After losing “The Shark” Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders needed to find a replacement and quick for the NFL bound safety.
With 89 tackles (73 solo), Silmon-Craig ranked second on the team in tackles only behind Nikhai Hill-Green with 93. His run defense grade was 80.7, according to Pro Football Focus.
Colorado found their Shark prototype with the University of South Florida transfer.
Tawfiq Byard, rated as a three-star transfer, committed to Colorado on Christmas Eve in 2024. He spent two years at South Florida, redshirting the first year after appearing in just four games.