04-29-2016, 10:13 PM
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2071582/tyler-boyd
SCHOOL: PITTSBURGH | CONFERENCE: ACC
COLLEGE EXPERIENCE: JUNIOR | HOMETOWN: CLAIRTON, PA
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-1 / 197 LBS.
PROJECTED RANKING
OVERALL 47
PLAYER OVERVIEW
A three-year starter, Boyd played with three different starting quarterbacks each of his three years with the Panthers, but his production was consistent each season, leaving Pitt as the school's all-time leading receiver.
With streaky quarterback play and running back James Conner sidelined for 2015, the Pittsburgh play-calling manufactured touches for Boyd as the clear top playmaker on offense, including hand-offs and shorter routes.
Boyd saw early playing time as a true freshman, starting 10 games and leading the team with 85 catches (new ACC freshman record) and 1,174 receiving yards, breaking Larry Fitzgerald's Pittsburgh freshman records in both categories.
Boyd started 12 games in 2014 as a sophomore and set a career-best with 1,261 receiving yards to become the first player in ACC history to tally 1,000-plus receiving yards in both his freshman and sophomore seasons, earning First Team All-ACC honors.
He started 12 games in 2015 as a junior and led the team in receiving for the third straight season with a career-best 91 catches for 926 yards (only time he finished below the 1,000-yard mark) and six touchdowns. Boyd was the lone unanimous First Team player on the All-ACC team.
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
STRENGTHS: Gliding athlete with an instant accelerator to reach his top speed with his initial strides. Sharp cuts and burst off his plant foot, mixing his gears well in his patterns.
Quick release off the line of scrimmage with natural route running prowess, setting up defenders and selling routes with beautiful body fakes. Easy body control to twist mid-air and adjust to obscure ball placement. Excellent hand-eye coordination with strong hands to pluck, extending his catching radius beyond what most his size can - attacks the ball, doesn't wait for it.
Lack of body strength shows in traffic, but surprisingly efficient in contested situations. Tough over the middle and always looking to pick up yards after the catch with his innate field awareness. Highly competitive playing temperament and lunch pail worker.
Lined up everywhere in the Pitt offense, including outside and in the slot. Also lined up as a running back (8.3-yard career rushing average, 63/520/1) and quarterback, displaying a strong arm to be a passing weapon (3-for-4 passing in his career for 96 yards). Return man on special teams, averaging 24.4 yards on kickoff returns (46/1,124/0) and 8.8 yards on punt returns (27/238/1). Leaves Pitt with the school career records for receiving yards (3,361) and receptions (254).
WEAKNESSES: Underwhelming size with a thin torso and lean body features. Limited bulk and lacks the power to fight through tackle attempts or pick up yards after initial contact. Lacks an ideal build to take consistent punishment in the NFL.
Majority of his routes at Pitt are within seven yards of the line of scrimmage (screens, slants, etc.) and unproven as a consistent downfield threat. Will hear ghosts around him, leading to focus drops. Holds the ball too loose as a ballcarrier, leading to ball security concerns. Struggles to gain correct positioning as a blocker with below average functional strength - too easily pushed around and needs technique work to mask his lack of power.
Off-field decision-making needs investigated - arrested and charged with a DUI (June 2015), leading to a suspension over the summer and 2015 season opener.
COMPARES TO: Nelson Agholor, Philadelphia Eagles - Agholor has a little more twitch and Boyd is more detailed, but there are similarities on film between the two wide receivers.
IN OUR VIEW: A graceful athlete, he trusts his hands and uses quick eyes to snatch and immediately analyze his surroundings, but his body size does lead to durability concerns, especially over the middle. Despite average measureables, Boyd is an exquisite catcher of the football and able to stand out by paying attention to the details, putting his value in the top 50 range. His ideal NFL fit is in the slot in a Jarvis Landry-type role.
--Dane Brugler (1/5/16)
SCHOOL: PITTSBURGH | CONFERENCE: ACC
COLLEGE EXPERIENCE: JUNIOR | HOMETOWN: CLAIRTON, PA
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-1 / 197 LBS.
PROJECTED RANKING
OVERALL 47
PLAYER OVERVIEW
A three-year starter, Boyd played with three different starting quarterbacks each of his three years with the Panthers, but his production was consistent each season, leaving Pitt as the school's all-time leading receiver.
With streaky quarterback play and running back James Conner sidelined for 2015, the Pittsburgh play-calling manufactured touches for Boyd as the clear top playmaker on offense, including hand-offs and shorter routes.
Boyd saw early playing time as a true freshman, starting 10 games and leading the team with 85 catches (new ACC freshman record) and 1,174 receiving yards, breaking Larry Fitzgerald's Pittsburgh freshman records in both categories.
Boyd started 12 games in 2014 as a sophomore and set a career-best with 1,261 receiving yards to become the first player in ACC history to tally 1,000-plus receiving yards in both his freshman and sophomore seasons, earning First Team All-ACC honors.
He started 12 games in 2015 as a junior and led the team in receiving for the third straight season with a career-best 91 catches for 926 yards (only time he finished below the 1,000-yard mark) and six touchdowns. Boyd was the lone unanimous First Team player on the All-ACC team.
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
STRENGTHS: Gliding athlete with an instant accelerator to reach his top speed with his initial strides. Sharp cuts and burst off his plant foot, mixing his gears well in his patterns.
Quick release off the line of scrimmage with natural route running prowess, setting up defenders and selling routes with beautiful body fakes. Easy body control to twist mid-air and adjust to obscure ball placement. Excellent hand-eye coordination with strong hands to pluck, extending his catching radius beyond what most his size can - attacks the ball, doesn't wait for it.
Lack of body strength shows in traffic, but surprisingly efficient in contested situations. Tough over the middle and always looking to pick up yards after the catch with his innate field awareness. Highly competitive playing temperament and lunch pail worker.
Lined up everywhere in the Pitt offense, including outside and in the slot. Also lined up as a running back (8.3-yard career rushing average, 63/520/1) and quarterback, displaying a strong arm to be a passing weapon (3-for-4 passing in his career for 96 yards). Return man on special teams, averaging 24.4 yards on kickoff returns (46/1,124/0) and 8.8 yards on punt returns (27/238/1). Leaves Pitt with the school career records for receiving yards (3,361) and receptions (254).
WEAKNESSES: Underwhelming size with a thin torso and lean body features. Limited bulk and lacks the power to fight through tackle attempts or pick up yards after initial contact. Lacks an ideal build to take consistent punishment in the NFL.
Majority of his routes at Pitt are within seven yards of the line of scrimmage (screens, slants, etc.) and unproven as a consistent downfield threat. Will hear ghosts around him, leading to focus drops. Holds the ball too loose as a ballcarrier, leading to ball security concerns. Struggles to gain correct positioning as a blocker with below average functional strength - too easily pushed around and needs technique work to mask his lack of power.
Off-field decision-making needs investigated - arrested and charged with a DUI (June 2015), leading to a suspension over the summer and 2015 season opener.
COMPARES TO: Nelson Agholor, Philadelphia Eagles - Agholor has a little more twitch and Boyd is more detailed, but there are similarities on film between the two wide receivers.
IN OUR VIEW: A graceful athlete, he trusts his hands and uses quick eyes to snatch and immediately analyze his surroundings, but his body size does lead to durability concerns, especially over the middle. Despite average measureables, Boyd is an exquisite catcher of the football and able to stand out by paying attention to the details, putting his value in the top 50 range. His ideal NFL fit is in the slot in a Jarvis Landry-type role.
--Dane Brugler (1/5/16)
![[Image: 4CV0TeR.png]](https://i.imgur.com/4CV0TeR.png)
