Carson Bruno has put life as a Byrd student behind him and is ready to move on to the next level.

When he completed midterm tests last week, Bruno was finished as a Yellow Jacket scholastically, but he gets at least one more award athletically. He was selected to the LSWA Class 5A All-State first team Sunday along with Haughton linebacker Jake St. Andre.

An early graduate, Bruno will report to Ruston on March 8 and will participate in spring drills with the Bulldogs hoping to get a jump start on his college career. Although he played defensive line for the Jackets, he’s expected to play center or guard for coach Skip Holtz if he isn’t redshirted.

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“I’m just hoping to help the team in whatever way they need me,” Bruno told The Times. “I don’t have a preference — both are great options, but I would like to redshirt if I don’t get playing time my freshman year.”

Since the LHSAA Division I championship game Dec. 27, Bruno worked on his grades, worked out and hung out with family and friends reminiscing about Byrd’s near perfect season.

Bruno’s brush with celebrity came a couple of years ago when he and his brother came across someone most of the world probably wouldn’t have recognized. Neil deGrasse Tyson, a world-renowned astrophysicist, was crossing the Brooklyn Bridge at the same time as the brothers.

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“I had no idea who he was, but Michael is a nerd, and he used to watch his show StarTalk,” Bruno said.

Tyson and his wife were crossing the bridge in the opposite direction on their way to a meeting.

“Michael was like, ‘I need to get a picture with him,’ so we turned around and sprinted across half the Brooklyn Bridge to catch up to them,” Bruno said.

Tyson wouldn’t stop for a photo, but the boys walked alongside and talked with him taking a photo while moving.

Bruno has tentative plans on returning home to Byrd for high school graduation.

“It feels great to be done,” he said. “Now I can focus on working out and getting ready for college.”

At this point Bruno feels ready for the next step and says he isn’t nervous.

“I just think it hasn’t hit me yet,” he said. “I’ll probably get more nervous the closer it gets.”

Twitter: @JimmyWatson6