Boyd to leave Pitt year early

PITTSBURGH – Pitt wide receiver Tyler Boyd is headed to the NFL.
After notifying head coach Pat Narduzzi Friday of his intentions to enter the draft rather than returning for his senior season, Boyd, a Clariton High School graduate, released a letter to Pitt fans and the city of Pittsburgh through local media outlets thanking them for their support.
“I will always savor the moments we had,” Boyd wrote. “I will carry you with me. I will continue to make you proud and I promise to never forget where I came from. As we both know, no matter what, I will always be the kid from Clairton that dreamed of catching that winning touchdown. Thank you for raising me, Pittsburgh.”
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Boyd set school records with 254 receptions and 3,361 yards receiving in three years with the Panthers. Boyd became the first player in ACC history to have 1,000-yard receiving seasons as a freshman and a sophomore. He ended his junior season with 92 receptions for 926 yards and six touchdowns. From Clairton, he was a two-time All-ACC first-team selection and figures to be among the top wide receivers available during the draft.
At Clairton, Boyd, was a standout running back, finishing his career with a WPIAL-record 117 touchdowns while finishing fifth with 5,755 rushing yards. The Bears went 48-0 during his three-year career as a starter, which included three WPIAL and PIAA titles. His departure leaves a hole on Pitt’s offense, but the Panthers do return a plethora of wide receivers who made an impact this season, including Dontez Ford and Zach Challingsworth, a South Fayette graduate.
Boyd and Narduzzi met Thursday to discuss Boyd’s options. Narduzzi said he reached out to four NFL general managers to gauge Boyd’s prospects to give his standout wide receiver a better gauge on his draft stock before making a decision.
“Although I only coached him for a year, I will forever be and supporter of Tyler and his family,” Narduzzi said in a statement. “I wish him the very best at the next level and know he will make an NFL team very happy. Tyler loves Pitt and Pittsburgh and we love Tyler. We will all look forward to watching him play and succeed at the next level.”