Texas A&M has made a significant move in the NCAA transfer portal by landing former Colorado Buffaloes safety Tawfiq Byard. Byard announced his transfer just days after entering the portal, following the news that A&M safety Bryce Anderson had also decided to enter the portal.
This transfer marks the third school for Byard in his college football career. He previously played for the South Florida Bulls before joining the Buffaloes, where he played under NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.
During his sophomore season at Colorado in 2025, Byard made a notable impact, participating in all 12 games and starting in eight. He led the Buffaloes” defense with 85 tackles and ranked 26th nationally with 57 solo tackles. His eight tackles for loss are among the highest recorded by a safety in the program”s history, and he also contributed two forced fumbles, one interception, and half a sack, earning an honorable mention on the All-Big 12 team.
Byard”s durability, especially after overcoming a head injury sustained during a game against Notre Dame, is an asset that Texas A&M desperately needs as they prepare for the upcoming season. His experience and efficiency will be vital in solidifying a relatively young A&M secondary.
Prior to his time with Colorado, Byard played two seasons at South Florida, where he appeared in 16 games and started 10 in his redshirt freshman year. He accumulated 54 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception, and a fumble recovery before transferring to Colorado.
The Buffaloes faced challenges during their 2025 season, finishing with a disappointing 3-9 record, with their only conference victory coming against a ranked Iowa State Cyclones team. As the defensive backfield returns to a more stable configuration, the Aggies are gearing up for a demanding offseason ahead of their third year under Coach Aaron Raley.
In the broader context of college football, this move by Texas A&M illustrates the ongoing impact of the transfer portal, as teams continue to reshape their rosters in pursuit of improved performance and competitiveness in their respective conferences.
