Rakeem Boyd, Arkansas Football News: Draft Scout Player News

06/07/20 - RB Rakeem Boyd, Sr/2021, Arkansas

Rakeem Boyd said his mind was on making the move to the NFL early in December. But the University of Arkansas' 1,133-yard rusher was going to hear from the NFL Draft Advisory Board, talk to his parents and hear out new UA football Coach Sam Pittman before making a decision. "I really wasn't planning to come back until I started talking to Coach Pittman," Boyd said in a recent interview with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. "He said, 'Why don't you come in and we'll talk a little bit.' It wasn't until like the fourth time I talked to him … and I went back and talked to my mom and dad and then I decided to come back." Boyd announced his decision to return to Arkansas on Dec. 23, one of the best pieces of news the program has received since hiring Pittman two weeks before that. Boyd pointed out that Pittman was at Georgia with star running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, and another year in a system that puts a premium on running the ball will help him.

Pittman talked last week about his discussions with Boyd on the subject of turning pro or returning. "When you have those discussions with kids that are debating whether to leave or not, the number one thing you have to find out is their NFL eval[uation]," Pittman said. "You have to find out what their worth is in the National Football League. We had a conversation about that, and at that point you have to let them know how much you would like to have them back. "Just like at Georgia, you had the conversation with Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson. Their eval came back first round. What do you say? 'Bye.' I mean there's not a whole lot you can sit there and say when a guy is gonna sign 28 million guaranteed and $6.5-7 million guaranteed. Boyd excelled on an offense that struggled much of last season, ranking 13th in the SEC with 340.1 total yards per game and 11th in the SEC with 147.2 rushing yards per game. - Northwest Arkansas Times

Sr/2021