Player Bio

Arkeem Byrd is an under-the-radar talent from Jenkins High School that possesses a mix of speed and athleticism that makes him a unique prospect with playmaking ability. The 6-foot, 190-pound junior possesses a large amount of potential that is yet to be reached. He has a lot of upside and is still learning on when to make cuts and how to hit holes, something that will develop as he gains more reps and experience offensively. The standout carries an aggressive running style that Jenkins head coach Tim Adams raves about. “He runs with a very violent style, and he’s got that breakaway speed, said Coach Adams, “He’s learning to cut back, and his vision is improving. He keeps getting better and better.” Byrd began playing on the varsity squad as a sophomore where he saw most of his snaps at linebacker. However, change was abound midway through the 2013 campaign as he was moved to running back in hopes of adding explosiveness to the Jenkins backfield. Byrd did just that as he ran for 598 yards and eight touchdowns while also totaling 59 tackles at outside linebacker earning him First-Team All-Region Honors. 2014 saw the junior miss time due to a shoulder injury, but was productive nonetheless as the Warriors’ primary running back. He finished the regular season with 868 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns while adding 12 receptions for 171 yards and three scores in just eight games as he helped lead Jenkins into the playoffs for the first time since 2010. Mid-October saw the impact player begin to put things together, resulting in a streak of four straight games where he logged over 100 rushing yards along with three straight contests of having three rushing scores. Byrd continues to settle being a low-key prospect but has started to emerge while attending showcase camps throughout the southeast, most notably a 7-on-7 camp at South Carolina last offseason that has helped draw intrigue from various schools for the standout running back. His tools are undeniably exceptional and he possesses the potential of becoming a playmaking scat-back at the next level.