Texas LB comes aboard as Iowa State's 8th verbal commit for 2017

Iowa State has its second linebacker commitment of the 2017 recruiting cycle following the Saturday commitment of Katy (Tex.) standout Breydon Boyd.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Boyd was among a number of important visitors in Ames for the Cyclones’ spring game visit. It was his second trip to I-State in recent months and with his family able to make the trip with him, Boyd was ready to commit.

“I just love the atmosphere around the whole program and the coaches,” Boyd said about the timing of making his commitment. “I talked it over with my family for a while now and the whole family was able to make the visit with me.” Boyd had also visited ISU for a junior day event in February.

In landing a commitment from Boyd, Iowa State bested a number of other programs that had offered him. Boston College was his other Power 5 offer in addition to the Cyclones and he had also been offered by the likes of Boise State, Colorado State, New Mexico and more. All tolled, Boyd’s offer list numbered around a dozen.

Boyd attended Iowa State’s spring game on Saturday and said it was a highlight for the obvious general reasons, and one in particular.

“Seeing the defense dominate the way it did,” said Boyd. “They controlled it.”

Boyd is used to playing for a dominant defense as his Katy team won the Texas Class 6A Division II state championship last fall and will be looking to repeat this season.

Like other linebacker targets on ISU’s recruiting board, Boyd was told that the Cyclones are looking to sign versatile ‘backers that can conceivably play any of the three LB positions.

“When they recruit, they look at whether or not they see a guy who could play at all three positions,” Boyd explained. “So me and other guys they like are all that type of linebacker.”

Iowa State has two linebackers among its eight verbal commitments so far for 2017, with the other being Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Washington’s O’Rien Vance.