred from Louisville to Tennessee Tech on February 4, 2016.[3] Byrd played 22 games at Tennessee Tech and hauled in 152 catches for 1,936 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns between 2016 and 2017.[4]

Professional career

Atlanta Falcons

Byrd signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent on April 18, 2018.[5] He was released on September 1, 2018.[6]

Memphis Express

Prior to the inaugural Alliance of American Football Season, Byrd signed with the Memphis Express. Byrd played six game for Memphis and had 10 catches for 136 receiving and one touchdown.[7] The AAF ceased operations on April 2, 2019, with all player contracts being terminated with two scheduled games left in the season.[8]

Seattle Dragons

On January 14, 2020, Byrd signed with the Seattle Dragons of the XFL.[9] Byrd played five games for Seattle and had five catches for 44 yards. The XFL cancelled the rest of the 2020 Season with five scheduled games left due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later suspended league operations and terminated staff and player contracts.[10]

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Byrd signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL on April 19, 2020.[11] After the 2020 CFL season was cancelled, Byrd opted out of his contract on August 31, 2020.[12] Byrd was re-signed on December 10, 2020, and was released June 23, 2021.[13]

Massachusetts Pirates

Byrd signed with the Massachusetts Pirates of the IFL on June 29, 2021.[14] Byrd played 10 games for the Pirates and had 20 catches for 262 yards and three touchdowns.[15] Byrd helped lead the Pirate to their first ever IFL United Bowl championship win, in which he had three catches for 23 yards.[16]

Orlando Guardians

On November 17, 2022, Byrd was drafted by the Orlando Guardians of the XFL.[17]

References
  1. "Falcons' Dontez Byrd reflects on childhood letter he wrote to his mother on dream of playing pro football". www.atlantafalcons.com. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  2. "Dontez Byrd - Football". University of Louisville Athletics. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  3. "Dontez Byrd, Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, Wide Receiver". 247Sports. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  4. "Dontez Byrd". Tennessee Tech. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  5. "Falcons 2018 undrafted free agent tracker". Falcons Wire. 2018-04-28. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  6. "Cuts tracker: NFL teams finalize 53-player rosters". NFL.com. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  7. Swanson, Matt. "Dontez Byrd". NoExtraPoints. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  8. Mangels, Dave (2019-04-02). "Reports: The AAF will cease operations today". Bleeding Green Nation. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  9. "TSL Alum WR Dontez Byrd Signs with XFL's Seattle Dragons!". The Spring League. 2020-01-19. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  10. "Sources: XFL staff laid off, no plans for 2021". ESPN.com. 2020-04-10. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  11. "TSL Alum WR Dontez Byrd Signs with CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats!". The Spring League. 2020-04-19. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  12. "UC Connections: Byrd opts out of CFL contract". Herald Citizen. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  13. "Ticats add three, release nine on busy Monday". CFL.ca. 2021-06-28. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  14. "Experience Times Five; Pirates Ink Byrd – Presented by Phoenix Communications, Inc". Official Website of the Massachusetts Pirates. 2021-06-29. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  15. "2021 Massachusetts Pirates Football - Overall Team Stats". goifl.com. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  16. "2021 Massachusetts Pirates Football - Overall Team Stats". goifl.com. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  17. "Rosters for all eight XFL teams: Full draft results and where Vic Beasley, Martavis Bryant landed". ESPN.com. 2022-11-18. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
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