On April 29, Day 2 of the 2016 NFL Draft, I watched as one of my football dream scenarios fell into place.
“With the 55th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, our Cincinnati Bengals select Tyler Boyd: wide receiver, Pittsburgh,” Isaac Curtis, the 15th pick in the 1973 draft by the Bengals, said.
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I had a feeling this would happen leading up to the selection, but I couldn’t control my excitement. I jumped out of my chair and my heart skipped a beat. My favorite NFL team just drafted my favorite player who I had been watching for years.
I love the game of football, but I have an unusual passion for Pennsylvania high school football. I love the history, the records, the statistics, the stadiums, the uniforms, the Friday night lights, the contrasting districts and the players who start successful football careers in the PIAA. One player in particular stood out to me in 2010.
I tuned into the PIAA football Class A state championship game on a December afternoon to root for the Riverside Vikings, a local high school team. Their opponent was the defending state champion Clairton Bears, who were on a 30-game win streak at the time. Riverside took an early 24-0 lead, but then Clairton’s rising star Tyler Boyd took over the game.
Boyd, the sophomore running back, wide receiver and defensive back, changed the game when he took a pitch to the right and was at least 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage before he broke multiple tackles and ran for a monster gain. This caught my attention. Boyd finished the game with 58 yards rushing, 112 yards receiving and two touchdowns, plus a pair of 2-point conversion runs to bring the Bears back to win 36-30.
I kept my eye on him for the next two seasons and he did not disappoint. Boyd broke the WPIAL (District 7) record for career touchdowns with 117 and finished as the fifth-leading rusher in WPIAL history with 5,755 yards. In his four years on the varsity squad, the team won 63 straight games and four state championships. As a starter his last three years, the team went 48-0.
In his senior season, Boyd rushed for 2,584 yards and 43 touchdowns, had 295 yards receiving on 13 catches, and led the WPIAL in total touchdowns with 51. He and the Bears ferociously controlled the 2012 state championship game beating another local high school team, the Dunmore Bucks, 20-0.
I knew this kid was special, and I started searching the Internet for places to buy his No. 23 Clairton jersey. I also prayed he would consider playing college football at Penn State.
Boyd was invited to the Big 33 Football Classic between the best players in Pennsylvania and Maryland. He was named MVP of the game after scoring five touchdowns (one passing, one rushing, two receiving and one kick returning). At the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, a national high school all-star game, Boyd announced his commitment to the Pittsburgh Panthers.
“What a high school career that was,” I thought. “Good for him.” I was doubtful about how much playing time Boyd would get at an FBS program, but he proved me wrong and took advantage of his opportunities.
In 2013, he set new Pitt freshman receiving records previously held by the GOAT, Larry Fitzgerald. Boyd capped the season with a stellar performance in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl against Bowling Green with 242 all-purpose yards, including a 54-yard punt return for a touchdown. It looked like he was playing against high schoolers again.
The do-everything athlete consistently kept his statistics up for the next two seasons before declaring for the 2016 NFL Draft. After watching Boyd develop the last six years, I felt like the overly proud dad telling everyone in the stands that that’s my son doing great things.
Enter the 2016 NFL Draft. The Cincinnati Bengals lost their second and third receivers Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu to free agency earlier in the year, so the Bengals need a top draftee to fill that void. I expected them to select one of four top wide receivers with the 24th pick in the draft, but that plan changed quickly.
Round 1: The Cleveland Browns select Corey Coleman… The Houston Texans select Will Fuller… The Washington Redskins select Josh Doctson… The Minnesota Vikings select Laquon Treadwell…
I was stunned and confused. Almost every mock draft had the Bengals choosing one of the best wide receivers, and after the Texans, Redskins and Vikings selected those three at 21, 22 and 23, there were none left with a first-round grade. I was irate.
There was still hope for nabbing a good receiver in the second round, though.
Round 2: The New York Giants select Sterling Shepard… The New Orleans Saints select Michael Thomas…
Suddenly, the top wide receiver on the draft board was Boyd, and the Bengals were up to pick at 55. I realized what was about to happen and was all smiles when Isaac Curtis made his way to the podium at Auditorium Theater in Chicago.
Boyd will be back in black and orange, but this time he’ll be a Bengal instead of a Bear.
Boyd is a do-everything athlete, comparable to the recently departed Sanu. He can run, catch, throw, tackle and return kicks. Plus, he is western Pennsylvania, steel-town tough. He should have no problem playing in the AFC North division. Boyd won four WPIAL championships and played Pitt home games inside Heinz Field, the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, which he will visit at least once a year now.
I love high school football, and I love watching the next generation of athletes become now’s generation. It just so happened that my favorite player I had been following landed on my favorite team. This draft didn’t go as expected at first, but this awesome scenario fell into place. I’m excited to see what Boyd can do at this next level.
