Career: Concluded his four-year career with 90 total tackles including 50 solo stops and four tackles for loss … Also recorded seven career interceptions, two that he returned for touchdowns … Signed as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Chargers (April 26, 2020) following the 2020 NFL Draft.
2019 (Senior): Started all 12 games in the defensive secondary … Finished the year fifth on the team with 55 total tackles including 30 solo stops … Led the Catamounts with a single-season career-best three interceptions that ranked him tied for the second-most in the SoCon, adding two fumble recoveries to his takeaway tally … His team-best eight passes defended ranked eighth in the SoCon … Returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown in the season-opener against Mercer (Aug. 31) … Posted seven tackles at NC State (Sept. 7) … Recorded a season-high eight tackles including seven solo stops at Chattanooga (Sept. 28), adding his second pick of the season … Named second-team All-Southern Conference by both the league’s head coaches and voting members of the SoCon Sports Media Association (SCSMA).
2018 (Junior): Played in 10 of the team’s 11 games on the season, missing the Chattanooga game while making two starts in the defensive secondary … Finished the year with 22 total tackles including 14 solo stops and two tackles for loss … Tallied a season-high five tackles twice, making four solo stops as a part of his five tackles against The Citadel (Nov. 3) with three solo tackles among his five at North Carolina (Nov. 17) … Recorded two interceptions including one in the second quarter at No. 25 ETSU (Oct. 27) and the second with a 12-yard return at North Carolina (Nov. 17) that ultimately set-up a second-quarter field goal … Tallied two pass break-ups … Also credited with forcing a fumble against The Citadel (Nov. 3) with a fumble recovery coming at UNC ... Named to the 2018-19 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.
2017 (Sophomore): Saw action in 11 of the team's 12 games on the season with one start coming against VMI (Oct. 21) ... Finished the season with nine total tackles including four solo stops and one tackle for loss coming against VMI ... Named Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 16 after recording a pair of interceptions - the first of his collegiate career - to accompany a pair of tackles in the home victory over ETSU (Oct. 14), in which he saw the most extensive playing time of his career ... Returned his first career interception 41 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Bucs ... Set-up another WCU score by returning his second pick 56 yards to the six-yard line ... Was additionally nominated for the FCS Hero of the Week through a vote by HERO Sports ... Intercepted two passes to highlight WCU's annual Spring Game ... Named to the 2017-18 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.
2016 (Freshman): Played in five of the team's 11 games on the year, mostly as a defensive reserve ... Made his first collegiate start against Chattanooga (Oct. 28), recording his first career tackles ... Finished with four tackles including two solo stops coming against VMI (Nov. 5) and at Furman (Nov. 12).
Prior to Western Carolina: Two-time All-SoMeck 8 Conference selection ... Garnered second-team defense accolades on the All-Charlotte Observer team ... Was listed on the South Charlotte "20 to Treasure" list following his senior season which ended with him garnering the publication's Defensive Player of the Year honor ... Posted 56 tackles including six TFLs, a sack, eight interceptions and 13 pass break-ups as a senior ... On offense, caught 24 passes for 98 yards and three scores ... Set as a junior and then matched as a senior a school-record with eight INTs in a single-season ... Also tallied a career-best three interceptions in a single-game ... High school coach was Rocky White.
Personal: Full name is John William Brannon III ... Is the son of John Brannon Jr. and Dana L. Byers.
Career-Highs:
Tackles: 5, twice (MR: at North Carolina (11/17/18)
Interceptions: 1, four times (MR: at North Carolina (11/17/18)
