The Baltimore Ravens will play football for the first time in nearly seven months on Thursday versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. Though preseason ball — with a litany of starters expected to sit — fans will have their eyes glued on young difference makers. One of which being rookie wide receiver Miles Boykin, who hasn't seen the same spotlight as a fellow rookie receiver.
Hailing from Notre Dame, Boykin possesses an athletic, and measurable profile most wish for. Standing in at 6-foot-4 and 220-pounds, he's about as well built for an outside receiver as one can get. His NFL Combine performance affirms that he isn't just size. He recorded a 4.42 second 40-yard-dash, 43.5-inch vertical, 140-inch broad jump, 6.77-second three-cone-drill at the event, and 4.07-second twenty-yard shuttle; all within the top-six at his position for the draft class.
Boykin is far from just an athletic galore; he was productive as a junior in college. In his last year at Notre Dame, Boykin tallied 59 receptions for 872 yards and eight scores.
According to Pro Football Focus, he dropped three out of 62 catchable targets, recorded 1.99 yards per route run, a 79 overall grade (29th in the class), and a 103.6 passer rating when targeted in 2018.
Ravens WR Miles Boykin vs. Jags DB Quentin Meeks pic.twitter.com/bI3paErGew
— Kyle Phoenix Barber (@KylePBarber) August 5, 2019
Notre Dame kept Boykin on a leash with his routes — running his usual deep routes and slants — and he will need to diversify that. But, on tape, he looks the part of a dominant figure; making toe-taps, contested catches, and functional blocks in the process.
Though incomplete in his release techniques, short route-running, and leverage play, his teammate Willie Snead sees him in a similar light to New Orleans Saints' Michael Thomas. Snead said, via 24/7 Sports, on Boykin;
All Miles wants to do is just grow and learn. I keep telling him every day, I’m like ‘Dude you look like Michael Thomas! I remember when Michael Thomas came into New Orleans, he was built the same, had the same mentality — Just trying to get better every day. That’s his goal right now is just to learn as a rookie, to grow as a rookie, and make plays when they come. He’s getting better every day. You could see that [practice at M&T Bank Stadium last Saturday] was a huge step for him. At the end of the day, he’s gonna be a huge part of our offense. And if he continues to have that same mindset, he’ll be a pretty good player for us.
The Ravens drafted Boykin with the No. 93 overall pick to eventually take reigns of the X-receiver position. He has all the tools to do so; a drive, size, speed, explosiveness, loose hips, and a tendency to win jump balls.
His draft mate Marquise Brown stands as a versatile speedster similarly to Tyreke Hill — but he won't play the pre-season (foot).
Boykin will be interesting to watch throughout the preseason — just on the basis that he's an athletic marvel — and figures to have significant snaps. The Ravens list him on the fourth-string. However, there is a caveat to his potential play; Boykin recently missed practice with a leg injury. But, he returned shortly.
It's unknown whether he'll play or not, but considering the Ravens' want to develop him, it's more likely that he does than doesn't.
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