Texas A&M lands commitment from Colorado transfer safety

1 week ago 2

Texas A&M's success in the transfer portal continued on Sunday, as head coach Mike Elko and new defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill landed Tulsa transfer linebacker Ray Coney, followed by Colorado safety Tawfiq Byard. Both players visited College Station this weekend and immediately filled two holes in the Aggie defense that needed veteran talent.

Before it was announced that senior free safety Marcus Ratcliffe will return to the team next season, fellow senior safety Bryce Anderson entered the transfer portal after missing a majority of the 2025 season with a head injury, leaving a gap in the 2026 safety rotation that needs more speed and versatility. Well, Tawfiq Byard fills that gap, providing consistent play against the run and pass.

Byard began his career with USF. The Maryland native is coming off a career year with the Buffaloes, producing 79 tackles, including 58 solo tackles, four pass deflections, and an interception, and did not struggle in any specific metric.

According to Pro Football Focus, Byard earned a 74.1 defensive grade, 72.1 run defense grade, and 78.9 pass defense grade, which tells the story of a player who continues to improve and become a complete safety who can be counted on late in games to avoid mistakes and make plays on the ball.

Standing 6'1" and nearly 200 pounds, Texas A&M's 2026 safety rotation, which will also likely include Dalton Brooks, Rashad "Tom Tom" Johnson, and Miles Davis, isn't lacking size, and currently looks like one of the more formidable groups in the SEC.

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M lands commitment from Colorado transfer safety Tawfiq Byard

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