Tyler Boyd

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.

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.

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

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.

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)

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.

One of the state's most highly recruited players following a prolific career at perennial power Clairton High

finished his career ranking among the most productive performers in Western Pennsylvania history

set a WPIAL record with 117 career touchdowns

finished as the fifth-leading rusher in WPIAL annals with 5,755 yards

played diverse roles (running back, receiver, quarterback, defensive back and punt returner) for Clairton, which went 48-0 in his three years as a starter and 63-1 (.984) in his four varsity seasons under Coach Tom Nola

the Bears won four WPIAL and four PIAA Class A titles during his career

as a senior, rushed for 2,584 yards and 43 touchdowns, had 295 yards receiving on just 13 catches and led the WPIAL in scoring with 51 total TDs and 345 points

selected to play in the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio's Alamodome, where he announced his decision to attend Pitt during NBC's live telecast

first team MaxPreps Small School All-American

two-time selection as the Class A Player of the Year by the Pennsylvania Sports Writers

two-time Pennsylvania Football News first team All-Class A. Pennsylvania Football News 2011 Class A Offensive Player of the Year

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2012 Player of the Year

named to the Rivals 250 (No. 103) and ESPN 300 (No. 165) national prospect lists

rated the No. 6 overall prospect in Pennsylvania by Rivals and No. 8 by Scout

rated the nation's No. 12 wide receiver by Rivals and the No. 12 safety by Scout

selected to play in the Big 33 Football Classic (Pennsylvania vs. Maryland) and was named the game's MVP after accounting for five touchdowns (91-yard kick return, 68-yard halfback option pass, four-yard run and scoring catches of 16 and five yards)

also played basketball, helping Clairton to the WPIAL Class A title game and the PIAA playoffs as a senior, and was a baseball letterman as well.

Tyler Alexander Boyd, born 11/15/93, is the son of Tonya Payne and Brian Boyd

has one brother.

2015

passing
ATT	YPA	PCT	YDS	INT	TD	COMPLETIONS
3.0	22.3	0.667	67.0	0.0	0.0	2.0

rushing
YPC	TD	YDS	CAR	LONG
8.7	0.0	349.0	40.0	37.0

receiving
REC	YPR	TD	LONG	YDS
91.0	10.2	6.0	51.0	926.0

kickReturns
LONG	YDS	NO	TD	AVG
31.0	257.0	11.0	0.0	23.4

puntReturns
AVG	NO	TD	LONG	YDS
0.9	8.0	0.0	7.0	7.0