Byron Putman

Defensive End, Northwestern High School
Each year, the Charlotte Touchdown Club honors a student-athlete who has not only exhibited
excellence on the field but has also excelled in the areas of leadership, sportsmanship,
scholarship, and citizenship as well. The recipient is selected from hundreds of outstanding
student-athletes from more than 80 local high schools.
This year’s recipient of the Student-Athlete of the Year Award presented by Bahakel Sports is
Byron Dmitri Putman, a defensive end from Northwestern High School.
Putman is the epitome of good sportsmanship, carrying himself with respect and humility on and
off the field. He is referred to as a “gentle giant” always encouraging his teammates with positive
comments. Putman remains cool in the heat of competition and is usually found in the weight
room before school tutoring teammates.
Putman has distinguished himself in the classroom as well, earning the Principal’s Scholar
Award every semester of his high school career. Putman also received the Academic Athlete
Award for four years, served as a Junior Marshal, and was a Northwestern Olympian
Ambassador. Putman was named to the Beta Club in 2023 and 2024 and served as a Palmetto
Boys’ State delegate in Summer 2024. Putman is also credited with 100% attendance and zero
days of school missed.
Athletically, Putman is a 2024 Team Captain for the Trojans and was named a WRHI Player of
the Game in 2023. This season, through nine games, he is credited with 43 total tackles, six
sacks, and 7.5 tackles for loss. In 2023, Putman recorded 38 total tackles, six sacks, and 4.5
tackles for loss.
Community service is also important to Putman, reflected in his work with the Trojan Council,
Junior Civitans, F.E.L.L.A.S organization, and WIN Today! He reads with elementary students at
various schools and tutors as part of the Challenger program. As a member of the Trojan
Council Community Committee, Putman assisted at a Youth Rec Night, Northwestern High
School’s Trunk or Treat, a hygiene collection for local shelters, a Thanksgiving food collection
for Pilgrims Inn, and more.
Putman’s goal is to continue his education at Duke University and his teachers believe he is
more than ready to take on this challenge. Putman’s AP English Literature teacher described
Putman as “a man of action and a role model to everyone. Dmitri sets an example for others
and receives buy-in from his peers and the many younger students looking up to him.”
The Charlotte Touchdown Club and Bahakel Sports