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May 2, 2009

Byers will have a role in the NFL

By JEREMY SHORT

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS — Although the seven rounds of the NFL Draft came and went without any players from Northeastern State being selected, which has still never happened, former RiverHawks wide receiver Jarrett Byers will have a chance to make an NFL roster after he signed a free agent deal with the St. Louis Rams the day after the draft.

If Byers can make the roster and get on the field, he will become just the second former NSU player to play in the NFL, joining Derrick Moore who played four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions and Carolina Panthers from 1992-95.

He rushed for 1,197 yards and 11 touchdowns in his career.

Even though Byers’ chances are not great, I will never count him out. While at NSU, I watched No.8 consistently make plays not only on offense, but in the return game as well.

He will leave the school as the all-time leader in several categories including career receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

With the Rams, Byers will join another Lone Star Conference standout, Keith Null, who was selected in the sixth round.

Despite the fact that Byers doesn’t have great size 5-feet, 11-inches, he does have decent speed (4.45 40-yard dash) and his high production at NSU is something that cannot be denied.

One thing that may help Byers make the roster is the Rams lack of quality receivers. After releasing Tory Holt, the competition for the receiver spots seems to be wide open.

Some of the players involved in the competition for the spots are Keenan Burton, Derek Stanley, Joel Filani and Chad Lucas. With the exception of Filani, whom I remember from Texas Tech, I have not even heard of any of these other players and I consider myself a pretty big NFL fan. If anybody does know who these guys are I would really like to know, so please let me know.

Factor in Byers’ return ability with his receiving skills and I think the former RiverHawks player has a great chance to make the roster and get some playing time next season.

He could be a guy who, if he catches some breaks, could stick around the NFL for a time.

I am looking forward to watching Byers, along with the other players drafted from the LSC, working themselves onto NFL teams and playing successful careers.

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