'11 NJ ATH Damiere Byrd (Offer)

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Well-known member
Joined
Nov 24, 2009
Messages
7,155
Location
Ohio
Athlete
Sicklerville, NJ (Timber Creek)

Ht:5'9"
Wt:156
40:4.55
Bench Max: 225
Squat Max: 315
Shuttle: 4.24
Vertical: 31
 
Offered by UC, UConn, Louisville, Rutgers, Iowa, S. Carolina, Maryland.

Interest from PSU, Oregon, Mich, Mich St, FSU, BC.
 
Speed does not define him, he defines speed. At the underclassmen’s combine in his native New Jersey, Damiere Byrd of the Timber Creek Chargers (NJ) set up for his forty yard dash. Scouts had heard about his quickness, but this event would confirm any and all beliefs. Bolting from the starting line, the dash seemed to end as fast as it started. The dust settled. The coaches evaluated and determined the official time.

The verdict was in; Damiere Byrd had officially run a 4.32 forty-yard dash. “That time was great, I didn’t expect to run that fast but I did and I was happy to say the least.”

Byrd was not the only happy man at the combine either. A year has passed, and Byrd has received a total of 11 offers from celebrated division one football programs. With some junior days in his pocket, Byrd was able to conceptualize what it would be like to spend the next four years on a college campus.

I went to South Carolina, Rutgers, and UConn. All of them were great. I got to see all the facilities and the every day program they have set up for their athletes.”

While many schools are actively serenading Byrd, he sees no rush in the recruiting process.

“Right now I am still waiting. I haven’t really put much thought into [recruitment] it yet.” Read into it what you will, but Byrd did in fact admit that he watches SEC football nearly every Saturday more than he does any other conference.

Damiere Byrd may be a wizard when it comes to combine sessions, but he knows that there is more needed to succeed at the next level than just timed running ability. Byrd was able to apply all of his heralded attributes on the field as he totaled seven total touchdowns and averaged 29 yards per kick return during the 08-09 campaign. These strengths are accompanied by a few weaknesses Damiere Byrd hopes to focus on before leading his team into 2010. “I just want to get stronger, run better routes, and start to block more than I have in the past.” The Chargers will need him to make these improvements in order to reach their goal. With 2009’s success anything seems possible for Timber Creek next fall.

Byrd’s junior season was filled with success (9-2) and an extended run to the state championship was stymied by Hammonton High in the playoffs. Byrd admitted he was a bit disappointed last year, but is eager to leave everything on the field in his senior year.

“Our season was great. We were able to accomplish all of our goals besides winning the championship. With our conference rearranged next year, I definitely think we can get back to the championship next year and win it all.”

With a coach like Robert Hinson, Byrd knows that success is a clear target not only every Friday, but every day at practice as well. “Coach Hinson is more of hands on coach. If we’re not doing what we have to do, he usually jumps in there and tries to run it for us. He shows us what we have to do every week. He’s a great motivator, and gets us ready for everything we need to do under the lights.”

http://tharinger.com/site/DaByrd.htm
 
PHILADELPHIA -- With a recorded 40-yard dash time as fast as 4.38 already on record from this January's U.S. Army National combine in San Antonio, athlete Damiere Byrd (Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek) entered Sunday's Nike Combine in Philadelphia with a reputation for speed.

That reputation may grow to legend after his performance at NovaCare Center on Sunday morning, as Byrd blazed the fastest time ever recorded at a Nike combine on SPARQ digital timing, going 4.26 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

It was an awe-inspiring run by an already well-regarded prospect, as the 5-foot-9, 155 pound Byrd, who will likely play wide receiver in college, already has double-digit scholarship offers from the likes of Iowa, South Carolina, Rutgers, Cincinnati, Stanford and others.

The rest of his day included a 4.18 shuttle time, which also was amongst the combine's fastest, as well as 34.6-inch vertical jump.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/football/news/story?id=4976253
 
Damiere Byrd is a 5’9”, 160 lbs, lethally fast receiver who compares his style of football with that of Philadelphia Eagles receiver Desean Jackson. In time, he has the talent and potential, to be a dangerous player at whichever college he decides to play for. Damiere was down in San Antonio last Jan. for the US Army All-American Combine. Down at the combine he ran a 4.38, 40 yard dash and a 4.09 shuttle. This performance was only a snapshot of his talents on the track. During his junior year Byrd was the state champion in the 55-meter for New Jersey with a time of 6.39 seconds. As a sophomore he ran the 55-meter in New Jerseys fastest time and a time that comes in as 8th best nationally.

Last season, Damiere recorded 38 passes for 605 yards with 2 TDs. He also carried the ball 78 times for 685 yards with 8 rushing TDs and a punt-return touchdown. His stats combined for 1,290 total yards and 11 touchdowns. For his performance he was named first-team All-Conference and Group III and second-team All South-Jersey. Timber Creek High School Football Head Coach, Coach Hinson, talked about Damiere on the football field saying “he is a phenomenal player. Who can play outside receiver, slot, punt/kick returner and even played QB about 30 percent of the time last season.” Damiere was recently offered by Connecticut and holds offers from Duke, Maryland, Rutgers and South Carolina. This speedy, playmaker also has his hopes for offers from Florida, West Virginia, Michigan and Oregon.

Damiere got a chance to see Michigan first-hand during his visit to the Big House for Michigan’s home opener against Western Michigan last year. Damiere left that day blown away by his experience. When asked about his visits (Rutgers, Michigan and South Carolina) he was quoted saying “the stadiums were booming and the atmosphere is really high, I don't want a really small school, but it doesn't have to be majorly big. I want to go to a school where fans are really big into the school and support it as much as they can” by Scout.com. Besides fan support, Damiere is looking at schools with a good reputation for academics. He holds a 3.4 core G.P.A. and is looking at majoring in Sports Medicine.

Not only is he a leader in the classroom he is also a leader on the field and in the weight room. Damiere was a team captain last year and has taken that role seriously. Damiere’s head coach said “Damiere is a humble player who gets a long well with others.” Coach further explained by saying “Damiere is a leader who spends a lot of time in the weight room working out and helping out with the younger guys.”

http://michigansportszone.blogspot.com/2010/02/looking-into-2011-wrslot-damiere-byrd.html
 
NIKE Combine Top 10 40-yard dash times


Rank Name Year High School State Post. 40
1 Damiere Byrd 2011 Timber Creek N.J. WR 4.26
2 Romar Morris 2011 Salisbury N.C. RB 4.32
3 Rashad Hedgepeth 2011 Northern Nash N.C. RB 4.32
4 Calvin Williams 2011 Union S.C. DB 4.34
5 Alston Johnson 2013 Gar-Field Va. ATH 4.39
5 Quayshun Smith 2011 Godby Fla. DB 4.39
6 Devonte Cooley 2011 Gray’s Creek N.C. RB 4.39
7 Terrence Tusan 2011 Trinity Texas RB 4.40
8 Devontre Parnell 2012 Fairfield Central S.C. DB 4.42
9 Steffonte Doby 2011 William Penn Pa. RB 4.43
9 Lloyd Fraction 2011 Juan Seguin Texas DB 4.43
9 Wintrez Thomas 2011 Buchholz Fla. RB 4.43
9 Kishon Wilcher 2011 Cass Tech Mich. DB 4.43
9 Cameren Jones 2011 Christ Church Episcopal S.C. RB 4.43


http://rise.espn.go.com/football/recruiting/Nike-Index.aspx
 
That 40 time is considerably faster than his listed time. Fast track at OSU may have something to do with that?
 
Sometimes I think Florida offers kids just to tweek other schools.
 
That wouldn't shock me. In addition, I think Florida just looks for kids that run fast and offer a scholarship. They figure that most of them aren't going to be playing till their Junior year any way so they have plenty of time to teach them technique.
 
Earlier this evening SL/WR Damiere Byrd updated Michigan Sports Zone on his offers. Damiere says he was offered by Purdue, NC State, Marchall and Florida. These latest rounds of offers brings his total offer count to 18.

http://www.michigansportszone.com/
 
This offseason, Timber Creek wide receiver Damiere Byrd had competed against some of the best in the state, region and country at the TEST Sports Clubs Premier Showcase and the U.S. Army National Combine. While he was busy impressing the competition with his blazing speed and uncanny athleticism, he was being impressed by the caliber of players around him.

“The competition definitely stood out,” said Byrd, recalling his experiences at both combines. “If you go to these events and don’t really want to play, you won’t do well. Everyone goes out and competes as if it were a game. If you don’t bring your ‘A’ game, you’ll have a bad day.”

For Byrd, such a task was relatively easy to complete, as he seemingly always has his ‘A’ game. As a junior for the Chargers in 2009, Byrd established himself as perhaps the best overall player in New Jersey, hauling in 38 catches for 605 yards and four touchdowns. He was also effective on the ground, rushing 78 times for 685 yards. Oh, and let’s not forget his two sprints to paydirt via punt returns.

Perhaps most importantly though, Byrd led the Chargers all the way to the South, Group 3 championship game for the very first time. For his troubles, he has become one of the most celebrated and coveted recruits in the class of 2011, and is the owner of some 12 Division I offers, including ones from Cincinnati, West Virginia and Rutgers. Still, he has managed to keep a proper perspective on the task at hand — winning a state sectional title — without paying too much attention to all the hoopla.

“I don’t look into it too much,” Byrd said of the various ranking systems and recruiting analysis. “I know what I need to improve on during the offseason and I am just trying to do that. Sometimes, I do like to see what others are saying, but only to see if I can take something from it that will help me improve.”

Refreshing (isn’t it?) to see that even a player with Byrd’s credentials is still set on improving. Complacency certainly does not seem to be an issue for the young star. He is dead set on not only returning to the South, Group 3 final, but winning it. Although the Chargers have lost several starters to graduation, he has no hesitation in declaring them contenders once again.

“We are definitely [a championship team],” he said confidently. “We did graduate a lot of seniors, but we have a lot of young guys that played last year. As long as they step up, we can get back there, and hopefully win it.”

Among the talents returning to help Timber Creek’s bid to get back to the big game are two stud linebackers in senior Quinton Alston, who possesses 13 offers of his own, and junior Quanzell Lambert. In addition, Byrd has expressed great confidence in fellow wide out Dajuan Brennon, whose tall, physical style is a perfect complement to Byrd’s speed-based arsenal.

Just short of nine years old, Timber Creek Regional High School experienced a season like no other in its brief history. Charger fans rejoiced as their team experienced an unprecedented run that put their team on the map. Thanks to that run, there is a brand new sense of pride in Charger Country, which was on full display last November.

“We have won championships in other sports, but this was the first year we won a playoff game in football,” said Byrd. “Everyone was definitely hyped about it; we had to get buses for fans to make it easier for them all to go to away games.”

http://gridironnewjersey.com/ShowNews.aspx?NewsItemId=134
 
Wide receiver Damiere Byrd (Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek), who was clocked at a blistering 4.26-second 40-yard dash at the Philadelphia Nike Combine earlier this spring, put his speed to use, blowing by most of the defenders he faced during pass skel and one-on-one drills. Byrd won MVP honors at receiver for his performance.
"[The day] started out kind of slow," Byrd said. "We had to wake up early, so when we first started, everybody was a little tired. During the pass [drills] and the one-on-ones, that's when everybody got going. I know basically all of the guys out here. We are all like best friends, so when we come here, we try to compete against each other. When we see each other do something wrong, we try our best to fix it. Otherwise, we are just out here trying to compete."

Byrd also showed good hands and good route-running ability, proving he was more than just a fast athlete -- he's a fast football player. Iowa, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Rutgers South Carolina, West Virginia and others have made offers to the 5-foot-9, 158-pounder. Oregon and Florida also are showing interest.

Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recru...ory?id=5158965
 
Damiere Byrd grew up a fan of Florida.

That’s one reason the athlete from Timber Creek High School in Sickerville, N.J., was excited to receive an offer from the Gators last week.

“Who wouldn’t have interest in the Gators?” Byrd told the Gainesville Sun. “They are a household name in college – a factory when it comes to putting players in the (NFL). I was excited (to get the Florida offer). Florida offering tells you that you’re an elite-caliber player.”

Byrd has been told that by several other schools. He also has offers from such schools as South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Pittsburgh.

Link: http://www.mrsec.com/story/florida-f...er-from-gators
 
Damiere Byrd claims his high school classmates probably view him as a nerd. In that case, he happens to be a nerd with 19 major college scholarship offers to choose from.

Being a good student has helped the Timber Creek (Sicklerville, N.J.) athlete gain the attention of college coaches. His athletic prowess hasn't hurt, either.

Byrd told Sporting News that Baylor, N.C. State and Purdue are the most recent schools to offer a scholarship, while others like Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, South Carolina and Wisconsin have also offered. Nearby schools like Pittsburgh, UConn, Maryland, Rutgers, West Virginia and Virginia are also pursuing the wide receiver.

"Right now, I'm wide open with 19 scholarship offers, but I'll narrow it down by September," Byrd told Sporting News. "I'm not going to visit every school, but I'm going to look at all of them hard."

As a kid, Byrd said his favorite teams were Florida and Texas, and he said he's amazed he holds a scholarship offer from the Gators today. That doesn't mean he's a lock to play for Florida though, he told Sporting News.

As far as comparisons, Byrd (5-foot-9, 160-pounds, 4.55 seconds in the 40-yard dash) said some coaches say he reminds them of the NFL's DeSean Jackson--a small but speedy pass target who also excels in the return game.

"I think what makes me a prospect is probably my speed," Byrd said. "I'm pretty undersized like (Jackson), but they say that my ability to make a big play and catch the ball is what makes me good."

Byrd, who is a Sporting News Top 100 watch list candidate for 2011, caught 35 passes last fall 481 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for three touchdowns. He also averaged more than 31 yards per kickoff return and took one back for a score.
Posted In: Damiere Byrd, Recruiting, College Football Recruiting, College Football, SN100, Sporting News Top 100 watchlist

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/Th.../67121/sn100_watch_list_wr_byrd_has_19_offers
 
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