There was only one No. 5 on the Armstrong High football roster, but it must have seemed like four to the Wildcats’ opponents.

Ajenavi “AJ” Byrd was here, there and everywhere for Coach Jeremy Pruitt’s East Enders.

The 6-foot, 168-pound whirlwind in blue and orange togs earned first team, Class 3 All-State honors as a wide receiver, defensive back, punt returner and kick returner.

“Well deserved honors. I would have expected nothing less,” Coach Pruitt said. “AJ never missed a practice … he put in all the work …he wants to be great.”’

The statewide coaches’ voting was coordinated by the Virginia High School League.

The 18-year-old senior also was a four-position, All-Star pick in Region 3B. His individual accolades translated to team success as the ’Cats finished 8-4, advancing to the region finals.

It was the furthest Armstrong has ever gone in the playoffs.

“I feel blessed to have those titles,” Byrd said. “Both individually and as a team, I reached my expectations …it was our brotherly bond that made the difference.”

A four-position All-Stater? It is certainly rarer than a round football field and may be unprecedented.

While records are fuzzy on this kind of thing, Byrd may be the first in Virginia and almost surely the first at a Richmond school to be All-State four times over.

The best word to describe his statistics is “Wow!”

Byrd had 54 receptions for 1,291 yards and 20 touchdowns. Defensively he had 12 tackles, 10 passes broken up and four interceptions, two of which he returned for TDs.

Opportunities were limited on defense. With his glowing reputation, few rival quarterbacks challenged him in the Armstrong secondary.

On special teams, he ran back two kickoffs for TDs and two more on punts. “AJ is an explosive athlete with a 40-inch vertical leap,” Coach Pruitt said.

This Wildcat shines in the classroom, too, with a 3.1 GPA while taking such courses as advance placement government and chemistry.

Byrd grew up in Fredericksburg and Colonial Beach. His family moved to Church Hill when

he was about 10 years old.

Football wasn’t always at the top of his sporting wish list.

“I had hoop dreams – wanted to play basketball,” he recalled. “I switched my main focus to football in 10th grade when I came out for the team and Coach Pruitt took me in as his own.”

College recruitment is a work in progress. Byrd says he has “five offers,” including interest from James Madison. He ran a 4.52 for the 40-yard dash at JMU’s prospects camp last summer.

“We’re being patient,” Coach Pruitt said. “He’s a Division I player, no doubt.”

In the meantime, Byrd is keeping his taut muscles loose, playing Armstrong basketball and serving as a sprinter (mostly 55 meters) on the indoor track team.

“As an athlete, I feel capable of doing anything,” he said.

Considering the results, who could dispute that?