Illini commit Boyd: "I wanted to get on the train before it took off"
MORE: Adams pledges to Illinois | The Block I Report
3-star offensive lineman Larry Boyd from St. Louis (MO) Trinity Catholic committed to Illinois while on an unofficial visit to the school Saturday.
With his commitment on Saturday, Boyd became the second St. Louis player to pledge to the Illini in the last two days. He joins St. Louis University High School athlete Tony Adams.
Your thoughts? Talks about the Boyd commitment with other Illini fans on the Grange Grove message board.
Larry Boyd didn't mince words when asked why he chose Illinois. It was all about the Lovie factor.
"Two words...Lovie Smith," Boyd said. "There ain't no other coach like him. Lovie Smith is the man. He's going to be the man around here for a long time. I just wanted to get on the train before it took off. I wanted to be the one to say that I was here winning championships with Lovie Smith."
Boyd was in Champaign to check out the Illini for the second time in three weeks, leading to speculation that a commitment could be in the cards. It was. Boyd popped for Illinois at the end of the Illini's practice at Memorial Stadium Saturday night.
Illinois won the battle for Boyd over a final four that included Missouri, Oklahoma State, and Arkansas. The Illini jumped to the top of Boyd's list after another recent visit.
"I didn't know anything about Illinois," Boyd said. "But I got here and talked to Lovie, and I sat down with a true inspirational human being and he changed a lot of the thoughts in my head. There was no other options. I felt it was right, and it's my home."
A massive offensive lineman at 6-foot-5, 320 pounds, Boyd fits the road grader profile that the Illini want to power their offense under coordinator Garrick McGee. He joins another big lineman in Vederian Lowe from Rockford (Ill.) Auburn in the Illini's 2017 recruiting class.
Boyd talked about what he will bring to the field for the Illini when he arrives next year, and what the Illinois coaches saw in him.
"My size, my stature, just my aggressiveness," Boyd said. "I'm a very aggressive player and I don't like to get beat. If I get beat on one play, I mean it's the next play mentality. I'm coming back to knock your head off."
The commitments of Boyd on Saturday and Adams on Friday opens up the St. Louis to Illinois pipeline that has been dormant. Assistant coach Thad Ward recruits the area for the Illini, and he struck gold twice in two days.
"It's going to keep going," Boyd said. "I'm going to make sure I get a lot of kids to come here. They will love it. I want everyone to join the family."
Boyd plays left tackle at Trinity. He could play either guard or tackle at the next level. Boyd has a clear goal when he arrives in Champaign.
"To be a four year starter," he said.