Re: Hill Watch...107 days!!!

CBProf®

Hall of Famer [22611]

TigerPulse: 100%

Posts: 929

Joined: 5/11/17

107 - Tajh Boyd Threw 107 Clemson Touchdown Passes

May 16, 2024, 12:08 AM

In 2020, Sports Illustrated wrote the following about Clemson QB Tajh Khiry Boyd:

“Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney never forgets the players who helped build the Tigers into the program they are today - a national powerhouse and college football's new dynasty.

But there is one player who he has a special affinity for when he thinks back on those players, his first quarterback, Tajh Boyd.”

https://www.si.com/college/clemson/football/boyd-helped-build-the-program

While at Clemson:

As starting QB, Tajh Boyd led Clemson’s resurgence to greatness. According to ClemsonTigers.com:

“Boyd was a record-setting quarterback for the Tigers from 2010-13, setting school career marks in nearly every passing category, including completions (901), passing yards (11,904) and passing touchdowns (107) as well as in touchdown responsibility (133). The three-time All-ACC pick and 2012 AFCA first-team All-American won ACC Player of the Year in 2012, and he finished his career as a finalist for the Unitas and Manning Awards as one of Clemson’s team captains in 2013.”

https://clemsontigers.com/staff/tajh-boyd/

Very impressive! It is easy to see why Boyd received so many accolades. Sports-Reference.com provides Tahj Boyd’s stats:

Tajh Boyd (2010-2013):
- 901 Completions for 11,904 Yards
- 107 Touchdown Passes
- 505 Rushing Yards for 1,165 Yards (2.3 Average)
- 26 Rushing Touchdowns

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/tajh-boyd-1.html?__hstc=223721476.f4129339fdad8ebaf4b46c13d8d1cd67.1706294675620.1715606859721.1715655595717.98&__hssc=223721476.5.1715655595717&__hsfp=2160068541

">

In his senior season, Boyd was superb. According to Wikipedia:

“As a senior in 2013, the Tigers went 11–2, with Boyd completing 283-of-413 passes for 3,851 yards, 34 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. On November 14, 2013, Boyd set the ACC career passing touchdowns record.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tajh_Boyd#cite_note-10

For all of his impressive accomplishments, Tajh Boyd is best remembered for a certain 4th and 16 play against 8th ranked LSU in the 2012 Chick-fil-A Bowl. Many people consider this play to be a key steppingstone in Clemson progression toward greatness:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx4nJ3QkjIQ

After Clemson:

According to Wikipedia:

“New York Jets
Boyd was selected in the sixth round with the 213th overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. Boyd was released by the team on August 30, 2014.

Boyd played in the Fall Experimental Football League with the Boston Brawlers.

Pittsburgh Steelers
Boyd signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers on March 6, 2015, and was released by the team on August 18, 2015

Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Boyd signed a contract on September 12, 2015, to join the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL. He was released by the team on October 16, 2015.

Montreal Alouettes
Boyd signed a contract on November 7, 2015, with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL. He was released by the team on June 19, 2016.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tajh_Boyd

After a brief stint in real estate, Boyd joined Clemson’s staff in “assisting with offensive player development” in 2021. It is good to have him back inside the program!

https://clemsontigers.com/staff/tajh-boyd/

He had been offered other coaching roles but declined. According to Wach 57:

Just this past winter, Boyd was offered an opportunity to be a head high school football coach in the Upstate but politely declined. Having stayed in constant communication with Swinney since last appearing in a game as a Tiger in 2013, Boyd is eager to see the game from a different perspective and is excited to see where it goes as he learns from a man he considers to be one of his biggest mentors.
…
"The people have become home for me. It's something I've been searching for my whole life. We moved around so much when I was growing up that I never had that one stable place and these people have been that for me. They've been a saving grace whether they know it or not. I'm so grateful and the fact that I have a chance to give that back again and serve in this role is exciting for me."

https://wach.com/sports/clemson-tigers/exclusive-tajh-boyd-returning-to-clemson-to-work-on-tigers-coaching-staff

We’re glad to have you, Mr. Boyd! Glad you have stayed “Home.”

Tajh Boyd highlights at Clemson:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9qFoPV5Uso

flag link

military_tech

thumb_down

thumb_up

Clemson: Academic Excellence! Athletic Excellence!

Kevin Dodd was a bit of a late bloomer. In high school, he appeared to be going nowhere. At Clemson, it appeared that the same trajectory had returned.

When Venables was considering his newly inherited Clemson defense upon arriving in God’ Country, the name Kevid Dodd was mentioned. The Greenville News quoted Dabo with Venables’ reaction:

“’Kevin Dodd? He’ll never play here. Coach, we can’t win with that guy!’” Swinney mimicked through laughter. “He was so far away from being a good player.””

https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/college/clemson/2016/03/10/clemson-football-pro-day-nfl-draft/81578394/

Fortunately, Dodd’s story did not stop there. The G’ville News then added:

“Three years, 107 tackles and 12 sacks later, Venables may not ever be more pleased to be wrong.”

https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/college/clemson/2016/03/10/clemson-football-pro-day-nfl-draft/81578394/

Before Clemson;

When Dodd started Riverside High School, he apparently was not exactly on a path to success. In the following video, Dodd mentions that he was in danger of failing because of his poor attendance record. The video also discusses how Assistant Principal Sallie Austin took an interest in Dodd and helped him find the right path – through football.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF7cGEX4y1M

Somebody (Sallie Austin) cared enough to offer that guidance – and Dodd found it within himself to achieve! Amen!

While at Clemson:

As stated above, Dodd was a bit of a slow starter. According to Bleacher Report:

Heading into the 2015 regular season, Kevin Dodd of Clemson was a 23-year-old defensive end with no sacks in his college career, as he was previously featured as a reserve pass-rusher for the Tigers.

The redshirt junior has gone from zero to hero over the past couple months, parlaying on-field success into the hottest name in the draft community.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2608998-clemson-de-kevin-dodd-emerging-as-nfl-drafts-fastest-riser

Added USA Today:

Dodd barely cracked the rotation during his first three years at Clemson, in which he played just 219 total snaps and recorded just three total tackles for loss. Yet he too played a key role in Clemson’s national championship game run, as he recorded 23.5 total tackles for loss — the second-most in the FBS — including 8.5 in Clemson’s two College Football Playoff games alone.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2016/04/26/clemson-shaq-lawson-kevin-dodd-nfl-draft/83562336/

And, according to his bio on ClemsonTigers.com:

“Reserve defensive end in his first three active seasons who blossomed into one of the nation’s top pass rushers in 2015 … declared early for the 2016 NFL Draft following the National Championship Game … had 107 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in 1,003 snaps over 39 games in his career”

https://clemsontigers.com/sports/football/roster/kevin-dodd/

Clearly, once that light came on, it came on big! Kevin Dodd used his combination of size and athleticism to wreak havoc on the field!

After Clemson:

The Tennessee Titans selected Kevin Dodd with the 33rd pick (2nd Round) of the 2016 NFL Draft. According to Wikipedia:

Dodd was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2016 NFL draft. He recorded his first sack in his first full start against the Detroit Lions in Week 2 after replacing an injured Derrick Morgan. He was placed on injured reserve on December 5, 2016 after re-injuring his foot from early in the offseason.

Dodd finished the 2017 season with 7 tackles and no sacks.

On July 24, 2018, Dodd was waived by the Titans after failing to report to training camp.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Dodd

It is unclear what personal issues Dodd was dealing with when he chose not to report to training camp. Hopefully, they have been fully addressed and Dodd is now moving forward in a positive way!

Kevin Dodd Clemson Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhZW3vHsHGo

Hill Watch...107 days!!!