MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama Director of Broadcasting J.D. Byars was recently awarded the 2022 ABBY Award as Large Market Sportscaster by the Alabama Broadcasters Association at the 16th Annual ABBY Awards banquet.

It marked the third consecutive year Byars has received the ABBY as the state's Large Market Sportscaster after also earning the honor in 2020 and '21.

"The ABA uses and reciprocates judges from others states in this, so to be judged by veteran broadcast professionals outside of Alabama is very humbling and an honor I don't take lightly. I am very appreciative of the award and owe a great deal to my broadcast partner of eight years Pat Greenwood."

Byars is the voice of Jaguar athletics and handles play-by-play duties for ESPN+ for Jaguar football, 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. 

He was awarded the National Sports Media Association Alabama Sportscaster of the Year in back-to-back years (2019-20), and also received the honor in 2022. 

Next year Byars will mark his 30th year in broadcasting. 

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

Join the South Circle, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics. Contributions to South Circle directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/give.