Tawfiq Byard

AT COLORADO HONORS All Big 12 Honorable Mention PFF Natoinal S of the Week (Week 7) PFF Big 12 S of the Week (Week 7) 2025 (So.) Played in all 12 games, starting in eight games. Byard hade the most snaps of all safeties with 575 plays. He finished the season with a team-leading 85 tackles and 57 unassisted tackles. At the end of the regular season he was 11th in total tackles and 3rd in unassisted tackles in the Big 12. He was also tied for 26th in the country for unassisted tackles. His eight tackles for loss are the third most in a season by a safety in Colorado history. Byard added four pass breakups, a team-leading two forced fumbles, one interception, and half a sack. Named All Big 12 Honorable Mention. TRANSFER RANKINGS Byard had a .8600 transfer rating from 247 Sports and was ranked as the No. 457 overall player in the transfer portal and the No. 30 safety. (As of Jan. 15, 2024). He joins Colorado with three years to play three. AT SOUTH FLORIDA Played two seasons at South Florida for head coach Alex Golesh. Through two seasons he played in 16 games and started in 10. He finished his career with 59 total tackles, 37 unassisted tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception, and one fumble recovery. He played in the first 12 games of his second season, starting in 10. He finished with 54 total tackles, 34 unassisted tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception, and one fumble recovery. As a true freshman, Byard saw the field in four games and totaled five tackles before redshirting. HIGH SCHOOL RANKINGS A three-star prospect by the recruiting services. 247 Sports listed him as the No. 102 safety in the country and the No. 17 player from Maryland. The 247 Sports Composite ranked Byard the No. 1,437 player in the country, the No. 134 safety, and the No. 28 player from Maryland. The On3 Industry Ranking listed him as the No. 1,447 player in the country, the No. 147 safety, and the No. 29 player from Maryland. AT DEMATHA CATHOLIC Played for head coach Elijah Brooks at DeMatha Catholic. Helped lead the Stags to a 10-2 record and a trip to the WCAC Championship game as a senior. Earned first-team honors as a defensive back in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference in 2021. Also competed in track and field. PERSONAL Has two older brothers, Kevin and Muazz. His older brother Kevin is a two-time First-Team All-Pro Safety in the NFL, who played for the Chicago Bears during the 2025 season. His other brother Muazz plays football at Middle Tennessee State.