Xavier Byars brings 280 pounds of early-season disruption to Tennessee State’s front
In the 2026 season, Xavier Byars has opened with 2 total tackles in Tennessee State’s first game, showing early snap-to-snap activity from the interior defensive line. At 6-foot-0 and 280 pounds, the sophomore DT from Brownsville, Tennessee, looks like a compact, physical plugger who can anchor against the run and eat blocks, which matters even when the box score stays modest. The big question for fit: he projects as a toughness-and-pace piece up front, but his impact profile is still developing beyond the stat line.
