Zech Byrd

Position:
Tight End
Height:
6-7
Weight:
265
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Millbrook, Ala.
Prev School:
Garden City CC
Major:
Communication

Hopes to bounce back and regain a prominent role on the offensive unit after experiencing limited action in 2020 (which followed a productive inaugural campaign with the Pirates a year earlier) … Expected to open the 2021 season as a top reserve among a deep position pool that already features young talent and a pair of highly-regarded transfers … Joined the ECU program after a brief, but notable junior college career … In all, has played in 19 games with the Pirates and recorded 12 receptions (targeted on 15 occasions) for 132 yards and three touchdowns … Four of 12 catches have covered 10 or more yards (3 for 20+) … Offers a big target as a pass catcher and has been lauded for his blocking ability up front.

2020: Played in seven (of nine) games, all off the bench in a reserve role at tight end … Also experienced reps on various special teams units … Did not play at Cincinnati and Temple … Logged just one catch (for 2 yards) during the season, that coming at South Florida during East Carolina’s 44-24 win at Raymond James Stadium.

2019: Made five starts while appearing in all 12 contests as a sophomore transfer … Opened games against Old Dominion (double tight end formation), UCF, Cincinnati, SMU and Tulsa … Made 11 receptions for 130 yards (11.8 ypg) and three touchdowns, which stood third among all ECU pass catchers … Scoring grabs came in successive outings against Cincinnati (3 yards), SMU (45) and Connecticut (17) … TD catch vs. Mustangs marked a season-long … Caught at least one throw in eight games and produced multiple receptions on two occasions – two vs. Bearcats and a personal-best three vs. Huskies … Launched Pirate career with a 20-yard grab at NC State before following with a three-yarder in home opener against Gardner Webb … Did not record a catch in four-straight contests (Navy, William & Mary, Old Dominion, Temple) before closing season with at least one reception in final six games – UCF (1-2), USF (1-5), Cincinnati (2-9), SMU (1-45), Connecticut (3-43) and Tulsa (1-3) … Made a combined nine catches for 107 yards during American Athletic Conference action (2-23 in four non-league contests) … Averaged 1.5 receptions and 17.8 receiving yards per game during second half of campaign (0.3 rpg/3.8 ypg in first six outings) …

Junior College: Helped lead Garden City to a 10-1 overall record and a perfect 7-0 mark in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) as a redshirt freshman in 2018 … Part of a Broncbuster program which advanced to the ‘18 NJCAA eTeamSponsor National Championship Game at Carnie Smith Stadium in Pittsburg, Kan. (before falling 10-9 to East Mississippi CC on Nov. 29) … Made two receptions for 20 yards and was credited with one tackle (Butler CC) for coach Jeff Sims … Made catches vs. Iowa Western CC (7 yards) and Coffeyville CC (13 yards) … Suffered foot injury during true freshman campaign in 2017 and was redshirted while Garden City produced an 8-4 record (5-2 KJCCC) and made an appearance in the CHAMPS Heart of Texas Bowl … Was a teammate of current ECU defensive back Warren Saba while with the Broncbusters in 2017 … A three-star JuCo prospect according to 247Sports.com … Also recruited by Auburn, Louisville and Utah out of junior college.

High School: A two-sport (football, basketball) standout at Stanhope Elmore High School … Was a tight end and receiver for coach Jeff Foshee … Rated as four-star recruit by ESPN, while earning three stars from Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247Sports.com at the prep level … Played in nine games for the Mustangs (4-6) as a senior in 2016 and made 27 receptions for 376 yards and two touchdowns … A first-team selection to the American Family Insurance All-USA Today Alabama Football Team following senior campaign … Also invited to represent Alabama in the 30th annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Football Game (Dec. 10) at Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl … Was listed as the state’s No. 1 tight end (No. 31 nationally) in the 2017 class according to the 247Sports Composite, an industry generated average … Overall, considered Alabama’s 19th-best overall prospect following high school career … Had offers from Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech and many others before initially committing to the Gators’ program.

Personal: Son of Jonathan and Lillian Byrd … Full name is Zechariah Byrd … Was an Honor Roll performer in the classroom during the spring semester before earning a bachelor’s degree in communication from ECU (May 7, 2021).