Hall of Fame
Byas, a native of Detroit and graduate of Detroit Mackenzie HS, was a two-way back and return teams specialist in football, earning letters in 1971, 1972 and 1973 at Wayne State, and also earned varsity letters in 1972, 1973, and 1974 in track and field. During his three-year Tartar football career, Byas set or tied eight career, single season and single game records.
A transfer to Wayne State from Eastern Michigan, where he lettered one year in football and track with the Hurons, Byas moved immediately into the Tartars' football starting lineup as a defensive cornerback and offensive tailback. In the 1973 season Byas tied a record held by several other WSU players when he scored four touchdowns against Illinois-Chicago in a 46-14 win over the visiting Flames. Byas scored two of his touchdowns on two-yard carries, and tow on 62-yard punt returns. One of his teammates accounted for Wayne State's other three touchdowns that afternoon, when quarterback Edward Skowneski, Jr. rushed for three touchdowns.
Byas and Skowneski played two other seasons together, in 1972 and 1973, but it was in Byas' last season that the two teamed together to bring the Tartars to a 5-5 overall record, WSU's best in three seasons. Byas finished second in rushing to Skowneski with 459 net yards rushing, first in receiving with 245 yards on 15 attempts, and second in scoring with 46 points behind Skowneski's 48. Byas even attempted a pass, which fell short of its intended goal.
He set Wayne State single season records that season for Kickoff Returns (25), Kickoff Return Yards (575), Punt Returns (27) and Punt Return Yards (327). Byas set career records for Punt Return Yards (427), Kickoff Return Yards (877), and Kickoff Returns(40).
During his collegiate track career Byas ran the hurdles, 60-dash, spring relays and long jump, and in 1973-74 he captained both his senior football and track teams.
Byas received his Bachelor's in Education in 1974, and signed as a free agent with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons that year, playing with the Falcons as a defensive back, from 1974-1980. He played in 103 games, and had six career interceptions for 193 yards and one touchdown. A returns specialist in the NFL, Byas had 23 career kickoff returns for 519 yards and a 22.6 average, four punt returns for 30 yards, and he blocked several punts for touchdowns. Byas was awarded the game ball by his teammates eight times.
In 1977, his best season as a pro, Byas intercepted three passes for 122 yards, including his only interception touchdown return of his career, a 72-yard return of an Archie Manning pass in the Falcons 21-20 loss to New Orleans.
Byas and his wife, Schera, reside in Detroit and have one son, Richard III, and one daughter, Kyla Joy. He owns and operates the Unlimited Gym in Detroit, working with several Detroit area professional and collegiate athletes, and coaches in several Little League sports.
