Gamecock alum uses unique part of anatomy to score first touchdown of his NFL career

Damiere Byrd is playing the best football of his NFL career at the right time for the Carolina Panthers.

The former South Carolina Gamecocks receiver scored the first touchdown of his professional career Sunday in a critical 31-24 win over the Green Bay Packers.

If that wasn’t enough, he added another touchdown in the fourth quarter to double his career total.

Byrd, who missed most of the season because of a broken arm has been a difference maker for the Panthers the past few weeks. He returned from the injury in December, recording a reception his first game back.

In a crucial win over the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 10, Byrd had five receptions on as many targets.

Sunday against the Panthers, Byrd was held without a reception until the third quarter. Carolina was in the red zone, but the drive appeared to have stalled until quarterback Cam Newton found Byrd in the back of the end zone.

The play initially ruled an incomplete pass by the officials because Byrd bobbled the ball before gaining control as he landed on his bottom in the back barrier. After Panthers coach Ron Rivera challenged the ruling, the call was reversed and Byrd was credited for his first NFL touchdown.

After the play, much of the reaction on social media was about the part of his anatomy that Byrd used to establish he was in bounds, as there was about the score that put the Panthers up 24-14 in the third quarter.

Byrd reportedly gave the play a nickname after the game, according to Charlotte Observer sports writer Joe Person. Byrd coined the term “Butt drag swag.”

There was no doubt about Byrd’s second score. The former USC star ran a slant and hauled in a 13-yard touchdown reception from Newton to put Carolina ahead of Green Bay 31-17.

Byrd finished the game with three receptions for 25 yards, and the two critical touchdowns. Additionally, Byrd returned two kickoffs for a combined 45 yards. He has eight of his career catches in the past two weeks.

In four seasons playing for the Gamecocks (2011-14), Byrd was a difference maker. He had 68 receptions for 1,265 yards and 10 touchdowns playing for Steve Spurrier.

Byrd was undrafted, but signed with the Panthers because of his big-play ability and blazing speed, which allowed him to compete for the track team at South Carolina. This is the best and most impactful stretch of his brief career, as he only had one career reception in limited action during his first two seasons in the NFL.

His emergence makes the Panthers a potent offense, as Newton can give Byrd the ball along with tight end Greg Olsen, as well as running backs Christian McCaffrey and Jonathan Stewart.

This story was originally published December 17, 2017 at 3:34 PM with the headline "Gamecock alum uses unique part of anatomy to score first touchdown of his NFL career."