Bynum grew up in Corona, California and attended Centennial High School. He was initially considered undersized as a football player and did not play on the varsity team until his junior year.[1] As a senior, Bynum recorded 70 tackles and nine passes defended.[2]
After redshirting his true freshman season,[5] Bynum became a starter during his redshirt freshman season and finished the year with 58 tackles, eight passes broken up and two interceptions and was named Cal's Most Valuable Freshman.[6] Bynum recorded 48 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss with 12 passes broken up and two interceptions as a redshirt sophomore.[7][8] As a redshirt junior, Bynum recorded 63 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, one interception, and nine passes broken up and was named second-team All-Pac-12 Conference.[9][10] Following the announcement that Pac-12 would postpone the 2020 season, Bynum announced that he would opt out of the season in order to focus on preparing for the 2021 NFL draft.[11] Bynum reversed his decision to opt out after the Pac-12 announced that they would resume fall football.[12]
Bynum was the only Golden Bear to start in all 42 games from 2017 to 2020, starting every game at cornerback. He graduated from UC Berkeley in December 2020 with a degree in business.[13]
Bynum made his regular season debut in the Vikings' Week 1 overtime loss at the Cincinnati Bengals, in which he recorded two solo tackles.[19] He made his first start and recorded his first interception in the Vikings' Week 9 overtime loss at the Baltimore Ravens.[20]
In Week 7 of the 2023 season, Bynum recorded nine tackles and two interceptions in a 22-17 win over the 49ers, earning National Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week.[21]
Personal life
Bynum is of Filipino descent through his mother and African descent through his father. His maternal great grandmother traced her roots to Leyte.[22] On March 2, 2023, Bynum got married in an intimate wedding in the Philippines.[23] Bynum is a Christian.[24]
