'15 IL WR Miles Boykin (Notre Dame Signed NLI)

[Legacy]

With revised times, Andy Isabella, U.Mass WR, tied for top 40-yard dash time for WRs with Ohio State's Parris Campbell at 4.31 secs. He is expected to be a slot receiver. This WR class is deep.

 

[benneboy]

his ranking

1st in Vertical (43.5)
2nd in Broad (140)
last in Bench press (12)
9th in 40 (4.42) - no one 6-4 or taller ran faster

no cone or shuttle reported yet

Dominating. Has the second fastest 3 cone and top 5 in shuttle.

 

[Irish YJ]

1st in 3 cone drill
3rd in 20 yard shuttle

doing the 60ys in a few

tearing it up!
he's got to get serious consideration for any team looking for a jumbo receiver.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Awesome news for MB. So happy for him!

 

[Irish YJ]

Overview
Lingering on his tape can cause excessive focus on his inconsistencies and areas of improvement, but projecting his traits with additional coaching makes more sense. Boykin's size, length and athleticism offers exciting potential as an outside receiver with mismatch potential, but he will have to learn how to counter press, improve his routes and become more competitive when the ball is in the air. His size won't matter if he doesn't learn to impose it on others. If that happens, he'll become an eventual starter with a high ceiling.

Strengths
Rare size and length
Loose hips with long, strides to get on top of cornerbacks quickly
Athleticism and body control to pivot and twist for back shoulder catches
Adequate sink to drop, anchor and present
Meets throws with good arm extension away from his body
Size causes cornerbacks to panic and interfere downfield
High-point will be highest on the field
Tape full of leaping grabs
Traits to become more efficient as intermediate route-runner
Could become very good blocker with more play strength

Weaknesses
Hasn't learned to counter press jabs with his hands
Allows press corners to grind on him
Stride length limits burst out of the top of his route
Needs to finish his in-breaking routes
Below-average downfield adjustments
Cornerbacks are allowed to crowd his chest
Needs more aggressiveness and play strength
Catch focus runs hot and cold
Limited yardage after the catch on levels 1 and 2.

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[Irish YJ]

MB made it into NFL.com's DJ's notebook article of combine notables. Was one of 4 WRs called out.

Miles Boykin, Notre Dame: Boykin might have jumped up draft boards on Saturday after running a 4.42 40. His Notre Dame teammates certainly thought he had a good afternoon.

"For him, it was a big day," Jeremiah said. "I didn't necessarily think he played this fast as he ran, but he jumped out of the gym and he ran fast, caught the ball well. He's not as sudden and immediately fast, but he showed tremendous build-up speed."

 

[Irish YJ]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">DK Metcalf is getting all the hype, but let's compare the numbers against Miles Boykin from today:<br><br>Size: MB 6-4, 220 / DKM 6-3, 228<br>40: MB 4.42 / DKM 4.33<br>Vertical: MB 43.5 / DKM 40.5<br>Broad Jump: MB 140.0 / DKM 134.0<br>20 Yd Shuttle: MB 4.07 / DKM 4.50<br>3-Cone: MB 6.77 / DKM 7.38</p>— Bryan Driskell (@BGI_CoachD) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_CoachD/status/1102000149893652482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">EIGHT (!!!) WRs tested as 92nd percentile athletes or better, per <a href="https://twitter.com/zjwhitman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zjwhitman</a> <br><br>Miles Boykin - 99th<br>Parris Campbell - 99th<br>Emanuel Hall - 99th<br>D.K. Metcalf - 98th<br>Darius Slayton - 98th<br>Terry Mclaurin - 95th<br>Deebo Samuel - 93rd<br>Hakeem Butler - 92nd</p>— Jared Smola (@SmolaDS) <a href="https://twitter.com/SmolaDS/status/1102272850793250817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Decent graphical representation of Notre Dame at the Combine today. <a href="https://t.co/E0RBsdT3AQ">pic.twitter.com/E0RBsdT3AQ</a></p>— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/1102014539581833216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2019</a></blockquote>
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[Irish#1]

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He’s going to be a welcome addition to some team. Much of his weaknesses can big fixed with coaching.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Wow that's a good shuttle

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I can't believe his shuttle was that good. If he can learn to beat the press and get more violent/physical with his hands, he'll be an absolute terror.

I really hope he takes a giant leap in the NFL.

 

[Domina Nostra]

1). I think his numbers do a good job demonstrating that football is not all about the numbers. Dexter is as heck on the field, but his 40 time is pedestrian for NFL.

2) I do seem to remember an awful lot of Miles Boykin TDs lately!

3) Kelly does not have a history of underutilizing WRs! That’s not to say they don’t all pan out—no coach has that kind of record—but he has generally found a way to get the ball to his playmakers. Boykin was clearly a little bit of s mixed bag. The most criminally underused WR in recent college history was Julio Jones.

4) some kids grow into their bodies slower than others. You can blame coaching, but there are some men who peak at 24-25, rather than 20-21.

5) The bench press numbers are such a great example of how different bodies have harder times with certain lifts, regardless of functional strength. Is Will Fuller stronger? It’s hard to say what that means...

 

[zelezo vlk]

In case y'all are wondering about just how good Miles' numbers were in comparison to others, he's one of 7 3-sigma athletes ever tested at the NFL combine. Not 7 receivers, but 7 athletes total. The others: Evan Mathis, Calvin Johnson, J.J. Watt, Obi Melifonwu, Byron Jones and Lane Johnson

https://3sigmaathlete.com/sparq-rankings-2019/wide-receiver/

That's a couple future Hall of Famers and 2 other guys trained by Balis.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

In case y'all are wondering about just how good Miles' numbers were in comparison to others, he's one of 7 3-sigma athletes ever tested at the NFL combine. Not 7 receivers, but 7 athletes total. The others: Evan Mathis, Calvin Johnson, J.J. Watt, Obi Melifonwu, Byron Jones and Lane Johnson

https://3sigmaathlete.com/sparq-rankings-2019/wide-receiver/

That's a couple future Hall of Famers and 2 other guys trained by Balis.

Wait... so 3/7 of those guys have been trained by Balis? That is incredible.

Also, that's two HOF players, three other guys who have at least made a pro bowl, Obi Melifonwu*, and now Miles.

*Who has been hampered by injuries and is still very young.

 

[ResLife Hero]

https://247sports.com/Article/NFL-Combine-2019-winners-losers-risers-fallers-DK-Metcalf-129739446/

BEST INDIVIDUAL COMBINE

WR Miles Boykin, Notre Dame - While much of the of the buzz after Day 2 of the event revolved around freakishly jacked and fast Ole Miss wide receiver D.K. Metcalf, it was Boykin who had the superior day. Checking in at 6-foot-3 6/8, 220 pounds, Boykin turned in what may be the best wide receiver numbers since Calvin Johnson in 2007. The Irish wideout ripped off a 4.42 second 40-yard dash (ninth among WR’s), 43.5 inch vertical (first), 11’8” broad jump (second), 6.77 second 3-cone (first) and 4.07 short-shuttle (third). The vertical and broad jump results are among the best marks in combine history.

The Chicagoland native was also a top athlete in high school (and also better than Metcalf then, interestingly), posting a 4.51 second 40, 4.20 second shuttle and 35.2 inch vertical at 212 pounds in the summer prior to his senior season. Teams are sure to dig deep on Boykin, given the well-rounded nature of his athleticism along with a good year of production as the Irish’s leading receiver. On the field, Boykin appeared to have more build-up speed than the scintillating burst he showed in Indianapolis, so his showing comes as a very pleasant surprise.

 

[Legacy]

Congrats to you and your family, Miles. Whoever drafts you will get a winner and a RKG. We're proud you are Irish.

Miles Boykin makes grabs for Notre Dame, but what grabs Miles Boykin?

His first college exam came in a calculus class. He spent all of Thursday night studying for the Friday test, felt terrible after he took it and had his worst fears confirmed on Monday when he received a failing grade. Nervous laughter masked the lingering thought of what he had gotten himself into. For once, though, he learned that he was not alone, as this is actually a common occurrence for freshman football players.

“There’s not a lot of schools that can do that to you on an academic level,” he says. “This is one of those schools that I think does it every year to our freshmen. We hear about freshmen coming in all the time. We ask them: So how’d your first exam go? They’re like: ‘Man, I failed.’ Yup, you’re right on track. That’s what’s supposed to happen.

“If you don’t experience failure here as a student-athlete, I don’t know how you can overcome adversity, because there’s just something about having a paper, staying up till 2 in the morning, then going to practice the next day and still acting like you didn’t have anything to do the night before. And I think that’s something we can bring in all facets of our life, being a Notre Dame student-athlete. Not every school can say that they have student-athletes that go through things like that.”

“My plan when I came here was to be able to graduate and get my Master’s degree, so if I can do it I still will, and that’s my plan for now.”

 

[Irish#1]

As I read about his performance at the combine, I started wondering if teams might use him more like a hybrid similar to Gronkowski. Force LB's to cover him. Could be a matchup nightmare for defenses.

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ravens veterans "really excited" about Miles Boykin <a href="https://t.co/YTmqmKgby5">https://t.co/YTmqmKgby5</a></p>— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProFootballTalk/status/1156965387898105859?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[P_Rose]

NFL training camp winners/losers: Seven rookies creating a buzz

Seven rookies worthy of early noise


1) Miles Boykin, wide receiver, Baltimore Ravens: It may be early to compare Boykin to Michael Thomas, but the third-round pick out of Notre Dame is making waves early in Ravens camp. With Marquise Brown still injured and a motley crew of cast-offs and youngsters competing for snaps, Boykin has every chance to be a Week 1 starter. Boykin physically profiles as a No. 1 type of receiver, and he appears to be adapting to the pro game quickly.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...p-winnerslosers-seven-rookies-creating-a-buzz

 

[Irish#1]

I love reading posts like this. The more of these kids that shine, the better for recruiting.

 

[Domina Nostra]

An he's one of those guys like Brady Quinn, KLM, TJ Jones, Theo Riddick, the Martin bros, Jaylon Smith, Tranquil, etc., that seems like really top notch human beings.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Hoping he has a monster year. Might have to try and snag him as a sleeper this year.

Don't love that QB situation, but if he is the primary target...could make some noise, especially early, a la Will Fuller at Hou.

 

[Riddickulous]

Months later I'm still trying to wrap my head around those combine numbers. Hope he has a great season and career.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Hoping he has a monster year. Might have to try and snag him as a sleeper this year.

Don't love that QB situation, but if he is the primary target...could make some noise, especially early, a la Will Fuller at Hou.

Months later I'm still trying to wrap my head around those combine numbers. Hope he has a great season and career.

To me, his 40 time shows the limits of the 40 yard dash as a metric for game speed. If Boykin caught a pass with a step on a DB, nobody is going to catch him, as we saw. However, he's so big, and he has such long strides, he's not likely to get open in the same way as one of those tiny, quick guys, and will not have as many opportunities to show his speed.

If he were truly a #1 outside WR-type, we would have seen it. He's good, but he has not shown that total dominance that Floyd or Tate or the Shark flashed.

I think the Ravens need to develop him like the big "possession" receiver that he is, and then let his athleticism help him be something more over time. They need PATIENCE.

 

[GBdomer]

I will eat all the crow I deserve for this guy. That LSU game might have saved his career. Seem to just take off from there and cement him the #1 guy in 2018. I was very critical of him being our top guy and just wasn't buying any of the hype. Even during the season I never saw any of those combine numbers. Now he is just dominating in an NFL CAMP. One of the best and most underrated stories of the BK era when we look back 10 years from now.

 

[Luckylucci]

Just seems like one of those guys that needed more time than most to grow into his body. And seems like he still is. Romeo Okwara seems to be another one.

 

[ulukinatme]

I will eat all the crow I deserve for this guy. That LSU game might have saved his career. Seem to just take off from there and cement him the #1 guy in 2018. I was very critical of him being our top guy and just wasn't buying any of the hype. Even during the season I never saw any of those combine numbers. Now he is just dominating in an NFL CAMP. One of the best and most underrated stories of the BK era when we look back 10 years from now.

Right there with Matthias Farley.

 

[ResLife Hero]

To me, his 40 time shows the limits of the 40 yard dash as a metric for game speed. If Boykin caught a pass with a step on a DB, nobody is going to catch him, as we saw. However, he's so big, and he has such long strides, he's not likely to get open in the same way as one of those tiny, quick guys, and will not have as many opportunities to show his speed.

If he were truly a #1 outside WR-type, we would have seen it. He's good, but he has not shown that total dominance that Floyd or Tate or the Shark flashed.

I think the Ravens need to develop him like the big "possession" receiver that he is, and then let his athleticism help him be something more over time. They need PATIENCE.

I'm not as convinced we would have really seen it that obviously given the timing of his career. He was getting open against Clemson but we just couldn't get him the ball. He's got a handful of highlights where he absolutely embarrasses defenders and then finishes the play (that LSU highlight is my favorite from his career). Add in his frame, athletic profile and reliability, and he's got a chance.

I'm skeptical of any ND receiver being an NFL #1 because it just hasn't happened for us recently, but here are some things I think may have hidden some potential:

• Wimbush's game didn't help our WRs out at all.
• Ian's less-than-elite arm strength may have had a bigger role in his ability to get deep than we realized at the time. The WRs you mentioned had Quinn and Clausen tossing the ball. Boykin never had that benefit.
• Our offense spreads the ball around so much that it's hard for a guy to compile stats like at some other programs

Edit: Plus, like Lucky said, he may just have been a later bloomer than other historic #1s.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Just seems like one of those guys that needed more time than most to grow into his body. And seems like he still is. Romeo Okwara seems to be another one.

Yep, good call. Some guys are just feeling out the game at this age and some reached their ceiling as seniors in high school. Boykin appears to still be learning and perfecting.

Hope he puts up a monster year.

 

[Domina Nostra]

I hear all that, and made the same point about the growing into his body way back in post #881. I do love his talent and his fit in the Raven's system.

I REALLY hope that its true because I'm a Ravens guy--maybe he's just seems too nice to be a dominant #1--but, personally, I think he needs some time. I see him as a guy that has a good rookie season and just keeps getting better and better over time. I don't see him being a dominant force any time soon.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

I love reading posts like this. The more of these kids that shine, the better for recruiting.

I love reading this as well. I just wish he was shining for a team other than the Ravens. That said, light it up Miles.