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Once destined for defense, Vols’ Tyler Byrd taking to receiver role

Tennessee's Tyler Byrd (10) breaks loss for a long gain on a pass reception. The Florida Gators visited the Tennessee Volunteers in a important SEC football contest at Neyland Stadium on September 24, 2016.
Tennessee's Tyler Byrd (10) breaks loss for a long gain on a pass reception. The Florida Gators visited the Tennessee Volunteers in a important SEC football contest at Neyland Stadium on September 24, 2016. Tennessee's Tyler Byrd (10) breaks loss for a long gain on a pass reception. The Florida Gators visited the Tennessee Volunteers in a important SEC football contest at Neyland Stadium on September 24, 2016.

By Patrick Brown 4 min read

KNOXVILLE – Tyler Byrd always envisioned that his college football future would be in the secondary.

Instead the freshman is thriving for Tennessee at a position that isn’t second nature.

Byrd is coming off his most productive game as a wide receiver for the Volunteers against Texas A&M last week, when he totaled 71 yards on five touches in the double-overtime loss.

“For sure, being a defensive guy, I definitely miss it,” Byrd admitted with a laugh Tuesday, “but I’m just here to embrace my role as a wide receiver.”

When Tennessee flipped the nation’s No. 1-ranked (by ESPN) athlete in the 2016 class from his longtime commitment to the home-state Miami Hurricanes, it always appeared likely Byrd would start his college career playing defensive back.