Byers, who has a fastball that runs in the upper 80s to go with a devastating slider, was one of the mainstays in the bullpen the second half of the season, taking over the left-handed set up role when Brian Rodaway moved into the rotation. He allowed only 25 percent of the runners he inherited to score and allowed one earned run in his last seven outings. During the fall, Byers continued to pitch well, making three appearances in the Red-White Series. He did not allow a run in 4.2 innings, while holding NU hitters to a .158 average.

?Waylon got into a comfort zone out of the bullpen last season and the effects have carried over to the fall,? Childress said. ?He has worked on developing a changeup and that should help his other pitches be more effective.?

2001 - Sophomore
Byers enjoyed a solid sophomore campaign, becoming the Huskers? most dependable lefty in the bullpen during the stretch run. He made 14 appearances, including six in Big 12 play, finishing the season with a 3-0 mark and a 3.43 ERA in 21 innings. The southpaw, who had better than a 2-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio (17 strikeouts to just eight walks) excelled in the set up role, allowing four of 16 inherited runners to score, and surrendered just one homer all season. During his final seven appearances, he allowed just one earned run, as foes hit just .205 against him.

In the postseason, Byers saw action in a pair of contests and did not allow a run in either appearance. Against Rutgers in the regional title game, Byers entered the game in a dicey situation with the bases loaded and Rutgers holding a 10-7 lead. He got out of the jam with an inning-ending double play and finished with 1.2 scoreless innings to earn the win, before NU scored six runs in the ninth. He also pitched against Tulane in the CWS, retiring the only batter he faced in the Huskers? 6-5 loss.

Byers picked up his first collegiate win against UNLV on Feb. 18, throwing three perfect innings of relief and striking out a career-high four Rebels in NU?s 14-0 victory. The strong performance earned him his first start against Wichita State on Feb. 25, where he allowed three runs on four hits in NU?s 8-7 win. Byers found success in the bullpen, allowing just one earned run over his next three appearances, including 1.2 scoreless innings in a 10-8 win at Texas Tech on March 4 and one run in a season-best 3.1 inning performance against Missouri on March 24. He improved to 2-0 on the year, picking up the win against Creighton on April 4. Byers became the Huskers? top left-hander in the pen after Rodaway moved into the starting rotation in early April. He allowed just one earned run (at Texas A&M on April 28) and walked just one hitter in his final six relief outings. He also made one start in a non-conference game against UTSA on April 18, throwing two scoreless innings of no-hit ball before being forced out of the game with a strained tendon in his pitching arm.

2000 - Freshman
Byers made five appearances, all in relief, pitching a total of 4.1 innings before a case of tendonitis ended his season in early April. On the season, he allowed five runs, all earned, on seven hits for a 10.38 ERA. He struck out two hitters and walked six, including four against Northwest Missouri State. In his first four appearances, he allowed just one run on five hits, including conference outings at Oklahoma State and against Oklahoma. He didn?t allow an extra base hit until his final outing of the season, where he gave up four runs in a third of an inning against Northwest Missouri State.

Southeast Warren High School
Byers was a two-sport standout at Southeast Warren High School and helped his team go 25-6 in Iowa?s Class 1A to advance to the state tournament. He earned third-team all-state honors after going 6-1 on the mound with a 1.47 ERA. He struck out an impressive 149 batters in only 80.1 innings of work. In addition to his performances on the mound, he hit .396 with five home runs and 32 RBIs in the outfield. Byers also averaged 17 points per game in basketball as a senior.