If you think of linemen as lumbering types who just rely on brute force to get the job done, consider York senior Brayden Byford.
The 6-foot, 240-pounder, who is committed to Dayton, starts both ways for the Dukes and his skill set is unusual for his position.
“He’s not the biggest kid,” York coach Don Gelsomino told the Sun-Times. “. . . He’s got a thick build, he’s very strong. He’s also quick.
“. . . He was actually a gymnast all through growing up. So once in a while we’d be in the weight room and it’s next to our gymnastics area. He’d go do [back] flips and stuff and it’s kind of crazy. You don’t expect it, but he’s an incredible athlete.”
In fact, Byford did gymnastics through sixth grade and also played baseball through his sophomore year.
When he reverts to gym mode every once in a while, it definitely makes an impression.
“A bunch of people are surprised when they see it,” he told the Sun-Times. “It’s really fun to just go do a backflip and people are amazed.”
Though it’s his ticket to college, Byford came to football later than most.
“My parents wouldn’t really let me play before middle school,” he said. “And then our season got canceled because of COVID.”
But now he’s good enough to be a two-way starting lineman, a rarity in Class 8A where most teams have enough depth to play platoon football.
Byford is a two-year starter on offense who was rotated in on defense as a junior. Now he rarely comes off the field.
“He’s a smart kid, he’s in great shape,” Gelsomino said.
Even so, York coaches do try to keep Byfprd as fresh as possible.
“If he needs a little rest here or there, [we] make sure we don’t kill him in practice,” Gelsomino said. “. . . It’s a tough workload, but he’s prepared his body for it really well. . . .
“He’d probably never leave the field but sometimes we actually step in and say, ‘Hey, you’ve got to sit out a few plays here.’ ”
“It’s a lot playing both ways,” Byford said. “[It’s about] managing, whenever you get a chance to come off the field, make sure to breathe and drink water.”
Byford and the Dukes remain in the West Suburban Silver race after earning their biggest win of the year last week, 18-17 in overtime against previously unbeaten Downers Grove North.
Another tough test awaits on Saturday when York (4-3, 2-2) travels to Glenbard West (5-2, 3-1).
Last week’s win followed a pair of three-point conference losses.
“I think it really helps because our losses to Hinsdale [Central] and [Oak Park] — really, it got a few people down,” Byford said. “We just had to keep chugging forward and keep our heads up and make sure that we knew what we were doing.”
He’s focused on the end of the regular season and then the playoffs, but there is more football in his future at Dayton.
“I did a bunch of camps before junior season and I got a little bit of interest, but nothing too major,” Byford said.
There were more camps before this
season. Dayton was the first one, and it led to an offer.
“When I got the call, I was jumping for joy,” said Byford, who later added another D-I offer from St. Thomas. “It was fantastic.”
He understands how he beat the odds in the current recruiting environment.
“There’s a lot of [college] teams that are just looking at the transfer portal right now and they’re not taking guys out of high school, which is really a shame.”
