NCAA Recruiting Scoop

Nobody can say that Demetrius Byrd wasn’t one of Les Miles’ recruits. In other words, recruiting is doing just fine without Nick Saban. By the way, so are the Tigers as one could easily see during Saturday’s win over their former coach.

Demetrius Byrd, That was then: Demetrius Byrd was a four star wide receiver prospect from Poplarville, Mississippi that attended Pearl River Community College. Listed at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds just last season, he was timed running the 40 in 4.4 seconds.

However, it was his production that had college football teams taking a long look at him. After all, last season Demetrius Byrd caught 42 balls for 703 yards and seven touchdowns. And remember, that was against junior college competition, not high school.

Altogether, his measurables and performance had recruitnicks believing that he was the 25th best junior college prospect in the country.

In the end, Byrd chose to play and attend school at LSU. He chose the Tigers over the Louisville Cardinals, Ole Miss Rebels, Florida International Golden Panthers, Arkansas Razorbacks, Florida State Seminoles and Iowa State Cyclones.

Demeterius Byrd, This is now: During LSU’s 41-34 victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide on November, 3, 2007, wide receiver Demetrius Byrd caught six passes for 144 yards and a touchdown. A great day, no doubt. However, it’s the touchdown that made the biggest waves.

Staring at a 10 point deficit and a crazed Alabama crowd, Demetrius Byrd and LSU quarterback Matt Flynn hooked up for a 61 yard touchdown pass that brought the Tigers within striking distance and silenced the masses. It was the first step in another comeback for a team used to doing that.

What’s more, it kept LSU’s national championship hopes alive. Think the Tigers are glad that they ended up getting Byrd? Well, his 443 yards receiving and four touchdowns on the season would appear to say a whopping yes.