Rocky Mount, NC - The N.C. Wesleyan football program has been recognized for its outstanding individual performances during the 2024 season, with three key players earning spots on the D3Football.com Second-Team All-Region roster. Running back Anthony Byrd, wide receiver Christian Drumgoole, and offensive lineman Desmond Barnes were all honored for historic 2024 campaigns, solidifying their places as among the best in NCAA Division III football.
Anthony Byrd: A Record-Breaking Season
Running back Anthony Byrd delivered one of the most remarkable seasons in school history, earning a well-deserved selection to the All-Region Second-Team. Byrd, a native of Rose Hill, North Carolina, had a standout year, rushing for 1,340 yards in 2024—second in school history for a single-season rushing performance. His remarkable feat also pushed him over the 3,000-yard mark for his career, finishing with 3,158 career rushing yards, ranking him second all-time in school history.
Byrd's 203 rushing attempts in 2024 marked another milestone, placing him second in the program's record books for single-season carries. His workhorse mentality and consistent production made him the centerpiece of the Wesleyan offense.
Sophomore wide receiver Christian Drumgoole also found his name among the elite, earning Second-Team All-Region honors following a sensational 2024 campaign. Drumgoole, from Dinwiddie, Virginia, broke multiple records during the season, including an unforgettable performance against Ferrum on September 14th, when he hauled in 18 passes for a school-record 277 receiving yards. This record-breaking performance propelled him into the Wesleyan record books, where his 1,130 receiving yards in 2024 rank third all-time for a single season.
Alongside Byrd, Drumgoole became the first Wesleyan duo since 2014 to each surpass 1,000 yards in a season, forming one of the most dynamic and exciting offensive tandems in the program's history.
Offensive lineman Desmond Barnes, a local standout from Rocky Mount High School, was another key player who earned well-deserved recognition in the 2024 season. Barnes earned First-Team All-Conference honors for his stellar performance in the trenches, anchoring an offensive line that protected the quarterback and cleared the way for Byrd's record-breaking rushing totals. Barnes finished his career as a Bishop only allowing two sacks his final pair of seasons in Rocky Mount.
His exceptional play earned him an invitation to the prestigious CFBall Alumni Bowl in Philadelphia in late November where he was named the game's defensive MVP.
