Oklahoma's Top 20 recruiting what-ifs: No. 17, Hatari Byrd

Former 4-star safety was a hard hitter who had 15 tackles in a game, but couldn't seize a starting spot and was eventually dismissed from the team

Byrd's bio in the 2013 OU media guide

Hatari Byrd played three seasons at Oklahoma, but still left a lot of potential when he was dismissed from the team prior to his senior season.

Byrd was a 4-star safety when he signed with the Sooners out of Fresno in 2013. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Byrd brought with him the reputation of a thunderous hitter, a fearless assassin patrolling the defensive backfield.

Hatari Byrd / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

He played in five games as a true freshman, then won the starting job as a sophomore in 2014, playing in all 13 games, even compiling 15 tackles in the second game of the year against Tulsa. But he struggled in the Cotton Bowl in a shocking loss to Texas, and never got his starting job back as other defensive backs emerged.

He was a backup again in 2015 and got plenty of playing time in September, but his snaps dwindled. He tried to get reps by moving to outside linebacker at midseason, but that produced only minimal playing time.

Bob Stoops and Hatari Byrd during the 2014 Texas game / Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The following spring, Bob Stoops announced that Byrd had been dismissed from the team for violating team rules, and that he had given Byrd his blessing to transfer anywhere he wanted.

Byrd ended up at Division II Texas A&M-Commerce, and as a senior he made 41 tackles as an outside linebacker and earned honorable mention all-conference honors.

Hatari Byrd / OU Athletics

At OU, Byrd played in 30 games but made just two starts his sophomore year.

He was a 4-star recruit by both 247 Sports and Rivals and was named to the Semper Fi All-American Game.

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This Series

National Signing Day is around the corner, so SI Sooners is examining Oklahoma’s biggest recruiting what-ifs of the last 20 years.

NOTE: We've changed the theme from "regrets" to "what-ifs" because it's hard for many to get past the negative connotation of regret. Also, "what-if" is a more accurate depiction of what we're trying to convey.

The series wasn't intended to put anyone in a bad light. It's not about the coaching staff regretting that they signed these guys, or the players regretting they came to Oklahoma.

This is about players who arrived (or almost arrived) at Oklahoma but then, for whatever reason, left well before they reached their potential.

This is what college football recruiting is all about: the risk-reward that comes with not knowing a prospect's potential. For every Adrian Peterson, there's a Rhett Bomar. For every Tommie Harris, there's a Mo Dampeer.

The time period is since 2000, when online recruiting services and the current "star" system became prominent.

The rankings were compiled by SI Sooners publisher John Hoover, Sports Animal host Al Eschbach, KREF host James Hale and Sooner Spectator publisher Jay Upchurch.

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How Hoover voted:

I didn't rank Byrd in my top 20 of all the Sooners' recruiting what-ifs of the last 20 years. That doesn't mean I wasn't excited to watch him play. High school players don't often come in with with Byrd's reputation for big hits or desire for contact.

No. 17 on my list was 5-star linebacker Ricky DeBerry, who was voted at No. 19 on our list (follow the link below to read about DeBerry).

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Top 20 Oklahoma Recruiting What-Ifs

(since 2000)

No. 20: LB Mike Reed

No. 19: LB Ricky DeBerry

No. 18: CB Parrish Cobb