WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – University of South Alabama Director of Broadcasting J.D. Byars was named the Alabama Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association, as announced by the organization.

It marks the second consecutive year that Byars has been honored with the award.. Byars was named a finalist for the award, along with Andy Burcham, Chris Stewart and David Crane after being nominated by national broadcasters. The awards banquet will be held June 26-28 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

"This award means a lot, and yes, it's a reflection on a body of work spanning almost three decades now, but I've never accomplished anything, anywhere, without a great broadcast team," Byars said. "I absolutely owe this to Pat Greenwood, Tommy Hicks, JT Crabtree, Joe McNulty and our AD, Dr. Joel Erdmann who gave us a shot back in 2014."

Byars is the voice of Jaguar athletics and handles play-by-play duties for Jaguar football games, as well as play-by-play coverage for ESPN+ for men's and women's basketball games, and Jaguar baseball games. Additionally, Byars handles the 13-station statewide network for Jaguar Sports Properties, which covers the major cities reaching over 3.35 million people per game day. 

"To be on a list with names like Eli Gold, Paul Finebaum, Jim Fyffe, Chris Stewart, Rod Bramblett and John Forney, it still hasn't sunk-in since last year's award. I guess I'm just not sure I've ever considered my work anywhere near the quality of theirs. I look up to all of those legends and most of them have been a big influence on my style, especially my basketball broadcasts. Chris Stewart is indeed the gold standard when it comes to radio basketball play-by-play."

In addition to last year's NSMA Alabama Sportscaster of the Year Award, Byars was also awarded an ABBY from the Alabama Broadcaster's Association for Large Market Sportscaster of the Year.

The NSMA annually recognizes a National Sportscaster and National Sportswriter of the Year, as well as a sportscaster and sportswriter in each state. Four individuals are usually selected for the NSMA Hall of Fame each year as well. Among this year's Hall of Fame Sportscasters inductees will be Jim Nantz, Dick Stockton and Bill King, while Hall of Fame Sportswriters inductees include Larry Merchant, William Nack, William C. Rhoden and Rick Telander.

Jim Fyffe owns the most Alabama Sportscaster of the Year awards (8), followed by Eli Gold and Chris Stewart, who have been honored five times each. Other past winners of the award in Alabama include Rod Bramblett, Paul Finebaum and Gary Sanders.

Mike "Doc" Emrick was voted the 2020 National Sportscaster of the Year, and Nicole Auerbach as the 2020 National Sportswriter of the Year.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with USAJaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at Twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).