HAMPTON, Va. - With his travel schedule already starting to fill up since announcing last Sunday he was backing off his commitment to West Virginia, Phoebus High School's Tajh Boyd knows what he's looking for, but he doesn't know where to find it yet.
Boyd, a 6-foot, 210-pound prospect who is considered by many recruiting analysts to be one of the nation's 10 best quarterbacks, said he'll visit Tennessee this weekend for the Alabama game. After that, he'll take closer looks at Boston College, Penn State and possibly Oregon. He also plans to investigate Florida State a little more, considering Phoebus coach Bill Dee told him the Seminoles recently had inquired.
If West Virginia's popular spread offense isn't what Boyd is seeking, what does intrigue him? It sounds like Boyd has a hankering to show off his arm a little bit.
"I'm not closing the door really on anybody," said Boyd, who had three first-half touchdown passes Friday night in Phoebus' 63-0 win against Menchville. "I think the coaches (at West Virginia) are great people. I just didn't like the way the program was headed as far as the offense goes. I've only got four years, so I want to make the right decision.
"I'm looking for a more traditional offense. I want to be in a pro-style offense. I know everybody is running the spread right now, and that's OK. I don't mind that. I just really don't want to run the zone read."
The zone-read play can be run out of multiple offensive formations and incorporates an option-offense philosophy.
That has to mean bad things for a place like Virginia Tech, which has gone with a lot of zone read this season with sophomore quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
"To a certain extent, but Tyrod also does a lot of drop-back play-action, and that's kind of what I'm looking for," Boyd said. "I don't want to be in a (shotgun) the whole game. I want to be able to drop back, because I think that's where I'm at my best."
If Boyd knew West Virginia runs the spread, and he knew the Mountaineers weren't planning to change much on offense after the departure of coach Rich Rodriguez, why did Boyd choose a school in the first place with an offense that doesn't exactly suit him? Boyd said he was told otherwise about West Virginia's offense.
"They told me they were going to open up the offense, but they still run a bunch of short passes and screens," said Boyd, who was rumored to be visiting Virginia over the weekend, but opted to stay home instead. "I want to throw the ball down the field. I went ahead and told West Virginia I was (going to reopen my recruitment) because I didn't want to hold them up.
"My dad (Tim Boyd) has been handling a lot of things with my recruiting. A lot of people think my dad made this decision for me, but that's not true. I was just observing things and made this decision myself."
Though Virginia already has a commitment from quarterback Ross Metheny out of Sherando High in Stephens City, Va., the Cavaliers likely would jump at the chance to have a shot at getting Boyd.
"I'm definitely going to give them both a look," Boyd said about Virginia and VirginiaTech. "They both offered me kind of early, so I'm going to respect that and take them both into consideration."
One of the advantages Boyd may have in his recruitment is his friendship with Kevin Newsome, a 6-3, 215-pound recruit at Hargrave Military Academy who also is considered one of the nation's top 10 quarterbacks. Newsome, who fractured his non-throwing hand and will be out three-to-five weeks, also has been down the de-commitment road. He reopened his recruitment in August, reneging on a pledge to Michigan.
Newsome and Boyd talk often on the phone and compare recruiting notes, according to Boyd. That's a good thing considering they're being recruited by many of the same schools, including Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Penn State, Boston College and Michigan.
"We probably like the same school, but we don't want to pick the same school," Boyd said. "It wouldn't really matter if we went to the same school, but it might be kind of awkward."
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Comments » 96
markr22vols writes:
Come on down Tajh, I'll think you will really enjoy Knoxville. Hope UT wins this Sat. and you can see how great the Tenn. crowds can be!
byobbio writes:
Second!
huntined#565710 writes:
WOW We can use him...wish he was here last week not good for BAMA GAME BUT HE MAY SEE HIS CHANCE HERE IS GOOD
givehim6 writes:
Enjoy the game guy! Please no boo's, that's what ran nunn off.
rockytop4ever writes:
Come on down and play for the Vols. We will take all the good QB's we can get. Go Vols beat bama!
MANVOL writes:
Terrible football is what turned off Nunn. The booing came second.
wkjq#213863 writes:
wrong
ATLVOL1 writes:
WE MUST BE TELLING HIM HE CAN START ASA FRESHMAN- SOUNDS LIKE HE WANTS TO DO THAT.
ATLVOL1 writes:
BOYD GILES AND OKU ARE TYPE OF PLAYERS CLAWSON NEEDS TO BE SUCESSFUL.
blitzshoot writes:
The qb position is wide open. Great chance to play early in a marquee conference. Not many opportunities out there like this one.
thesavageorange writes:
This is assuming that this staff stays intact.(I have to at this point or there is no use posting)
I said yesterday that I think we get 1 of the 2.The reason is in this statement:"We probably like the same school, but we don't want to pick the same school," Boyd said.
I think they both like UT & Va Tech a lot.W/ the way Penn State is rolling, I think they will be in there as well.
Either one would be huge.I like Newsom's size and athleticism a little better ,but I like Boyd's arm a little better.Boyd has been awesome in QB camps.
I am not guaranteeing anything on these 2 though.Remember ,both were solid verbals that de-commited.Hopefully Stokes helps pull us another one.
jasonn1970 writes:
This guy's better than Nunes. Maybe all's well that ends well......
SomeGuy writes:
Wrong? OK, maybe you're a nitpicker. It wasn't terrible football that ran Nunes off. It was terrible coaching, specifically terrible head-coaching. Any decent prospect would be a fool to commit to UT until Fulmer is replaced. Give Nunes some credit for having some common sense, something that the Univ. of Fulmer fans do not have.
waterskier3#226480 writes:
funny thing we hired a OC to change our off scheme but this guy is coming because we are running a pro style... what gives???? oh i know fulmer will still be running the pro style because coach C has been told to run these 8 plays except for the 3 special 3rd down plays.... our special 8 yard down and outs...
Is this really the game to show him coach S of babm and his off style.......lol....
byobbio writes:
I really don't care what kind of offense we run. I just know that you cannot succeed with that spread offense in the SEC. Defenses are too schooled to be fooled by a glorified high school scheme. Florida is finding this out. I think we have a decent offense in the WC scheme. But, once we get Clauson's "Playmakers" in, which it looks like in the grand scheme, that is what is happening, i think you'll see a more exciting attack, one that is not being played in the SEC. Can we win with it? Time will tell...
Digger writes:
We ask 18-year-olds to go to war for this country, yet we're worried about what an 18-year-old might think if we boo??
If someone can't handle booing, then I don't want them to come to UT!
We're passionate - and booing is a part of that. I'd much rather play for a school that had passionate fans than play for a school who's fans were polite.
rockytopjeff writes:
Nick Stephens is only a sophomore. He seems like he can be a really good QB for us. I don't think a true freshman (other than maybe Terrell Pryor) could play right away in the SEC. I think these guys thinking they can start as freshman is a little bit of a stretch. But we need a guy who can make things happen in a year or 2 so we would welcome all comers. I think Nunn just wanted to stay close to home. I think the boos gave him an excuse. When he saw the speed of the defenses in this conference, he thought the PAC-10 was a better fit. But who wouldn't think that.
smokey_vols writes:
If you truly believe that is what ran Nunn off you have lost your mind. They were booing at UF, Auburn, this year too, they boo everywhere. Nunn saw a program that seemed to be floundering this year. Nothing so far has proved him wrong either. I hope we can turn this thing around with Fulmer because a coaching change will result in a few more years of this or maybe worse until the new coach gets his system in and working. Notre Dame, Michigan are just a couple examples of this.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Nunes said he was surprised and disappointed by the booing at our game. He was not at Auburn.
Maybe we should boo mercilessly and throw eggs and rotten tomatoes at our players just to weed out any faint of heart recruits who are not tough enough to take it. The nerve they have, thinking that playing a game should be fun.
LDDFC912 writes:
I feel like a man with crazy relatives. PLEASE BE NICE this weekend guys.
CampVol writes:
I think the one thing that can save Fulmer this year is the recruiting class they are puting together. It is very impressive.
wizardofvolz writes:
So he's going to Stanford where they have great football! PLEEEEEEASE!
utvolz#637682 writes:
When the baby is ugly, sometimes you've just got to say the baby is ugly. That's how I would describe the first half of this season. Hopefully we can turn it around the second half, show this recruit what real UT football and its fans are all about, and kick some Bama butt!
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
The "terrible football" turned YOU off Moron. There is no such thing as terrible football. You show that again you choose to filter truth through your own sieves, transalating it to suit your own prejudices. But you will vote for Obama to prove you are not biased. All football is fun, if you truely love football. The blocking, tackling, throwing, it's all a fun game.
OrangeNugget writes:
you dont know anything about coaching so please stop posting
OrangeNugget writes:
Smartest comment ive read all day
rblakeh writes:
According to Rivals.com, we currently have the #7 recruiting class in the nation. I'm glad that all of our recruits are more "foolish" than you.
But go ahead. Keep seeing what you want to see.
murrayvol writes:
I don't like the booing either but I don't think that's what ran Nunes off.
murrayvol writes:
I thought we all had those.
Digger writes:
You know the old saying holds true... "It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game."
I think most UT fans just want UT to give 100% effort and to leave it all on the field. I'd honestly rather watch UT play a great game and lose to a team like Bama than to win ugly games against the UABs and Northern Illinois of the world.
In 1990(?), when we played #1 Notre Dame. The entire stadium gave UT a standing ovation after the game... and we LOST! That's because UT fans appreciate effort. We don't demand wins.
bloodrunsorange writes:
Nunes didn't want to leave Mommy, bottom line.
OakyVol09 writes:
What is going on with Hall and Sykes? Do you see Maron Walls playing next year? And one more questions, is Stokes buddies with one of them? Thanks Savage, and keep it up!!
mempuss writes:
Nunes wanted to go to Stanford all along. He used the Tennessee commitment as leverage until he got what he wanted, then split. The booing did NOT affect his status.
thesavageorange writes:
Hall has been having seriousacademic problems.I know he isn't playing football, and I've even heard he isn't in school but I'm not sure.The chances are very slim that he ever wears orange.
Sykes is still in JUCO but isn't playing ball.He didn't play last yr either and no one but Sykes seems to know what his intentions are.
Walls has already re-commited to us for 09'.He is now in good academic standing and is a team captain at Fork Union.
A lot of these guys know each other but Stokes seems to be a good salesman and has been instramental in helping the staff land some guys.He already has orange blood.
Bruce_Pearl_Fan writes:
Let me guess, you're the Lou Holtz of UT message boards? That comment was almost as inspiring as one of your pep talks.
We need the guy but he's not playing as a freshman, nor will Oku, Stokes, or Brown (if we get him). Ahmad Paige, Chris Donald, Ben Martin, Darris Sawtelle, Ramone Johnson...all former Army All-Americans who can't seem to get significant playing time. Anyone else see a pattern?
blitzshoot writes:
I'm new on this site, but what does college football have to do with politics?
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
the main objective of any top prospect is to play at the next level and players make it to the NFL from schools you never heard of----the gameday experience at Stanford may not match up with Tenn but thats insignificant in in the big scheme of things--the kid prob dont want to have to wait the mandatory at UT 3 years to play regardless if hes better than the others
THE_VOL writes:
Yeah this is what we need - a 6'0 QB that wants to dictate things. Wow!
jimr07 writes:
do you have inside information that fulmer has told clawson what to run? are you there in the press box or the sideline during games?
jimr07 writes:
how in the world can you equate war with booing?
BSweet writes:
Savage, I truly feel that it's Phil's time to go, but saying that, I know if he does go, recruiting will be affected. If Phil is let go, do you think most of our current commits will decommit, or will they take the wait-and-see approach to find out who we bring in? I know you're not a mind reader when it comes to these kids, but I was wondering if you had any insight into this as it's no secret to these kids that many fans are clamoring for change? Also, just curious, do you feel that Phil should be replaced even if it does hurt recruiting? I look at classes like the 2005 class where scout had us number one in the country and it just seems that as great a recruiter as Phil can be, he cannot do anything with the talent he gets. That's why I look at this current class and have mixed feelings. On the one hand, I love to see us get the talent. On the other, Phil hasn't shown he can coach up the talent so what good is a great recruiting class if it isn't utilized properly? Anyway, sorry for the rant, I was just hoping to get your opinion. Thanks again for all the insight you share with us. It's much appreciated.
TNfaninMS writes:
Just wondering about Walls, isnt he at Hargrave? I know with him there we could possibly pull some top talent from there. Any news on the SAVAGE?
jimr07 writes:
and your hatred for him is a very close second. i feel sorry for you that you hate the man so much
jimr07 writes:
it's whether you win or lose, it's the game was played. then why do they have a scoreboard?
TNfaninMS writes:
Savage - Craig Drummond OUT? I saw on rivals he has illinois and wisconsin as his top two. Do you know anything about him?
BSweet writes:
Um... I think you're missing his point completely. He isn't comparing war with booing. He's saying 18 year olds go to war and die, but no one says the're just kids and shouldn't be sent off to war. They are seen as men doing their duty for their country. Yet let some 18-23 year old players hear a little booing and people light up this board about how they are "just kids" and shouldn't be booed because somehow their psyche can't handle it. Personally, I don't boo the team, but that's just me. Fans are frustrated. Those that do boo, I understand why they do it. If the players or recruits can't handle it, then they need to hang up their shoes and give up the game. They're playing a game and getting a scholly for it. They aren't overseas dodging bullets. If they think getting booed is too much or they can't take it, then they have no mental toughness. Besides, if they want to stop the booing, it's easy. Just go out there and give it your all for four quarters. Most fans don't expect wins every game. Hope for, yes, expect, no. Most fans just want to see their team go out and compete and really fight. Our team hasn't really fought in every game this season. Play hard, play smart, and leave it all on the field and the booing will stop.
agentorange writes:
guess there are 20 fools ready to commit and give us a #7 signing class thus far.
DadwasaVol writes:
Here's an idea - boo the opponents and cheer for the Vols.
SomeGuy writes:
Here's what I do know and so does everyone else with eyes or ears: UT football has gone straight into the toilet and it's getting worse. I also know that there is one guy in charge and that guy is Phil Fulmer. He's responsible for this mess and therefore he must be replaced. Since CPF's performance has been poor for many years now I also know that Mike Hamilton is to blame for not only retaining CPF but most recently for *rewarding* him for poor performance. Therefore Mike Hamilton must also be replaced and in fact he must be replaced *before* CPF is replaced to prevent him from hiring Tommy Bowden as CPF's replacement.
mempuss writes:
My sentiment exactly! Well said! Give em hell VOLS!
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