Former NC State defensive tackle Dennis Byrd dies; recently elected to college football hall

Former NC State defensive tackle Dennis Byrd dies

RALEIGH, N.C. — Dennis Byrd, a former defensive tackle at North Carolina State who was to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in December, has died. He was 63.

N.C. State spokeswoman Annabelle Myers said Byrd died Friday in Charlotte. Myers said the family told the school that Byrd suffered a heart attack on July 15 while undergoing back surgery and never regained consciousness.

In May, Byrd was among 14 former players and coaches elected to the hall.

Byrd was a three-time first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection, and helped N.C. State win a share of the 1965 ACC championship. He was a consensus All-America in 1966 and 1967. He was drafted by the Boston Patriots in 1968 and played two seasons in the old American Football League.

He is survived by his wife and four children.