BREAKING: Noah Boykin Provides NSD Shocker, Picks Notre Dame

For months, Notre Dame was convinced its program and school were the best fit for Noah Boykin‍.

At times, it was pretty clear the 2018 Washington, D.C., cornerback saw things the same way. At other times, it wasn’t so clear.

But, in the end it was as the Irish pulled off a National Signing Day upset, landing Boykin over Florida, who entered the day as the perceived favorite. Less than an hour before his announcement though, the feeling had swung quickly that he would elect to stay home and sign with Virginia.

Boykin was a longtime Maryland commit, but Notre Dame appeared to be in the lead from the time he took an official visit to South Bend back in October. The Irish even seemed poised to sign him during college football’s first-ever early signing period back in December.

Instead, the H.D. Woodson High School standout remained verbally committed to the Terps without signing. He took an official visit to Florida last month and decommitted from Maryland days later, leading to speculation the Gators had taken the lead. That speculation continued all of the way into National Signing Day.

But Irish defensive backs coaches Todd Lyght and Terry Joseph never gave up and the persistence paid off.