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NFL.com article names Tyler Boyd as college football's top wide receiver

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

After all of the negative Tyler Boyd news lately, this was ... welcome:

1. Tyler Boyd, Pitt

The junior wideout has been heavily targeted since he stepped foot on campus with 250 targets over his first two seasons at Pitt. Boyd plays with outstanding body control and has an ability to gyrate and contort in the air in order to make circus catches look easy. Boyd is highly competitive and highly confident. Starting quarterback Chad Voytik returns, which is noteworthy since Boyd and Voytik hit their stride over the second half of last season. Boyd was arrested for driving under the influence this summer which will get him off to a rocky start with new head coach Pat Narduzzi.

The NFL.com article ranked Boyd tops in all of college football. We all know he is good, but it's really great to see him getting some national recognition with the All-American consideration and articles like this one. I just wrote some draft preview stuff for an SBNation.com article (I'll share it once it gets posted), but for all of the talk about James Conner, Boyd would be the higher pick if the draft were today.

Running backs are increasingly devalued and while Conner can still go high, with another 1,200-1,300 yard season, Boyd should be a lock for the first round. Even seeing him in the top 15 wouldn't be a stretch.

His game translates well to the NFL with his ability to outwork defenders and, as the article says, use his body to make incredible catches. His recent off-the-field charges won't help him, but barring a lengthy suspension, I don't see it hurting his draft stock very much.

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