Coach | 2021 Notre Dame RB Target Byron Cardwell "Can't-Miss Kid"

For Tracy McNair, understanding what makes Byron Cardwell‍ a standout is simple.

“I’d have to say his God-given athletic ability and his overall work ethic,” the Morse High School head coach said of his star running back.

If it’s simple to describe, that doesn’t mean it’s easy to replicate what the 2021 California back does.

“He has the size, speed,” McNair continued. “He’s 6-foot, 205. I’m going to say he probably runs about 10.8 in the 100, somewhere in that area.

“We use him mainly at running back. He’ll play some defensive end and free safety too.”

Off the field, Cardwell is easy to like, according to McNair.

“He’s a wonderful kid,” the coach said. “He’s a leader of our FCA program. He’s a total overall leader. He has like a 3.5, 3.6 GPA.

“He fits in off the field...He loves lifting weights in the weight room. To me, he’s a can’t-miss kid.”

Earlier this month, Notre Dame sent a scholarship offer Cardwell’s way, joining the likes of USC, UCLA, Washington, Arizona, Arizona State, Texas A&M, LSU, Michigan, Penn State, Florida and Florida State among others.

“I talked with Notre Dame about a week before they offered him and we talked about it,” McNair said. “I think he’ll look at them seriously.

“They’re looking at him as an every-down back. He has the size and the hands, he can do everything.”

McNair is grateful to have a player of Cardwell’s stature set an example for the others in his program.

“I think it comes down to the younger kids following in his footsteps. Whether it’s an undersized kid looking at NAIA or a Division-II program, they have somebody to look up to to see the right thing to do and the right thing to be.”