By Matt Schabert, Morehead State Athletic Media Relations
MOREHEAD, Ky. —
Two Morehead State football student-athletes have been selected to showcase their talent at the 2022 Spiral Tropical Bowl on Jan. 15.
Wide receiver BJ Byrd will be on the National Team, led by head coach Jim Collins. Offensive lineman Michael Davis will be on the America Team, led by head mentor Todd Littlejohn.
The game, one of the premier all-star games for seniors, will be held at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. A pay-per-view telecast is available. More than 350 Tropical Bowl alumni have gone on to the NFL since it’s inception in 2016.
The PFL Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-PFL, Byrd – of Richmond, Calif. – ended the regular season as the FCS’ top receiver. He has also been named All-American by the AP, Hero Sports, Stats Perform and Phil Steele and Academic All-PFL. He led the subdivision with 1,313 receiving yards, 90 receptions, and 8.2 receptions per game in 2021. Byrd’s yardage total, catches and his 13 touchdowns are all MSU single-season records.
He also set the single-game record with four TDs against Stetson. Byrd ranked second along all FCS players in touchdown receptions and receiving yards per game (119.4 ypg) during the season. He had an FCS-best eight 100-yard receiving performances in 11 games, including his 223-yard, four-touchdown day against Stetson. Byrd was one of 25 finalists for the Stats Perform FCS Walter Payton Award. He also finished his two-year career ranked among the best receivers in program history. In just 18 games (seven spring games after transferring from Jacksonville), Byrd compiled 1,780 yards, 21 touchdowns, averaging 98.9 yards per game.
Beavercreek, Ohio, product Davis has been a mainstay on the Eagles’ offensive line since his first game action in 2018. He helped the Eagles consistently rank among conference and national leaders in passing offense and fewest sacks allowed. He was named All-PFL for the spring 2021 season.