The buzz around Brock Boyd is building fast in Columbus, and it’s easy to see why. The Ohio State freshman receiver, once viewed as a quieter name in the class, has kept forcing his way into the conversation ever since spring ball, and now he’s doing it again in fall camp.
Boyd was one of the freshmen who lost his black stripe in the spring, a group that also included five-star wideout Chris Henry Jr. Henry was always expected to move quickly, given the physical tools that made him such a prized recruit.
Boyd, though, made his own case the hard way. He wasn’t the headline-grabber coming out of high school, but his spring work left a strong impression, and that momentum has carried into camp.
Former Ohio State linebacker Bobby Carpenter saw it up close at the Buckeyes’ first scrimmage and came away sold on Boyd’s day. He talked about it on The Bobby Carpenter Show.
"Brock Boyd looked really good in the scrimmage. When I was still there, he had a couple of catches.
It was like he had 70 yards of receptions on about two catches. It was some nice chunk plays he was picking up."
That kind of production is exactly what gets attention in a wide-open receiver room. Ohio State lost Carnell Tate to the Titans in the draft, which creates opportunity for someone - or several someones - to help replace that production in the aggregate. Boyd has already shown enough to suggest he belongs in that mix right away.
His background helps explain why he’s been able to make this kind of early push. Boyd was a three-star recruit, but he was also the best receiver on his Texas team at the 6A level. That’s real football against real competition, and it’s given him a chance to arrive in Columbus with a feel for how the game is played at a high level.
He’s not the only freshman making noise, either. There’s a strong possibility that both Boyd and Henry Jr. see plenty of snaps this season. Behind Jeremiah Smith, the door is open, and Devin McCuin has also been turning heads in camp.
Brandon Inniss remains highly respected in the locker room, even if the production hasn’t fully matched the reputation. That could continue into his senior season, though the new rules that have been passed could also keep him in the mix next year. Kyle Parker is battling for snaps as well.
Even with all that competition, Boyd has put himself in position to earn a role. Henry Jr. may have the better shot at meaningful playing time, but Boyd could still get routes in certain packages, and based on what he’s shown so far, he’s earned the chance.
And if this season doesn’t end with Boyd among Ohio State’s top four receivers, that doesn’t mean the story stops there. His future in Columbus still looks bright, and next season could be the one where he becomes a major piece of what the Buckeyes want to do. He looks like a natural fit for the slot.
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