43 Days until Football: Byron King
As the Vanderbilt football program approaches the first day of fall practice, set for August 4th, VandySports.com has began a countdown in anticipation of the 2006 season. Every day from today until the first day of fall practice, VandySports.com will bring to you a player profile corresponding to the players number for the amount of days remaining. The profiles will include the players recruitment to Vanderbilt, their Vanderbilt career so far, and where they project for the squad this season.
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However for this day VandySports.com will focus on a former player that wore #43 at Vanderbilt
Today's Flashback Player:
Byron King- 1990-93 (2 years lettered), Cornerback.
How he came to Vanderbilt:
Byron King was a 5-foot-11, 170 pound two-way star at John Foster Dulles High, just outside Houston, Texas. Considered one of the top defensive backs in the state of Texas by the time he was a senior, King was a all-district selection during his junior and senior years and was also a accomplished track athlete.
In the fall of 1989, King committed to Vanderbilt head coach Watson Brown and was a part of Brown's final recruiting class, which also included Shelton Quarles, Robert Davis, Rico Francis, David Neal, and Derek Wilham.
His career at Vanderbilt:
In 1990, Byron King was able to redshirt as he looked to add weight and in King's first year eligible in 1991, he did not see action.
After a very strong performance at the 1992 Black and Gold game, King found himself firmly on the depth chart behind reliable senior Robbie Young. King was also a valuable member of the Commodores special teams unit.
Overall, King's first season of action, he had nine total tackles at both reserve corner and on special teams.
In 1993, with Robbie Young now gone, King saw the opportunity to step in and contribute opposite of Robert Davis at corner, and ran with it. With Davis and King joining safeties Jeff Brothers and Aaron Smith, as well as freshmen Eric Vance and DeReal Finklin, the Vanderbilt had one of the more opportunistic in the SEC that season.
King led the team in interceptions, snaring four passes as teams tried to pass away from the already established Davis. King also had eight pass breakups, a fumble recovery, and 59 total tackles on the season.
King made some key plays in Vanderbilt's four victories that season, with some being his seven tackles against Kentucky in Vanderbilt's 12-7 win, as well as a key interception early in Vandy's 41-7 win over Navy.
Though King had another year of eligibility left, he would not return for 1994. In historic terms, he appears to just be a footnote in history as he was the cornerback a year before future All-SEC and future NFL Pro Bowler, Corey Chavous would come into the program.
However, for that one season in 1993, he was apart of a squad that was aggressive and took chances. Sometimes Vandy's 1993 secondary would get burned, and other times, they would make things happen.
Career Totals at Vanderbilt:
21 games, 10 started, 68 total tackles, 41 solo, two tackles for loss, four interceptions, one fumble recovery, and eight pass deflections.
Special thanks to Vanderbilt Media Relations.
