The football program at Middle Tennessee State has only retired one other number, and that was almost fifty years ago.
Kevin Byard may be the only player that Middle Tennessee State University will ever have.
They can now be positive that no one else will ever dress like him.
Following Thursday’s Tennessee Titans training camp session, representatives from the school declared that Byard’s No. 20 will be retired. It will be the sixth number raised to the rafters in the school’s more than a century-long history of athletics and the second in the history of the football program.
“I feel privileged. Byard remarked, “I’m almost at a loss for words.” “Thank you so much. Right now, I know my mother would be really proud of me. It truly is an amazing honor.
Byard left Lithonia, Georgia, where he was a Class AAAAA all-state performance and an all-region high school player on both sides of the ball, to attend MTSU in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
With 19 career interceptions, 4 touchdown interception returns, and 377 interception return yards, he set Blue Raiders records. In addition to his interceptions, he also intercepted 17 additional passes, contributed to 25 turnovers (five forced fumbles, one fumble recovery), and concluded his career ranked sixth all-time at the institution with 312 tackles.
Over the following four seasons, Byard started 46 of 49 games after redshirting as a true freshman in 2011.
“He executed everything perfectly off the field,” remarked Rick Stockstill, the MTSU coach. He had a very strong work ethic. He had a laser-like focus on his objectives, which included becoming a better guy as well as a student and football player.
“He entered the room professionally. He was a skilled worker. He put a lot of effort into his task. He continued to grind with his nose down. I respect him for how hard he worked, that’s what.
When Byard was chosen by the Titans in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft (64th overall), he became a professional player. This makes him one of just 14 MTSU athletes in history to be selected by the NFL, and after 97 games in his first six seasons, he is almost certain to be the sixth player in that group to have at least 100 NFL appearances in his career.
With the exception of two NFL players, Byard has intercepted more passes since the beginning of 2017 than any other player. In addition to being a first-team All-Pro in 2017, he is a two-time Pro Bowler (2017, 2021). He has also captained the team the last three seasons.
“It hits home a little bit more when you have one of your own, a guy who’s been through these same meetings, sat in the same chair, eaten the same food, and was in the same locker room,” Stockstill remarked. “We frequently discuss Kevin. I talk to our existing players and the guys we are recruiting about him all the time.
Byard is one of just two MTSU football players to have their number retired—the other being quarterback Teddy Morris, whose number was retired back in 1965.
“In the end, success is unattainable without diligence,” Byard stated. “All I did was work myself to the bone and try to be a good role model for guys who were beneath me and for everyone.” I’m still here, too. Even though I’m here, I’m still concentrating. I’m not attempting to claim that just because my jersey was retired, I made it. Ultimately, though, I think this is a wonderful honor, and I’m really grateful for the opportunity.
