Honors & Awards

• Honorable-Mention All-Big 12 (Coaches, 2007)
• Honorable-Mention All-Big 12 (AP, Coaches, 2006)
• 2007 Team Captain
• Two-Time Big 12 Commissioner's Fall Academic Honor Roll (2003, 2007)

2007 (Senior)
Center Brett Byford anchored the Husker offensive line in both 2006 and 2007, helping Nebraska post impressive offensive numbers each of the past two seasons. For his efforts, Byford was an honorable-mention all-conference pick each of the past two years.

In 2007, Byford was the leader of a veteran Husker offensive front, and served as one of three team captains. The Alabama native was the only offensive lineman to start all 12 games, and helped NU put up record-setting passing numbers. The Huskers posted the top three passing days in school history and finished the year ranked seventh nationally in passing offense and ninth in total offense.

Nebraska also averaged 33.4 points per game, its highest scoring average in six seasons. In addition to the impressive passing numbers, Byford played a key role in junior I-back Marlon Lucky gaining 1,000 yards on the ground and better than 1,700 all-purpose yards.

Byford was a reserve on the line in 2004 and 2005, with his only game action coming against Western Illinois in 2004. He redshirted in 2003. A psychology major, Byford completed his undergraduate work in December of 2007.

2006 (Junior)
Byford was one of the surprises of Nebraska’s 2006 season, going from little-used reserve to a top-level Big 12 center by the close of the season. Byford had played in just one game in his career entering the season, but was thrust into action when two-year starter Kurt Mann was sidelined because of illness in September.

Byford, who earned honorable-mention All-Big 12 honors, went on to start the final 13 games and helped pave the way for a Nebraska offense that finished in the top 25 nationally in rushing, passing, scoring and total offense. Byford contributed to an offensive line that helped Nebraska produce seven games with more than 400 yards of total offense and average nearly 415 yards per game. The Huskers also topped 180 yards on the ground eight times in 2006. Byford also played a key role in in the record-setting season of senior quarterback Zac Taylor, who was chosen as Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.

Byford entered the season as a reserve center behind Mann, but took over the starting spot in game two. Mann returned early in the Big 12 season, but Byford retained his starting job for the remainder of the year. Byford had gained valuable experience during the spring when Mann was sidelined following off-season surgery.

2005 (Sophomore)
Byford served as a reserve on the line, but did not see game action.

2004 (Redshirt Freshman)
Byford was a backup on the line, but played only against Western Illinois.

2003 (Redshirt)
Byford redshirted during his first season at Nebraska.

Before Nebraska (Hartselle HS)
Byford was one of the nation’s top offensive line prospects after helping Hartselle High to an 11-3 record and an appearance in the semifinals of the Alabama Class 5-A (second largest) state playoffs in 2002. He finished his senior season with an average of seven pancakes per game and was a first-team all-state selection by the Alabama Sportswriters Association. He was named to the Birmingham News’ Super All-State first team, and was also a first-team all-region and all-area pick. Byford was also a member of the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star team.

As a junior, Byford helped Hartselle to a 9-2 record and a state appearance by averaging more than five pancakes per game as a tackle. In addition to Nebraska, Byford took visits to South Carolina, Georgia Tech and Clemson. Byford was Nebraska’s first scholarship recruit from the state of Alabama since Dwayne Harris (Bessemer, Ala.) signed with the Huskers in the spring of 1991.

Byford played center on Hartselle’s basketball team, which qualified for the state tournament during his senior season. Off the field, Byford served as the president of Hartselle’s student council and was the senior class secretary and treasurer of the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes group.

Personal
Brett was born on Aug. 9, 1984, and is the son of Joe and Cathy Byford. A two-time Big 12 Commissioner's Fall Academic Honor Roll selection in 2003 and 2007, Byford was among a large group of Huskers who earned their undergraduate degrees in December 2007. Byford has volunteered his time as a speaker at the Nebraska State Penitentiary and with Nebraska’s team hospital visits.

Byford's Career Statistics
Games Played - 27 (1 in 2004, 14 in 2006, 12 in 2007)
Games Started - 25 (13 in 2006, 12 in 2007)