Tyler Boyd (American football)

In 2013 as a true freshman, Boyd was the nation's most productive freshman receiver, setting Pitt freshman records for receptions with 85 and receiving yards with 1,174,[2] both of which were previously held by Larry Fitzgerald (who had 69 catches for 1,005 yards in 2002). He had five 100-yard receiving games, topping Fitzgerald's freshman school-record total of four, and also set the ACC record for receptions as a freshman, topping the mark held by Clemson's Sammy Watkins (82 catches in 2011).

Boyd was named ACC Rookie of the Week, 247Sports National True Freshman of the Week, and Athlon Sports National Co-Freshman of the Week for his performance in Pitt's 58-55 win at Duke, where he had eight catches for 154 yards (19.3 avg.) and a career-high three touchdowns. In a 49-27 win against New Mexico, he compiled 134 receiving yards on six catches (22.3 avg.), including a dazzling 34-yard touchdown grab in the back of the end zone on the final play of the first half; he also rushed for a 33-yard score against the Lobos, earning ACC Receiver of the Week and 247Sports National True Freshman of the Week honors for his performance. Boyd was known for making several highlight reel plays because of his hands and awareness for the sideline that helped him being selected All-ACC by the league's media (second team) and coaches (third team) as well as a Freshman All-American by Athlon Sports, CollegeFootballNews.com, Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Phil Steele, Sporting News, 247Sports, and ECAC Offensive Rookie of the Year. Boyd capped the 2013 season with a magnificent performance in the 2013 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, compiling 242 all-purpose yards to help the Panthers defeat Bowling Green, 30-27; he had eight catches for a career-high 173 yards (21.6 avg.) and added a spectacular 54-yard punt return for a touchdown in the bowl victory. Boyd's receiving yardage against the Falcons set a Pitt bowl record, surpassing the 36-year-old mark of 163 set by Gordon Jones in the 1977 Gator Bowl against Clemson, while his punt return touchdown was Pitt's first since Darrelle Revis had a 73-yarder against West Virginia in 2006.[3] Boyd's postseason performance earned him USA TODAY All-Bowl Team recognition.

In his second year at Pitt, Boyd made an impact as a wide receiver and return man. He finished the season with 78 catches for 1,261 yards (16.2 avg.) and eight touchdowns. Boyd's 78 catches rank third on Pitt's single-season list, while his 1,261 receiving yards rank fourth. He totaled six 100-yard receiving games on the year, ranked second in the ACC and 17th nationally with an average of 97.0 receiving yards per game and third in the ACC and 32nd nationally with an average of 6.0 receptions per game. As a return specialist, he led the ACC and ranked 10th nationally with a 27.6-yard kickoff return average (16 for 442 yards) and ranked second in the ACC and 21st nationally with a 10.1-yard punt return average (16 for 162 yards). He also ranked second in the ACC and 14th nationally in all-purpose yards per game with 148.3.

Boyd had a season-high 10 receptions for 153 yards (15.3 avg.) against Iowa; with his performance, Boyd went over 100 career receptions, tying Larry Fitzgerald for fewest games needed to reach the century milestone for catches at Pitt (17 contests). He posted a season-high 160 receiving yards (second highest in his career) on five catches (32.0 avg.) with a 50-yard touchdown at North Carolina. Boyd received ACC Receiver of the Week honors for his outstanding performance in Pitt's 30-7 win over Syracuse, where he had seven receptions for 126 yards (18.0 avg.) against the Orange, including a 49-yard catch-and-run touchdown. He was honored as the ACC Specialist of the Week after compiling 262 all-purpose yards in a 35-23 win at Miami (FL) on November 29; in that game, Boyd totaled 190 yards on six kick returns (31.7 avg.) and added five receptions for 72 yards (14.4 avg.) with a 12-yard touchdown catch.

Boyd entered the regular season as the third receiver on the depth chart behind veterans A. J. Green and Brandon LaFell.[8] In the season opener against the New York Jets, he caught two passes from Andy Dalton for 24 yards. The following week, during a 16-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, he made six receptions for 78 receiving yards. In Week 6, against the New England Patriots, Boyd recorded a career-high 79 yards on four receptions.[9] On November 20, 2016, Boyd made six receptions for 54 receiving yards and caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Dalton for his first career touchdown in a 16-12 loss to the Buffalo Bills.[10]

In his first four games in the 2017 season, Boyd totaled six receptions for 43 yards. Against the Buffalo Bills, he suffered a knee injury and was forced to miss four games.[11] In Week 12, against the Cleveland Browns, he had his first receiving touchdown of the season.[12] In Week 17, Boyd caught his third career touchdown on 4th and 12 with 53 seconds, giving the Bengals a 31-27 lead over the Baltimore Ravens. That score would end up being the winning score, as the Bengals eliminated the Ravens from playoff contention for the 2017 season, and allowed the Buffalo Bills to clinch their first playoff berth since 1999.[13]

In Week 2 of the 2018 season, Boyd recorded six receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens.[14] In Week 3, he had six receptions for 132 receiving yards and a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers.[15] He recorded another great outing in the next game against the Atlanta Falcons with 11 receptions for 100 receiving yards in the 37–36 victory.[16] In Week 6, he recorded seven receptions for 62 yards and two touchdowns against the Pittsburgh Steelers.[17] He suffered an MCL sprain in Week 15 and was placed on injured reserve on December 28, 2018.[18] He finished his breakout season as the Bengals leading receiver with 76 receptions for 1,028 yards and seven touchdowns.[19][20]

On July 23, 2019, Boyd signed a four-year, $43 million contract extension with the Bengals, keeping him under contract through the 2023 season.[21] In Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers, Boyd caught 10 passes for 122 yards as the Bengals lost 41–17.[22] In Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals, Boyd caught ten passes for 123 yards and a touchdown in the 26–23 loss.[23] In Week 12 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Boyd caught five passes for 101 yards and a 47-yard touchdown in the 16–10 loss.[24] During Week 16 against the Miami Dolphins, Boyd finished with nine catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns as the Bengals lost 35–38 in overtime.[25] Overall, Boyd finished the 2019 season with 90 receptions for 1,046 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.[26]