CB Noah Boykin Embraced Development In 2018
Notre Dame cornerback Noah Boykin surprised many around the country when he committed to the Irish on National Signing Day last February.
Fast forward to the present and the 6-foot-1, 178-pounder has wrapped up his first season in the blue and gold as well as his first semester of college.
“It’s been going pretty good,” Boykin told Irish Sports Daily. “I’ve been able to learn from the guys ahead of me and I’ve continued to develop my game to become a great player.”
Boykin didn’t see action this fall and while it was difficult to redshirt at first, the Washington D.C. native made the most of it.
“It was kind of hard, especially coming from high school where I was the star player,” explained Boykin. “At the same time, I was able to learn from guys like Julian Love and Troy Pride Jr. You can’t ask for anything better.
“I’ve had a lot of support from coaches. They all have helped me develop my game.”
Love, a consensus All-American in 2018, will move on to the NFL but it’s extremely evident he left a significant impression on Boykin.
“It was crazy,” stated Boykin. “I had an opportunity to be his roommate in camp. I woke up with the guy and we went to practice together. I got to see him take reps and then I took reps. It was a good feeling to be able to sit and watch everything he has done so far. I got to see how he carries himself. He’s a perfect role model for a young player like myself.”
The chance to see an All-American conducts himself on a daily basis served as motivation for Boykin to better himself in all areas.
“I knew I had a lot to work on,” Boykin said. “I had to gain weight, get faster and work on my technique. I felt being able to redshirt was a blessing for me.”
During the recruiting process, Boykin wasn’t sure he could pull the trigger and commit to Notre Dame as it was entirely different than the environment he was used to in Washington D.C.
“It was tough as expected,” Boykin explained. “As the year went on, I got better at everything I was doing in school and on the field. Everything has worked out pretty well. I had a lot to work on on the field and off the field coming from the background I came from, but it all worked out for the better.”
Boykin didn’t know if the Irish would be playoff contenders when he signed in February, but once he stepped foot on campus in June, he quickly understood the mindset of the program.
“Growing up, I have always been on the winning team for some reason,” said Boykin. “Once I first got here, I knew everybody in the room was working towards the same thing."