North Carolina State University Athletics
Senior Spotlight: Jarvis Byrd
9/10/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 10, 2014
For Byrd, he figured his career was over last October. His passion and love for the game of football though drove him to want to play for one more year, and ask for a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA.
“The reason I wanted to come back is because I didn’t want to live with any regrets. I still had the passion and love to play this game, so I decided to call Coach (Dave) Doeren and Phil Hendrick, our athletic trainer at the time, and tell them I wanted to apply for a sixth year,” Byrd said.
While Byrd knew that there was a hopeful chance he would be granted a sixth year, he also knew that he would have a long road ahead of him to get ready for the 2014 season if he did receive the opportunity to play.
“I was behind in my rehab because right after my surgery I wasn’t trying to get football ready. After I decided to come back and knew there was a 50/50 chance I could play this fall, I knew I would have to bust my butt in rehab in order to be back for the first game,” Byrd said.
When he came back in January for the spring semester, Byrd hit the ground running on the road to recovery. Currently still in the process, he has spent the past seven months attending rehab twice a day, spending a total of four to five hours a day in the training room. He will continue to do his daily rehab routine throughout the season.
Even though he has faced two prior ACL injuries and knew what to expect recovery wise, this third and current recovery was the most difficult and most challenging of the three.
“My mindset wasn’t right coming out of surgery because I wasn’t thinking about playing football. So when I did come back I had to change my whole mindset to get in attack mode and work out to get my body back in shape. Plus, the type of surgery I had was cadaver surgery, which has a longer recovery time than other ACL surgeries,” Byrd said.
As hoped for, the NCAA granted Byrd a sixth year of eligibility.
“I was in Buffalo, N.Y. visiting my cousin Carlos when I found out. At the time I was frustrated; I wasn’t sure if I was going to get the sixth year or not and I just wanted to get away from everything,” Byrd said.
“I was riding in Carlos’ car when I got the phone call from Coach Doeren telling me I got it, so I went to the ESPN website and saw they had the announcement up there that I was granted my sixth year. I couldn’t believe it; I was so happy I got it.”
Byrd’s dedication and passion for NC State football has not gone unnoticed among the coaching staff. For his final campaign, Coach Dave Doeren honored Byrd with the number one jersey at the end of fall camp.
“We were in the team meeting room and were going through our normal meeting routine, but at the end the last slide up on the projector screen had my name on it. I had no idea what was coming next but then Coach said, ‘This year I’m giving Jarvis Byrd the number one jersey. This guy didn’t have to come back for a sixth year, but he wanted to be a part of this team. This guy has shown nothing but loyalty and commitment to this program since he got here. He is an unselfish act,’” Byrd said.
Byrd’s reaction to Coach Doeren’s recognition was one of surprise, but also gratitude.
“It showed the amount of respect that he has and that he really cares about me to put me in the one jersey. He didn’t have to do that but it showed that he recognizes everything I do,” Byrd said.
“This recognizes his commitment to his sport, his team, and his goals by coming back from three ACLs,” said Doeren. “He has graduated already and didn’t have to come back. His desire and love of the game are exemplary.”
As someone with a large amount of talent and experience, Byrd’s purpose and role as a member of the Wolfpack goes much further than a player. He also serves as a role model and a mentor for the younger players.
“They look up to me; in practice they ask me questions all the time and I give them answers. They want to know more about football, and any advice that I can help them with I give it to them so they can become better players and students of the game,” Byrd said.
With the opportunity of an unexpected sixth year, Byrd sees this season as one more chance to give his team all that he has on and off the field.
“I’m trying to get healthy and back to 100 percent so I can get back on the field and play a bigger role on the team. For right now though, I just want to help my team in any kind of way, like coaching the younger guys up and making sure they have what it takes to make the plays to win,” Byrd said.
“As a team I want us to go to a bowl game. Individually I have no goals right now, but when I get back to being able to perform at a higher level that will change.”
Byrd has taken this next year to further his education as well. A parks, recreation and tourism management major, he is in his first year of graduate school in the physical education program, with thoughts of serving as a graduate assistant for the football team next year.
This final season for Byrd is also one more chance to represent someone close to his heart, and who is the driving force behind his desire to be the best he can be on the field.
During his senior year of high school his childhood best friend, Norman Griffin, was shot and killed the night of their homecoming game in Pahokee, Fla.
“That day before our game we told each other who ever makes it big to always give it your all and to not give up no matter what. It struck me because we had never said that to each other before and he ended up dying that night,” Byrd said.
“I know how much love he had for the game and how hard he always worked. That’s what leads me to work hard and never give up because that’s how he was.”
Every game, in honor of Norman, Byrd puts his name on an undershirt or towel or writes Norman’s old number, seven, on his cleat.
“I try to keep his name alive so I play for him,” Byrd said.
Byrd has seen action in each of the Pack's first two games, including getting the start at safety last time out against Old Dominion.
RALEIGH, N.C. - When he injured his ACL for the third time almost a year ago, the thought about playing another year of college football never crossed Jarvis Byrd’s mind.
For Byrd, he figured his career was over last October. His passion and love for the game of football though drove him to want to play for one more year, and ask for a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA.
“The reason I wanted to come back is because I didn’t want to live with any regrets. I still had the passion and love to play this game, so I decided to call Coach (Dave) Doeren and Phil Hendrick, our athletic trainer at the time, and tell them I wanted to apply for a sixth year,” Byrd said.
While Byrd knew that there was a hopeful chance he would be granted a sixth year, he also knew that he would have a long road ahead of him to get ready for the 2014 season if he did receive the opportunity to play.
“I was behind in my rehab because right after my surgery I wasn’t trying to get football ready. After I decided to come back and knew there was a 50/50 chance I could play this fall, I knew I would have to bust my butt in rehab in order to be back for the first game,” Byrd said.
When he came back in January for the spring semester, Byrd hit the ground running on the road to recovery. Currently still in the process, he has spent the past seven months attending rehab twice a day, spending a total of four to five hours a day in the training room. He will continue to do his daily rehab routine throughout the season.
Even though he has faced two prior ACL injuries and knew what to expect recovery wise, this third and current recovery was the most difficult and most challenging of the three.
“My mindset wasn’t right coming out of surgery because I wasn’t thinking about playing football. So when I did come back I had to change my whole mindset to get in attack mode and work out to get my body back in shape. Plus, the type of surgery I had was cadaver surgery, which has a longer recovery time than other ACL surgeries,” Byrd said.
As hoped for, the NCAA granted Byrd a sixth year of eligibility.
“I was in Buffalo, N.Y. visiting my cousin Carlos when I found out. At the time I was frustrated; I wasn’t sure if I was going to get the sixth year or not and I just wanted to get away from everything,” Byrd said.
“I was riding in Carlos’ car when I got the phone call from Coach Doeren telling me I got it, so I went to the ESPN website and saw they had the announcement up there that I was granted my sixth year. I couldn’t believe it; I was so happy I got it.”
Byrd’s dedication and passion for NC State football has not gone unnoticed among the coaching staff. For his final campaign, Coach Dave Doeren honored Byrd with the number one jersey at the end of fall camp.
“We were in the team meeting room and were going through our normal meeting routine, but at the end the last slide up on the projector screen had my name on it. I had no idea what was coming next but then Coach said, ‘This year I’m giving Jarvis Byrd the number one jersey. This guy didn’t have to come back for a sixth year, but he wanted to be a part of this team. This guy has shown nothing but loyalty and commitment to this program since he got here. He is an unselfish act,’” Byrd said.
Byrd’s reaction to Coach Doeren’s recognition was one of surprise, but also gratitude.
“It showed the amount of respect that he has and that he really cares about me to put me in the one jersey. He didn’t have to do that but it showed that he recognizes everything I do,” Byrd said.
“This recognizes his commitment to his sport, his team, and his goals by coming back from three ACLs,” said Doeren. “He has graduated already and didn’t have to come back. His desire and love of the game are exemplary.”
As someone with a large amount of talent and experience, Byrd’s purpose and role as a member of the Wolfpack goes much further than a player. He also serves as a role model and a mentor for the younger players.
“They look up to me; in practice they ask me questions all the time and I give them answers. They want to know more about football, and any advice that I can help them with I give it to them so they can become better players and students of the game,” Byrd said.
With the opportunity of an unexpected sixth year, Byrd sees this season as one more chance to give his team all that he has on and off the field.
“I’m trying to get healthy and back to 100 percent so I can get back on the field and play a bigger role on the team. For right now though, I just want to help my team in any kind of way, like coaching the younger guys up and making sure they have what it takes to make the plays to win,” Byrd said.
“As a team I want us to go to a bowl game. Individually I have no goals right now, but when I get back to being able to perform at a higher level that will change.”
Byrd has taken this next year to further his education as well. A parks, recreation and tourism management major, he is in his first year of graduate school in the physical education program, with thoughts of serving as a graduate assistant for the football team next year.
This final season for Byrd is also one more chance to represent someone close to his heart, and who is the driving force behind his desire to be the best he can be on the field.
During his senior year of high school his childhood best friend, Norman Griffin, was shot and killed the night of their homecoming game in Pahokee, Fla.
“That day before our game we told each other who ever makes it big to always give it your all and to not give up no matter what. It struck me because we had never said that to each other before and he ended up dying that night,” Byrd said.
“I know how much love he had for the game and how hard he always worked. That’s what leads me to work hard and never give up because that’s how he was.”
Every game, in honor of Norman, Byrd puts his name on an undershirt or towel or writes Norman’s old number, seven, on his cleat.
“I try to keep his name alive so I play for him,” Byrd said.
Byrd has seen action in each of the Pack's first two games, including getting the start at safety last time out against Old Dominion.
Players Mentioned
S
/ FootballCoach Doeren Signing Day Presser (Dec. 3rd)
Wednesday, December 03
FB Players Postgame Presser vs UNC
Sunday, November 30
Coach Doeren Postgame Presser vs UNC
Sunday, November 30
Coach Doeren Weekly Press Conference (Nov. 24)
Monday, November 24