Marian tight end Drew Byerly weighs his options after catching a pass last season.
Submitted photo
Once a football player known for throwing downfield, Drew Byerly has proven equally adept at heading upfield himself.
About to enter his final season at Marian University, the fifth-year senior converted to tight end early in his collegiate career and has been Swiss-Army-knifing his way over, through and around opposing defenses ever since.
In 2023, the Franklin product made 22 receptions for 326 yards and four touchdowns. He’s run for five scores during his career, been utilized in Marian’s wildcat offense and is genuinely excited about the next few months. Those represent the end zone of his time at Marian, which began with the pandemic-abbreviated 2020 (spring 2021) campaign.
“It feels like just the other day I was enrolling at Marian,” said Byerly, an integral piece to Marian posting a 9-2 record last season. “We had a coaching change in between my sophomore and junior year, but I feel like everyone adjusted pretty well.
“I feel like I was definitely evolving into a leadership role with coach Henn (Mark Henninger). There are different aspects to our offense under coach (Ted) Karras, but it’s not like we went from 80% passing to 80% running.”
The Knights tested the airwaves 39% of all offensive plays last fall, a number not likely to deviate too much during Byerly’s final season which kicks off at Siena Heights on Sept. 7.
Three of Marian’s first four games are on the road, a challenge for which Byerly feels he and his teammates are built as the offense returns seven of 11 starters.
One player looking to contribute is Byerly’s brother Reece, a redshirt freshman expected to add depth along the offensive line as a left tackle. The siblings were part of Franklin’s varsity roster together in 2019, though Reece primarily played on the freshman and junior varsity teams.
Big brother is trying to make the most of the experience.
“There were times this past spring where we were on the line together. I was at tight end, and he was left tackle, and I was like, hey, that’s my brother,” Drew said, laughing. “It was definitely a cool experience.”
Most the time, at least.
“We had a running play, and (Reece) was giving me crap about not helping him with the block,” Byerly remembers. “I laughed it off, but he was serious.”
During film study, Drew realized Reece had a valid point. As older brothers are inclined to do, he has yet to admit to it.
Drew Byerly, who carries a double major of management and logistics and supply chain, will graduate in December and go through commencement exercises in the spring.
Marian football made its debut in 2007, finishing 1-9. The program has since rattled off 16 consecutive winning seasons, half of which concluded with the Knights recording double-digit wins.
Among Byerly’s honors so far are twice making the MSFA All-Academic team (2021 and 2022), being named first team MSFA Mideast the past two years and NAIA honorable mention All-American following the 2023 season.
All this, and Marian offensive coordinator Matt King believes Byerly’s best football might still be ahead of him.”
“Drew is very versatile, but the biggest thing he brings to our offense and to our team is that he’s very selfless,” King said. “He’s definitely a leader for us. Drew’s actions speak a lot louder than his words.
“He just goes to work every day.”
