The William Byrd football team has enjoyed great success over the past three
years, posting a 26-6 record and back-to-back Region 3D championships. Many players
from the Byrd program have continued their football careers in college and are spreading
the “Terrier Love” well beyond Vinton and Roanoke County.
“During our time at William Byrd we have put 18 kids in college football,” said
Byrd coach Brad Lutz. “We currently have 11 players actively playing in college and all
of them are making an impact for their teams. I’m really proud of them and how they are
representing William Byrd High School.”
High School coaches have different attitudes when it comes to college recruiting.
Some don’t feel it’s their job to get involved while others actively join in the process.
Lutz and the Terrier assistants are among the latter.
“Our coaching staff has put a lot of time into the college recruiting process for our
players,” he said. “I believe that sending players to the college level shows the quality of
the student-athlete in our program. Obviously our players must be good football players
to earn the opportunity to play in college, but more importantly they have to be great
students and have high character.”
Byrd has one player on the FBS level, former Terrier quarterback and safety Israel
Hairston at Virginia Tech. Israel is a redshirt freshman who started as a defensive back
but has transitioned to wide receiver this season. He earned one of the Hokie Stone
“Players of the Week” awards against Vanderbilt.
Ethan Haston is a freshman at VMI, a Division I FSC program. Ethan registered
his first college tackle against Navy in the season opener.
Byrd has five graduates playing at the NCAA Division II level, including senior Bryson Lutz at Emory & Henry. Bryson is a four year starter for the Wasps who has started 34 consecutive games at center. In 2024 he anchored an Emory & Henry offensive line that averaged 380 yards of total offense per game and helped the running backs score 11 touchdowns.
Two Byrd grads are on the roster at Division II UVA-Wise, Jonathan Rosser and
BJ Cheatwood. Rosser is a freshman who is rotating on defense at defensive end and
making an impact. Cheatwood is a redshirt freshman who has been moved to center and
is playing on the scout team for his redshirt season.
Ferrum has moved to the Division II level this season and Maurice Burnette is a
freshman defensive lineman for the Panthers. Burnette has played in three of the four
games, including his first college start against VMI.
Bricen Lancaster, another redshirt freshman, is a kicker for Division II Catawba.
He is currently the back-up for field goals and kickoffs.
Four Byrd graduates are playing in the Division III Old Dominion Athletic
Conference. Cooper Minnix is a sophomore at Shenandoah University who was set to
start at wide receiver this season. He’s currently dealing with an injury but hoping to
return to the lineup.
Three other Byrd products are on the first year Roanoke College varsity team and
all three are contributing. Sophomore Brayden Andrews is a starter at outside linebacker
and currently ranks third on the team in tackles. In the season opener he scored a special
teams touchdown that was RC’s first touchdown since the program was eliminated during
World War II.
Sophomore Lane Shoemaker also starts on the defense in the secondary. He has
three interceptions in the three Roanoke games, including two last week in a win over
Gallaudet. Lane was named the ODAC Defensive Player of the Week.
Finally, true freshman Jerrett Shepherd is a back-up running back for the
Maroons. Jerrett has played in two games, rushing six times for 34 yards for an average
of 5.7 yards per carry.
“With so many of our players playing in college, it gives our younger players
proof that our blueprint for successful college recruiting is a reality,” said Byrd coach
Lutz. “It also provides another form of accountability within our team and program.”
