Carl Edward Byrum (born June 29, 1963) is an American former professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

running back A running back (RB) is a member of the offensive backfield in gridiron football. The primary roles of a running back are to receive American football plays#Offensive terminology, handoffs from the quarterback to Rush (American football)#Offense ...

who played three seasons with the

Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East div ...

of the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL). He was drafted by the Bills in the fifth round of the

1986 NFL draft The 1986 NFL draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 29–30, 1986, at the Marriott M ...

. He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

Mississippi Valley State University Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU, The Valley or Valley) is a Public university, public Historically black colleges and universities, historically black university in Mississippi Valley State, Mississippi, adjacent to Itta Bena, Mississ ...

Early life

Carl Edward Byrum was born June 29, 1963, in

Olive Branch, Mississippi Olive Branch is the List of municipalities in Mississippi, sixth most populous city in Mississippi, US, located in DeSoto County, Mississippi, DeSoto County. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census the population was 39,711. Olive Branch ...

. He attended

Southaven High School Southaven High School is a suburban public high school located in Southaven, Mississippi, United States. It opened in the fall of 1971, when construction was completed enough so that students could start the first classes. The original school t ...

Southaven, Mississippi Southaven is a city in DeSoto County, Mississippi, United States. It is a principal city in Memphis metropolitan area, Greater Memphis. The 2020 United States census, 2020 census reported a population of 54,648, making it the List of municipal ...

College career

Byrum played for the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils from 1982 to 1985. He was teammates with

Jerry Rice Jerry Lee Rice (born October 13, 1962) is an American former professional football wide receiver who played for 20 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He won three Super Bowl titles with the San Francisco 49ers before two shorter ...

under coach Archie Cooley. Carl was inducted into the Mississippi Valley State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006.

Professional career

Byrum was selected by the

of the NFL in the fifth round with the 111th overall pick in the

. He played in 41 games, starting twelve, for the Bills from 1986 to 1988, rushing for 527 yards on 132 carries. He also caught 18 passes for 127 yards and one touchdown. Byrum became a free agent after the 1988 season. He signed with the

Houston Oilers The Houston Oilers were a professional American football team that played in Houston, Texas, from its founding in 1960 Houston Oilers season, 1960 to 1996 Houston Oilers season, 1996. The Houston Oilers began play as a charter member of the Ame ...

on April 1, 1989, and was released on August 30, 1989. Byrum was signed by the

New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team p ...

on March 19, 1990, and was released on September 18, 1990.

Personal life

Byrum has spent time working as a welder and as an active member of the Buffalo Bills Alumni Association.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Byrum, Carl Living people 1963 births American football running backs Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils football players Buffalo Bills players People from Olive Branch, Mississippi Players of American football from DeSoto County, Mississippi NFL replacement players 21st-century African-American sportsmen 21st-century American sportsmen 20th-century African-American sportsmen 20th-century American sportsmen Houston Oilers players New York Jets players