The NFL finds talent wherever it thrives. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have put forth a slew of talented playmakers in recent NFL drafts. In 2024, Arkansas-Pine Bluff cornerback LaPrel Boyd is among the best prospects coming out of the SWAC.
Boyd recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network about his outstanding 2023 season, playing man and zone coverage, his JUCO experience, and whether or not HBCUs are receiving enough respect nowadays. Boyd also discussed learning from his 2022 teammate Mark Evans, who was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine last year.
JM: You had a great season this year. You forced three turnovers and had five pass breakups. What allowed you to take a step forward this season?
LaPrel Boyd: I had a great offseason. I took it more seriously than any offseason that came before it. I knew it was my last season. I poured my all into it. I knew I had the ability to make game-changing plays.
I enjoyed the best season of my career. I didn’t have enough ball production throughout 2022. I wasn’t satisfied. I placed a lot of emphasis on that. I did a better job getting my hands on the ball this season. I wanted to change games.
JM: Your ball production took a step forward. How do you reflect on the decision to transfer to Arkansas-Pine Bluff from Laney College?
LaPrel Boyd: I don’t have any regrets. At first, it was tough to make the move basically across the country. At Laney, my goal was to stay in the state of California. I ended up taking the Pine Bluff offer, which was a big move for me.
It seemed very different at first, but I got used to it. I don’t regret it at all. It was the best decision for me and my career. I played some good football against great HBCU programs. You don’t really see any HBCUs in California. It was a great new experience for me. On top of that, I came in and earned a starting role.
JM: From JUCO to an HBCU, how will you best remember the JUCO grind?
LaPrel Boyd: I’ll never forget it. When I originally came to a JUCO program at Laney, you think you’re gonna be a guy that quickly leaves JUCO. What I appreciated most about JUCO was the everyday grind. You don’t really know how things are going to shake out. You just have to enjoy the daily adventure.
You have to stick to the plan and keep a long-term goal in mind. That situation taught me a lot. I took those lessons to Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Things aren’t always going to happen as fast as you want them to. When things start to click, you start producing.
JUCO taught me that results come with good, hard work.
JM: Absolutely. One of your teammates last season was Mark Evans II, who brought a lot of scouts to Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Evans was also invited to the NFL Scouting Combine and entered the league as a UDFA. As you prepare to embark on your own pre-draft process, what did you learn from his experience?
LaPrel Boyd: From the outside looking in, he handled the process like a professional. He got invited to the combine. He made it onto an NFL practice squad. There’s a way for everybody. The NFL will find talent wherever. It doesn’t matter how you start, it’s about how you finish.
With Mark Evans, I thought he was going to get drafted in the later rounds because he got invited to the combine. You never know what’s going to happen. He fought his way onto a practice squad.
There’s a way for everybody in any situation. That’s what I took from his pre-draft process experience.
JM: We finally have an HBCU Combine. Do you feel like things are finally trending in the right direction for HBCU talents? There have been positive changes, but we still have a long way to go.
LaPrel Boyd: We definitely have a long way to go, but this is way better than what I’ve heard about in the past. Before I arrived at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, I had never even heard of the HBCU Combine.
In recent years, I’ve definitely noticed how much more popular it has become. The Legacy Bowl is sponsored by Allstate nowadays. Those are the positive changes I’m referring to. Those games are airing on the NFL Network.
Those are the things that make it feel like things are trending in the right direction. We’ve seen some positive changes. HBCU talents can get overlooked. We don’t get a lot of TV time and things of that nature. This is a good way for us to showcase our abilities.
JM: We've seen a lot of HBCU players get drafted and enjoy success in recent years, cornerbacks especially. Joshua Williams and Cobie Durant come to mind. You're next in line. What is it about an HBCU cornerback?
LaPrel Boyd: When it comes to skill positions at every level, we can compete. As long as you’re a guy who showcases the required skill set, you can master your technique and work on your craft. I feel like those skills translate regardless of what they say about the level of competition.
We can’t get overlooked, but it happens. Cornerbacks specifically, we work on our craft. You’ve seen it with some of the guys you just mentioned. At the end of the day, the skills translate to the next level.
Cobie Durant, I was watching his tape even when I was at Laney. I heard about how dominant he was. He ended up winning Defensive Player of the Year in his conference during his senior season. He probably should have won it the year before, too. Cobie Durant’s skills translated to the next level. He was doing those things despite what people thought about the competition. He didn’t do anything wrong. I can see why he’s in the position that he’s currently in with the Los Angeles Rams.
We have so many talented players out here. That’s how I feel. It’s not just Arkansas-Pine Bluff either. I was playing against guys on a weekly basis that are extremely talented players. I saw a lot of legit talents. The SWAC specific, that’s where I played, we all have talent. We’re talented enough to continue playing football at the next level. We just need an opportunity.
JM: That’s the truth right there. You're a long, rangy cornerback. How do you utilize that to your advantage?
LaPrel Boyd: I’m 5-foot-10 but my arms are way longer than the average 5-foot-10 cornerback. With those taller cornerbacks, the main thing they were doing was getting their hands on guys early. That’s how they approached most reps. Because I have such long arms for my size, I try to incorporate some of that into my game, too.
I had a great defensive backs coach at Laney. They taught me feet before hands. At the end of the day, a wide receiver has to come towards you. My frame is bigger because my arms are longer than the average person my height. Seeing other guys do it helped me translate that ability into my game.
JM: Man or Zone? What's your preference?
LaPrel Boyd: I definitely prefer man coverage. I’ll say this though. I’ve gotten a lot better playing zone coverage. This past season, that was the most zone coverage I ever played. Prior to this, I had played way more man coverage.
JM: This has been outstanding. I've really appreciated your time today. What comes next for LaPrel Boyd?
LaPrel Boyd: I’m getting ready for whatever comes next in this process. We’ll see what Bowl game I get invited to. After that, I’ll be training and preparing for Pro Day.
