To see a video of Byrd’s best Michael Jackson moves, click here.
When a Michael Jackson song began to play during a late-night meeting at the beginning of fall camp last season, all eyes turned to Demetrius Byrd as he began to dance.”That was one of the funniest days in camp,” said junior wide receiver Brandon LaFell.Byrd’s dance introduced the junior college transfer to his coaches and his teammates in a big way.”They really weren’t expecting that,” he said.After breaking the ice and earning his new teammates’ respect, the then-junior wide receiver emerged as a one of the Tigers’ most dominant wide receivers last season. Now in his senior season, Byrd is ready to lead the Tigers’ receivers as they chase another national championship.Byrd transferred to LSU after two seasons at Pearl River Community College, and LaFell said he was very reserved when he arrived at LSU — until that meeting.Byrd kicked and moonwalked until LSU coach Les Miles entered the room. Byrd said he ran and tried to take his seat, but Miles saw him and told him to “come down and do that again.”Byrd said his teammates were surprised by the dance.  “They said they respect me for that,” Byrd said.LaFell said Byrd was no longer a shy receiver after his dance.”Ever since then, he really came out of his shell,” LaFell said.Byrd also came out of his shell on the field, emerging as one of the Tigers’ biggest threats as wide receiver. He caught 35 passes for 621 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns last season.His breakout performance came Oct. 20 against Auburn when he finished with three catches for 89 yards, including a game-winning 22-yard touchdown reception with one second remaining in the game.Five of Byrd’s six starts last season came after the 30-24 victory. “It became a scary thought to DBs,” said LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton. “When that happens, it makes the                  defense always be weary of the home run hit through him. So there is a lot of double coverage and softer coverage, and it opens things up.” Byrd followed his performance with six catches for 144 yards and a touchdown in the Tigers’ 41-34 victory, Nov. 3, against Alabama.   After the Auburn game, the Tigers averaged four more completions and almost a passing touchdown more per game. LSU quarterbacks threw for almost 60 more yards per game as well.The Tigers’ average longest pass per game also increased from 34.3 yards to nearly 45 yards per game after the Auburn game.   “When you can score on one play at any time, it causes the defense to have to think twice about how they are playing all of their coverages,” Crowton said.Off the field, Miles said the team enjoys Byrd’s locker room presence.  “He is a free spirit,” Miles said. “He works hard at practice every day and is doing well academically.”Miles said his diligence has caused Byrd to become a leader for the Tigers.”I’m slowly but surely stepping into that position,” Byrd said. “Being that it is my senior year, they put me into that situation.”I had a talk with the freshmen the other day and told them expect nothing but the best from me.”Junior wide receiver Jared Mitchell still laughs when he recalls Byrd’s introduction.”That is just his personality,” Mitchell said. “He is just that type of guy.”Mitchell said moments like Byrd’s dance keep the locker room mood positive.”You practice a lot. You   practice hard,” Mitchell said. “You’ve got to find something to keep you in that happy place.”As for his dancing, Byrd said no one has challenged his Michael Jackson supremacy.”They’d be a fool to come up and challenge me in that Michael Jackson.” he said.- – – -Contact Amos Morale at [email protected]