Though it doesn’t come as much as a surprise to anyone around or near the Pitt football program, the first day of 2016 will forever be a tough one for the Panthers as Pitt’s all-time wide receiver Tyler Boyd declared for the 2016 NFL Draft.
Boyd wrote a letter to his school, his teammates, and Pitt fans to announce the decision.
“Dear Pittsburgh,” the letter opens. “From the moment I first put on my shoulder pads, and dreamed of catching the Super Bowl-winning catch at a field down the street from my house, I knew one thing was real.”
“I fell in love with you.”
Boyd is currently the fifth-ranked receiver on Todd McShay’s wide receiver rankings. He is projected right now to be an early second-round pick.
The junior is coming off another big season in which he caught an ACC-high 91 passes for 926 yards and six touchdowns. He added another 349 yards rushing.
Boyd is the only player in ACC history to surpass 1,000 receiving yards both as a freshman and sophomore, and leaves Pitt as the school’s career leader in receptions (254) and yards (3,361). Including the damage he accumulated as a kick and punt returner, Boyd ranks second in Pitt football history with 5,243 all-purpose yards.
Boyd’s entire heartfelt letter can be viewed below.
Former @CCSDathletes, @GoPittFootball star WR @boutdat_23 Tyler Boyd wrote this letter to declare for NFL Draft: pic.twitter.com/gDME115LYR
— Kevin Gorman (@KGorman_Trib) January 1, 2016
Photo Credit: USA Today Sports
