Diamond in the Rough: Timothy Byrd Jr.

Timothy Byrd Jr. is a 5′ 10″, 170lbs. 4-star running back from Neville High School in Monroe, LA. With an 8.4 overall rating, Timothy excels at both running between the tackles and quick bursts in the flats. His patience to find gaps between linemen make him a deadly force in the red zone. However, do not discount his ability to make and extend plays after contact with tremendous bursts of speed and elusiveness making any secondary worried.

Find Timothy’s highlights HERE.

When did you start playing football?

About 7, my dad got me into it because he played too.

How would your coaches or teammates describe you as a player?

I’m a good leader. I work really hard to earn my spot. There are like three leaders on our team, I don’t consider myself as one of those guys but I wish I could. I consider myself a lead by example type.

Why do you think you play the position you play?

I played wide receiver and a little bit of running back coming into high school and my freshman year we already had a lot of receivers. So I tried out for running back and I got real good at it and started getting really good in practice, so I started playing really good my freshman year.

How did you stay in shape during the off season?

We still had summer workouts every day into August. I went down to Alexandria and worked with my cousin in Ruston. It Alexandria before I started working out, they would make me run a mile.

What makes you a unique running back?

I’m 5’10, that isn’t really a regular running back height like I could play wide receiver.

What expectations do you have for yourself and the team for the rest of the season?

I just want to go to the dome and win a ring, it’s my senior year. We’ve played Edna Karr in the semi-finals and that’s who we lose to. So if we play them again we need to step up.

Are there any players you emulate your game after?

Probably Deonte Harris. We’re kind of the same size, he’s quick and fast and I’m kind of like that. I watch a couple of other players like Mark Ingram. He’s my height too but he’s a little bigger than I am. I like watching Christina McCaffery because he can receive it too.

What advice would you give to incoming high school football players?

Play strong. Play hard. Don’t let mistakes bring you down because everybody makes mistakes.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

In the NFL, possibly on the practice squad or something.

What motivates you on the field?

My mom and my dad. I really want to get my mom out of the hood. My dad, he got money but not right there. My mom has seven kids and sometimes she can’t go to all of my games.