About

Tawfiq Byard is an up‑and‑coming college football safety known for hard‑nosed tackling and a keen eye for the ball. Born in York, Pennsylvania, he stands 6‑foot‑1 and weighs just over 195 lbs, giving him the rangy build that coaches like at the back of a defense. Byard burst onto the national radar during the 2024 season with the South Florida Bulls, recording 54 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception returned 12 yards, and a forced fumble across 12 games (10 of them starts). His breakout year ranked fifth on the team in stops and showed he could make plays at every level of the field.

In December 2024, he entered the transfer portal and committed to the Colorado Buffaloes on Christmas Eve, choosing to join head coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders in Boulder over offers from LSU, Vanderbilt, and Virginia Tech. Byard said the Buffaloes’ NFL‑experienced defensive staff “spoke the same language” he did and made him feel valued from the first conversation.

Bios

Position:	Safety
Weight:	195
Hometown:	Hyattsville, Md.
Prev School:	South Florida
Height:	6-1
Class:	Sophomore
High School:	DeMatha Catholic
Tawfiq Byard Net Worth	$150,000

Before Fame

Well before college stadiums roared with his name, Byard learned the game on fields with youth in York. Later, he played for the storied DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, a program renowned for developing Division I potential. Recruiting sites ranked him a three‑star prospect; 247Sports at one point rated him one of the top 150 safeties in the country and among the top 30 players in Maryland in his class.

While not the top‑ranked signee in USF’s 2023 class, Byard’s combination of explosiveness and physicality immediately made him a special‑teams contributor as a true freshman. Coaches also complimented his work ethic on film, saying he frequently stayed late after practice to review coverage checks with veteran players. Those extra repetitions paid dividends: by his sophomore season, he had worked his way into the starting lineup and soon emerged as one of the American Athletic Conference’s most prolific young defenders.

Trivia

• Jersey number: He wore No. 12 at South Florida and has hinted on social media that he will keep the same digits in Boulder.
• Transfer‑portal whirlwind: Byard officially entered the portal on December 9, 2024, visited LSU and Vanderbilt, then pledged to Colorado just two weeks later—one of the quicker high‑profile recruitments of that cycle.
• Play style nickname: Some Colorado fans already call him “The Hammer” after a YouTube analyst compiled a reel of his biggest hits and declared him “the next great safety for the Buffaloes.”
• Off‑field interests: Away from football, he enjoys graphic design and often shares custom poster edits of teammates on his X account (@byard_tawfiq). He has also volunteered at youth football camps in Tampa and Hyattsville during summer breaks.

Family Life

Byard keeps relatives out of the spotlight, but interviews reveal a tight‑knit support system. His mother traveled from Pennsylvania to every home game in Tampa during the 2024 season, and his father—himself a former high‑school linebacker—regularly texts post‑game critiques that, in Byard’s words, “pull no punches.” He is the oldest of three siblings and credits his birth‑order responsibility for his calm voice in the huddle. While announcing his transfer, he thanked “Mom, Pops, and my little brothers for rolling with the changes and still cheering loud no matter the colors.”

Associated With

• Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders: Byard’s new head coach is a Hall‑of‑Fame NFL defensive back who preaches takeaway‑focused football—an ideal match for a safety who already has a reputation for forcing turnovers.
• Rob Livingston: Colorado’s defensive coordinator spent years tutoring NFL safeties and was a major reason Byard chose the Buffaloes; the two bonded over film study sessions during his December visit.
• Cam’Ron Silmon‑Craig: Returning starting safety at Colorado who publicly welcomed Byard on X, calling him “a dog” and predicting that the duo could be one of the nation’s top safety tandems.
• Esquire Sports Group: A boutique NIL and athlete‑management firm that announced it had signed Byard shortly after his commitment, signaling growing interest from brands in the versatile defensive back.