By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – There's one thing wide receiver Dontez Byrd did when he came to Tennessee Tech.
He dominated.
Through the course of his two seasons, he put together the two best single years receiving in program history, breaking his own receiving yards and catches records in the 2017 campaign. He also became the first Tech receiver to catch passes for 1,000 yards in a single season.
With his 2017 numbers, leading the Golden Eagle offense and setting a new single-season pinnacle for success, it's no surprise that Byrd was an overwhelming choice for the Robert Hill Johnson Award, which will be presented to the Tech senior during Thursday's home women's basketball game.
"It is a blessing to win the Robert Hill Johnson Award," Byrd said. "This accomplishment wouldn't have been possible without my teammates and coaches that I had this season. They continued each and every day to push me to be the best that I could be. They brought out some ability that I didn't know that I had in myself and I am very thankful for that."
And while his career numbers – 1,996 total yards and 13 receiving touchdowns, as well as 57 rushing yards with a touchdown, 1,070 kick return yards with a score and 15 punt return yards, as well as 2,816 all-purpose yards – aren't anywhere near the Tech career bests after two seasons, they're impressive nonetheless.
However, in 2017, he found a way to turn his already incredible 2016 stats up a notch. He caught a school-record 78 passes for another record 1,003 yards and six touchdowns en route to a first-team all-Ohio Valley Conference selection. He averaged 7.1 catches and 91.2 yards per game and 12.9 yards per catch. He finished the season with 1,190 all-purpose yards, 337 more than the nearest teammate.
"He made such an impact this season," said acting head coach Tyree Foreman. "He was probably the brightest star that we had on our football team. He made plays every week and was a great leader by example."
He finished 46th nationally and third in the OVC in all-purpose yardage, 50th nationally and fifth in the OVC in receiving touchdowns, 16th nationally and first in the conference in receiving yards, 18th nationally and first in the league in receiving yards per game and 10th nationally and first in the conference in receptions per game.
You sometimes hear the word 'game changer' tossed around, and, without a doubt, Byrd was certainly that.
"A true definition of it," Foreman said. "He could go deep, he could catch possession passes, he could go up the middle, he could run drag routes. He could line up in every single position on the field and we'd find ways to get him the football."
And to break his own single-season records is a nice feat to accomplish.
"That certainly wasn't a goal of ours on offense," Foreman said. "He just found the way to be the top receiver in what we did."
Academically, he was also recognized with a spot on the College Sports Information Directors of America's Academic All-District team, as well as a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes the top football scholar-athlete in the country. Byrd is still in the running for an Academic All-American nod as the team is released on Dec. 14.
Byrd is the sixth wide receiver to earn the Tech football program's highest honor, joining Craig Rolle (1978), Nate Hooks (1986), Larry Shipp (2005, 2006, 2007), Tim Benford (2009, 2010, 2011) and Brock McCoin (2015).
The award is named for Robert Hill Johnson, a native of Sparta, Tenn., who was a student and assistant football coach at Tennessee Polytechnic Institute when he was killed in an auto accident in 1952 at the age of 22.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Johnson, he attended White County High School and was a standout in football for one season. He then transferred to the Baylor School in Chattanooga, where he earned three letters.
He enrolled at the University of Alabama, but a shoulder injury ended his playing career. In the fall of 1951, Johnson became a student at TPI, where he also coached offensive and defensive ends.
After just one season in Cookeville, Johnson was killed instantly when his car crashed into a concrete bridge railing at Cripple Creek, about seven miles east of Murfreesboro on U.S. Highway 70.
Since then, Tech's highest football honor has been awarded in his honor, presented annually to the player who makes the largest contribution to the Golden Eagles during the season and is selected by the players.
"It means a lot to have the respect and trust from my teammates that I see every day and go to work with," Byrd said. "Like I said earlier, my teammates pushed me every day to put me in the position that I am so I want to thank them for that and for voting me for this prestigious award."
Foreman added, "I think every man on the team understands how hard he works and how deserving he is for that award."
There's still plenty more ahead for the Tech grad as he gets set for all-star game appearances, including the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in January, as well as workouts and combines as he tries to make his NFL dream a reality.
"I plan on going to train (this month)," Byrd said in a previous interview. "I'll try to get a bit of work in before I head to California for the game. Hopefully, I take advantage of that opportunity and dominate."
The presentation will take place during Thursday's women's basketball game against Cumberland, starting at 6 p.m. Tickets are available from the Hooper Eblen Center Ticket Office, by calling (931) 372-3940 or online at www.TTUsports.com.
The previous winners of the Robert Hill Johnson Award include:
1951 Flavious Smith, E
1952 Tom Fann, T
1953 Ken Broyles, HB
1954 James Passions, T
1955 Johnny Clark, RB
1956 William Robinson, QB
1957 Kenneth Wright, FB
1958 Richard Mann, QB
1959 W.J. Shumaker, HB
1960 Tommy Hackler, E
1961 Lowell Smith, C
1962 Jackie Corbin, HB
1963 Jim Ragland, QB
1964 Bob Borkowski, OG
1965 Ron Reeves, FB
1966 Sherold Walker, T
1967 Larry Schreiber, RB
1968 Larry Schreiber, RB
1969 Larry Schreiber, RB
1970 John Tanner, LB
1971 Jim Waddell, QB
1972 Jim Youngblood, LB
1973 Dana Winningham, LB
1974 Elois Grooms, DE
1975 Ronnie Fain, DE
1976 Joe Jachimowicz, DT
1977 Lamar Mike, RB, and Mark Shrum, LB
1978 Craig Rolle, WR
1979 Steve Davis, P
1980 Wayne Anderson, K
1981 Brad Millice, TE
1982 Billy Blaylock, DB
1983 Danny Templin, OT
1984 Jeff Daughtry, LB
1985 Barry Wilmore, LB
1986 Nate Hooks, WR
1987 Lorenza Rivers, RB
1988 Mike Thornton, ROV
1989 Fred Edgington, LB
1990 John Webb, FB
1991 Ricky Sanders, DL
1992 Marrio Thomas, LB
1993 Maurice Draine, LB
1994 Brian Pankey, DT
1995 Michael Penix, TB
1996 Robert Taylor, CB
1997 Sammy Sanders, LB
1998 Josh Harris, DL
1999 Branon Vaughn, DL
2000 Chad Evitts, LB
2001 Grant Swallows, QB
2002 Daniel Wentzel, LB
2003 Jason Ballard, RB
2004 Tommy Harrison, LB
2005 Larry Shipp, WR
2006 Anthony Ash, RB, and Larry Shipp, WR
2007 Larry Shipp, WR, and Derek White, RB
2008 Tim Benford, WR
2009 Lee Sweeney, QB
2010 Tim Benford, WR
2011 Tim Benford, WR
2012 Tre Lamb, QB
2013 Jordan Johnson, DT
2014 Darian Stone, QB
2015 Brock McCoin, WR
2016 Michael Birdsong, QB
2017 Dontez Byrd, WR
Photo by Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
