Dreams worked out: D-lineman Boykin tossed basketball for football

When the University of Arkansas signed defensive lineman Andy Boykin, the Razorbacks got a lineman who resembled what Alabama, Georgia and LSU routinely have on their rosters.

Boykin, 6-3, 301 pounds, of LaGrange (Ga.) Troup County, accumulated scholarship offers from Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, Florida and others.

ESPN rated him a 3-star prospect, the No. 43 defensive end nationally and the No. 51 prospect in Georgia.

College coaches visiting Troup County often told Coach Tanner Glisson how rare it was to see a defensive lineman with Boykin's ability.

"Next year we'll have three guys in the SEC, so we're used to high-profile recruits," Glisson said. "That particular position - the defensive line/defensive tackle - you just can't find guys that are that size and that can move.

"We have a linebacker at Alabama and we have a receiver that's at Auburn, but everybody that came through said you just can't find them. They're hard to find. That's what really made him appealing."

Being a high-profile prospect with dominating ability, Boykin was usually doubled team by opposing offenses. Glisson said teams couldn't double team Boykin when attempting an extra point or field goals.

"I think he blocked, I want to say, four or five PAT field goals," Glisson said. "To me, that's what kept jumping out to me because that's one of the times he would be single blocked. Almost every time during the season on the defensive line he was getting doubled teamed, so anytime he got single blocked, like on PAT field goals, he's halfway in the backfield.

"It got to the point where us coaches on the headsets would say to each other, 'Watch Andy. He's going to block this.' He had a knack for it. It just showed his dominance when he had a one-on-one block."

When he was young, Boykin didn't see himself playing football. He had other dreams.

"Not many people know this, but my first love was basketball," Boykin said. "I used to hate football because I didn't like contact."

Boykin did play flag football at age 5, but he didn't start liking it until the seventh grade. The rest is history.

"My whole family grew up playing football, so I knew at one point I would play football," Boykin said.

As a senior, Boykin recorded 65 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 5 sacks and 7 quarterback hurries. As a junior, he had more than 50 tackles and 7 sacks.

A one-time Auburn commitment, Boykin has a 320-pound bench press, 450-pound squat and a 290-pound power clean. Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman had a previous relationship with Boykin while at Georgia.

"Coach Pittman and I go back a ways," Boykin said. "He's a real big family guy. You don't meet too many head coaches that are family oriented. Most of them are about football and they always talk about football first and then they'll talk about family.

"Coach Pittman worries about your family, worries about your education and then he worries about sports."

His official visit to Fayetteville on the Jan. 31-Feb. 2 weekend convinced him Arkansas was the place for him. He orally committed to the Razorbacks that Sunday. His relationship with running backs coach Jimmy Smith, cornerbacks coach Sam Carter and defensive line coach Derrick LeBlanc also played a role in his decision.

"Coach Carter, he's the funniest coach out of all of them," Boykin said. "Of course, Coach LeBlanc, my position coach. I feel like he's a really great person and he's another father figure. He treats me exactly like my father would.

"To me, I feel like he resembles my father."

Within minutes after arriving for his official visit, Boykin fell in love with Fayetteville.

"To me, Fayetteville is kind of like a mini-version of Atlanta," Boykin said. "Like a country version of it and I can really relate to that because I live so close to Atlanta. So when I go to Fayetteville, it's kind of the same thing, just a little country version."

Boykin's love of basketball led him to be fond of a rival of Arkansas basketball.

"My favorite team is Kentucky, but that's going to change since I'm a Razorback now," Boykin said. "They were my favorite team, so I always told myself I was going to play basketball for the University of Kentucky."

'Gentle giant' is a good description of Boykin. He has an infectious smile, too, along with a big personality and soft heart that helped him to win over coaches, teachers and classmates, including the special needs students at his school.

Glisson was asked how to describe Boykin.

"Big, humble. I don't mean this is in a derogatory way, but big baby," Glisson said. "He just has a good heart, but he's a massive human being. That's the first thing that comes to mind, and I mean that in a good way."

Boykin's personality will likely make him a fan favorite of Razorbacks fans.

"He's never, ever been above anybody," Glisson said. "Anywhere we go, if anyone wanted to interview him or fans wanted to say hello or whatever, he has always taken the time to be personable with people. I just think that's a great trait to have."

Boykin already looks like an SEC lineman, but Glisson is eager to see him in two to three years.

"Once he gets there and gets into the weight room program and feeding program, there's no telling how he's going to look," Glisson said.