Savion Byrd shares how bowl game experience, belief from coaches changed his perspective

Oklahoma offensive lineman Savion Byrd was a bit contributor to the Sooners for his first two years in Norman, Okla. But the junior is expected to have a bigger role when the season kicks off in just over a week’s time.

Byrd has had a different mindset this offseason thanks to a mindset change that happened ahead of the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl when he earned an opportunity to start.

“I’m well aware of where I am in life and what journey I’m on,” Byrd said to the media this week. “It clicked way before spring. I knew what I had to do (come the) bowl game. I knew the 180 that I had to do, I knew the lifestyle I have to live and the choices that I had to make come bowl game. I’m literally still living inside of that bowl game stadium. It’s not a complacent thing or anything like that. I know where I want to go and I know where I need to do to take myself there.”

Byrd was a top-100 recruit out of Texas powerhouse Duncanville (Texas) High. He ranked as the No. 81 overall recruit and No. interior offensive lineman in the class.

The lineman credited his coaches, including head coach Brent Venables and offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh, for helping him reach this point.

“Never gave up on me,” Byrd said. “Never judged my character. Never looked down upon me or anything like that. It was always just okay, next rep. Okay, next day. Okay, now let’s stack days and let’s be consistent. They really did. They saw me where I was at in life and they came to me. They didn’t make me go to them. They came to me. Then that’s all the motivation I’ll ever need.”

The Sooners open the season versus Arkansas State at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium next Saturday.

“I just love my coaches,” Byrd said. “Football itself is hard. But when you have genuine love for your coaches, you just love the program. Seeing Wanya Morris and Anton (Harrison) go out there and do their thing, it made me like, man, I want to do that. I want to be an offensive lineman. I want to have the love. It’s OU, dawg. Towards the end of the year, everybody’s like, man, go lock it in, this is yours. Go take it. Go take it. You work your whole freshman year, didn’t see the field sophomore year, you work and you work. How could you not be motivated?”