Christopher Newport University

2018 - Junior - Anchored the center of the defensive line as the team’s starting nose guard during the first five games of the year … Posted 11 tackles, including a pair of solo stops … Broke up a pass, collected a quarterback hurry, and notched two tackles during a well-balanced effort against Montclair State on September 22 … Dropped a runner behind the line of scrimmage in a win at Rowan on September 29 … Had three tackles in a non-conference win against Hampden-Sydney on September 8 … Helped limit the Tigers to -8 yards rushing, which marked the third-lowest total in program history … Came back with three more stops against Salisbury on October 6 … Also tallied two tackles in the season opener against Southern Virginia on September 1 … Helped the Captains rank 15th in the NCAA in rushing defense during the year after the team surrendered just 71.7 yards per contest on the ground … The squad also finished eighth in total defense (234.7 yards per contest) and 14th in scoring defense (12.4 points per game).

2017 - Sophomore - Moved into starting lineup in his second season with the Captains...Appeared in all 10 games and started six...Registered 17 total tackles including 11 solo stops and six assisted...Posted 2.0 tackles for a loss of one yard...Registered season's best performance against nationally-ranked Frostburg State with season-high five tackles and a forced fumble against the Bobcats.

2016 - Freshman - Did not appear on the field during his first year at CNU.

At Warwick - Played on the defensive line all four years for the Raiders ... Earned All-Conference honors in 2014 and 2015 ... Also played baseball all four years ... Served as a team captain on both teams ... Member of the National Honor Society.

Personal - Mario La'Douglas Byrd is the son of McKeever and Tracy Byrd ... Has an older brother, McKeever ... LeBron James is his favorite athlete ... Gandhi is the person in history he would most like to meet ... His dream vacation would be a trip to Spain or Rio ... "Friday Night Lights" is his favorite movie, and "Blue Bloods" is his favorite TV show ... His goal in life is to become an educator ... Majoring in history with a psychology minor.