Archbishop Hoban Tylan Boykin is heading into his senior season as an Eastern Michigan University football recruit.
Boykin committed to play for the Eagles on a scholarship on June 24. He is returning to play defensive back for the 2024 season at Hoban, and will also get snaps as a wide receiver after being the starting quarterback for the Knights last season.
“As soon as I touched down on campus, I figured it would be my last official visit because it felt like home as soon as I got there,” Boykin said. “Everything from the start was amazing. They showed a lot of love. They made it known that they wanted me. I was their No. 1 guy for defensive back. That made the weekend very fun.
“My family members who I brought with me really liked Eastern Michigan, too. I felt like this was a perfect fit, and they also have a good business school, and that is what I plan on majoring in.”
Boykin, who has a 3.0 GPA, has helped Hoban finish as the Division II state runner-up in each of the past three seasons.
“I think this is awesome for Tylan,” Hoban coach Tim Tyrrell said of the commitment to EMU. “I think he is a Power Five kid. The MAC is getting a good kid. Just not playing the defensive back position as a junior probably set him back a year, but he is one of those kids that is probably going to go in and start right away in college.”
Boykin, who is 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, was a starter at cornerback as a sophomore and then stepped up to be Hoban’s quarterback last season after winning the job in training camp. He completed 90 of 143 passes for 1,223 yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions, and ran for 502 yards and four touchdowns on 57 carries.
“I learned that quarterback is pretty hard,” Boykin said with a laugh. “It was a fun experience. It taught me how to be more of a leader. At the quarterback position, you don’t have time to really slack off or lollygag because you have a whole team following behind you.
“I had to step up, and that gave me a whole new perspective for the game. It gave me a lot more confidence in myself and showed me what type of athlete I am.”
Boykin also has scholarship offers from Kent State, Bowling Green, Toledo, Ball State, Hampton, Buffalo, Temple, Eastern Kentucky and Youngstown State.
“He loved visiting Eastern Michigan,” Tyrrell said. “He really likes the head coach [Chris Creighton] at Eastern Michigan. … I think this is a good spot for him and fits him perfectly.”
Hoban class of 2024 sends 12 graduates to college football
Twelve 2024 Hoban graduates are set to play college football: offensive linemen William Satterwhite (Tennessee) and Jvon Lindsey (Wofford), defensive linemen Jordan Pritchard-Sewell (Holy Cross) and Devin Bell (Miami of Ohio), linebacker Rickey Williams (West Virginia), long snapper Caleb Schlater (Miami of Ohio), defensive backs Tysen Campbell (Central Michigan), Xavier Williams (Ohio) and Ayden Boykin (Cincinnati), running back Caleb Jones (Duquesne), tight end Josh Greer (Army) and wide receiver Jalen Hightower (Cincinnati).
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Hoban senior Tylan Boykin commits to play football at Eastern Michigan
Akron Beacon Journal
