Interview: Texas 2018 CB Byron Hanspard is the Shadow Receivers Hate to See

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Parents across the country teach their children to not be afraid of their own shadow. While there is logic in the thought but there is nothing parents or high school football players can do about the shadow DeSoto High School puts out on the gridiron. Byron Hanspard Jr. is that shadow defender shutting down hopeful Texas passing attacks – everyone beware!

Hanspard was a key piece to the Eagles championship run in 2016. DeSoto rolled through opposing 6A squads on the way to a perfect 16-0 season topped with a 38-29 win over Steele High School (Cibolo). “The Shadow” had a breakout junior season racking up 40 tackles, 25 solo, with one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, 12 passes broken up, and three interceptions.

College coaches love what they see in the 6-0, 175 pound, star in the making. The technique, athletic skills, and want-to are ever present flashing his 4.4 40-yard dash speed blanketing top Lone Star receivers. Teams already lining up in an attempt to secure his skill set as part of the 2018 recruiting class includes Texas Tech, Colorado, Northwestern, Houston, Jackson State, Texas-San Antonio, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, and North Texas.

The battle for Hanspard’s verbal commitment and signed national letter of intent should be an interesting one. The DeSoto talent is the son of a Red Raiders all-time great, running back Byron Hanspard. The elder Hanspard played at Texas Tech from 1994-96 finishing sixth in the 1996 Heisman Trophy voting. Over his career in Lubbock, he rushed for 4,135 career yards with a dominating 1996 season tallying 2,000 yards off 311 carries with 13 touchdowns. All of that hard worked paid off becoming a second round draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons in the 1997 NFL Draft. Two teams that appear to be early contenders for Hanspard’s interest squaring off against Texas Tech are Arkansas and Oklahoma State.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Hanspard covering his junior season, off-season workout plans, and received an update on his recruiting process to date.

Interview

How did your sophomore season go with DeSoto?

“During the spring I had a high ankle sprain. That messed up my varsity season in 2015. I played on JV (junior varsity) during the season. I got healthy and progressed on the field. I started our first playoff game (Coppell) at wide receiver (won 35-31).”

When did you make the move from wide receiver to cornerback?

“During the off-season I made the move from wide receiver to DB (defensive back). My coach loves me at corner.”

What was the championship run like for you and the Eagles in 2016?

“Playing in the championship round was a great feeling. We had never been that far. We did not have the mindset to make it that far in the past. We got into that mindset in 2016. That was a great feeling, and we won. It was great to be on that stage.”

You guys had a couple of tight games in the playoffs against Abilene (49-45) and Steele (38-29). What were those games like for you as a competitor expanding your on the field experience?

“Me being a competitor, in those tight games I was focused and tuned in. I had to maintain my side of the field and do my part. I did not want to do anything that would keep us from playing another game and advancing to the championship game. I was focused on my task. I stayed strong and trusted my teammates to overcome this journey together.”

How sweet was it for the team to get the title win over Steele after dropping a 35-33 game to them in 2015?

“Redemption. That was the main thing we were focused on. They beat us the year before and then they wanted to take our throne but we wanted to keep it. One word – redemption.”

Being at a new position, there were a lot of opportunities to get better last year. How did you game improve throughout your junior season?

“I began to have more confidence. My head coach, Coach (Todd) Peterman, gave me confidence. The main thing I feared was being beat and having a touchdown caught on me. Coach told me ‘you are a DB, things will happen. You have to go one play at a time and have a short memory. I grew in confidence. It got stronger from my coaches and everyone around me believing in me that I would make a good impact on the team.”

From a positional standpoint, what areas of your game grew?

“I’d say my tackling. My tackling got better and my ability to break off balls got better. The mindset of getting out of my break and getting downhill on the ball got better as the season went along.”

What parts of your game will you focus on in the off-season?

“This offseason I just want to pick my team up and be a leader. We have a lot of young people that are not focused on the upcoming season yet. This is big boy ball. We have a lot of guys that are coming from JV or freshman ball that will be on varsity next year. They have to develop a stronger work ethic and need to work more for us to be successful in 2017.”

Will your role on the team expand during your senior season to multiple positions?

“Yes, sir. Coach Peterman already had the conversation with me. He wants me on both sides of the ball playing receiver and corner. I may be on special teams too. He did tell me he wants me on both sides of the ball. I know my role will grow.”

Which schools are showing recruiting interest in you but have not offered you yet?

“I am getting a lot of information from Boston College, but no offer yet. Texas A&M, Texas, and SMU, I have been in contact with those coaches. The coaches from those teams said once they finish their 2017 class they will reach out to me when they begin 2018 recruiting.”

How many offers do you have right now?

“Ten.”

*Hanspard picked up his eleventh offer from Oklahoma State after our interview

Did you take any unofficial visits during the 2016 season?

“I went to Arkansas for the Florida game with my good friend Kelan Walker (DeSoto 2018 RB). That was my first visit ever to a college to see the football program and athletic complex. I went to Oklahoma State last week with Kelan Walker, German Green (DeSoto 2018 CB), and Josh Jynes (Desoto 2018 OL).”

How did the trip to Oklahoma State go?

“It was great. Coach Tim Duffie, he is their cornerbacks coach, he came in and got to business with us. He gave us the information we needed to have to come back out and get serious about the recruiting process with Oklahoma State. He was down to earth.”

How did your trip to Arkansas go?

“Arkansas was phenomenal. It was great. The atmosphere was a family atmosphere. The coaches were great. All of them were talking to me wanting to know me better. The programs there are great with football, track, and academics. I am still debating on participating in track in college. I am a high jumper. Arkansas has a great track program. I will include their track program when I get down to my decision.”

Do you have any planned visits coming up?

“No, sir. I would have been at Houston this weekend but a UIL competition came up. I don’t have anything schedule. I do have offers to come out to visit campuses.”

Do you have any camps scheduled either college or exposure?

“The only camps I will probably attend are the Nike Regional Opening in Dallas and maybe the Rivals camp. Those will be the only two camps I may attend.”

What is your cumulative GPA?

“My core GPA is a 3.869. I am in the top 20 percent in my class.”

Very nice. Have you taken the ACT or SAT yet?

“No, sir. I take the ACT for the first time in March.”

Do you play any other sports for DeSoto?

“Track.”

Which events?

“I did the high jump and hurdles last year but this year I will focus on high jump. I have already told my coaches. I want to make sure I can make it to state this year. I was the only sophomore to make it to regionals last year. Qualification includes the top three, I came in fourth. This is something I really want to accomplish.”

What is your personal record in the high jump?

“Six-foot, eight-inches. The winning jump was six-foot, ten-inches. That was weighing on me throughout the summer. I worked on tweaking this and tweaking that to get those two extra inches.”

I’m guessing six-foot, ten-inches is the goal this year, but maybe you want something different. What is your goal in the high jump in 2017?

“I’m playing no games this season. I want the record. I think it is six-foot, eleven-inches. I want that record this year. During my senior year I want to set a new record and get seven-feet. I want to set a new one. Each year I have increased what I can do. I feel that I have that in me this year.”

Last question. You may get this a lot but given your father’s background there is good reason. Because of your father’s success at Texas Tech, is there pressure on you to follow that same path?

“No pressure at all. He is not forcing me to go to Tech. He wants me to go to the best school that fits me and if that is Texas Tech then great. I don’t have to worry about what he has done. He wants me to add onto the Hanspard legacy that has been set.”

Excellent. Byron, thank you for your time today and good luck with your track season.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: San Antonio Express-News; No. 5 Byron Hanspard celebrates an interception.

Photo credit: sportsday.dallasnews.com; No. 5 Byron Hanspard runs a receiver out of bounds.

Photo credit: Hanspard family; Byron Hanspard at Arkansas (2016).