ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — He could be goofy at times, even a knucklehead, when he wanted to be. Yet, he had wisdom and an outlook on life that belied his still tender years.
He had a contagious laugh and a disarming smile, but played football with a fiery intensity.
His tendency to free-lance on the field could drive his coaches to distraction. Yet, they knew when they needed a big defensive play, he was their guy.
Most of all, his teammates and head coach said, Markel Byrd, by the force of his personality, could take a bad situation and make it better — and take a good situation and make it really, really good.