Bradly-Bourbonnais’ 2018 OT Aaron Byrd has been in contact with numerous schools and has big plans for this offseason. We talked him hitting the weight room hard this offseason, his visits and how he leads on the field.

You can find Aaron on Twitter @byrdbro68.

Aaron Byrd

Offensive Tackle
Bradley-Bourbonnais
Bradley, IL

Ht: 6’3″
Wt: 280 lbs
Class: 2018

Commitment status: Undecided

LPI: You guys finished the season very well at 10-1, but fell to a tough Plainfield North team in the 2nd round of the playoffs. Now that your season is over, what are you going to do to take your game to the next level?

AB: The key to allow me to keep progressing is in the weight room. I will continue to build my strength in the off season. Building strength will not only allow myself to move heavy defensive players clean off the line, but also keep a distance on a pass rush.

LPI: You currently don’t have any offers, but are proved week in and week out that you have what it takes to play college ball. What are your greatest strengths or what can you bring to the table for a college football program?

AB: I feel my greatest strength must be my work ethics. Working with anything but my best effort is unthinkable. Because of this, I can excel on the field with great technique and quickness. My pass blocking demonstrates these attributes as I stay on a rusher without getting beat on the edge or with an inside move.

LPI: Offer or not, which schools have you kept in contact with the most? Or which schools have shown interest in you?

AB: Two main school that interest remain in contact with me are Purdue University and the University of Illinois. I have also had some contact with Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Augustana College.

LPI: Where have you visited most recently and do you have any planned visits coming up?

AB: My most recent visit was at Purdue University while I have also visited the University of Illinois. I do not have any upcoming visits planned.

LPI: On or off the field, how do you demonstrate leadership?

AB: I prefer to lead by example. I am not the kind of person to run around and scream. I get on the field, give my absolute best every second, and hope others do the same. Every practice is another day for me to prove myself to the coaches and to the players. In addition to football, classroom leadership is an important aspect in my life. Helping others in the classroom and in small study sessions after school is a strong description of me as a person.

LPI: You guys have some good recruits with yourself, Cam Harrell and Damien Williams receiving recruiting attention. Who are some of your other teammates that you believe have a chance to play at the next level, but may be getting overlooked by college coaches?

AB: In the senior class, Dazhee Horton and Austin Piwoni are two of our outstanding receivers. Both receivers make great plays and diving catches and, when needed, touchdown blocks down the field. The junior class has also stepped up. Morion Burtis is phenomenal with the ball in his hands and can make plays running, reading, and throwing. Our offense this year relied heavily on him at quarterback to make key plays and he did not disappoint. Defensively, Noah Acevedo and Jake Develder have stepped up filling big shoes. Noah Acevedo made some huge plays stopping the outside run and knocking down short passes at linebacker. Jake Develder played alongside Cam Harrell in the defensive backfield stopping huge gains on third and fourth down.