LEXINGTON — It was a career night for Aaron Boyd.
Making his second career start, the Kentucky receiver caught 11 passes for 100 yards and a scored a touchdown in Kentucky’s 47-14 win over Kent State Saturday night at Commonwealth Stadium.
Boyd, a graduate of Henry Clay and brother of former Kentucky quarterback Shane Boyd, emerged as a starter against the Golden Flashes following the team’s season-opener at Louisville last weekend. Boyd’s performance in a 32-14 setback to the Cardinals led to his second career start in Kentucky’s home opener against the Golden Flashes. His final numbers against Kent State established new career highs in three offensive categories.
His family was in attendance for his best outing in a Wildcat uniform, including Shand Boyd, his older brother. Boyd said his older brother Shane has provided a stable support system even during the tough times.
“He’s always been an inspiration to me,” he said. “He’s always been a big brother to me and I talk to him before every game and after every practice. He just tells me to keep focused and do whatever I have to do to get better.”
Boyd’s outing against the Cardinals featured three catches for 36 yards. He doubled that number in the first half against Kent State, setting new single game highs in catches with seven for 73 yards. A 21-yard grab by Boyd on the sidelines was his longest reception as a WIldcat, keeping a drive alive, capped by Craig McIntosh’s 47-yard field goal that gave the Wildcats a 17-7 halftime lead.
“I felt confident during the game and I had an adrenaline (rush) going,” he said. “When the ball comes my way, my job is to catch it and that’s what I want to do and that’s what I was recruited to do. When they ball comes my way, I want to catch it and help my team, mostly.”
Prior to his breakthrough performance against the Golden Flashes, one that had him trending on Twitter in the first half, Boyd a four-star recruit out of high school and brother of former Kentucky quarterback Shane Boyd, had made just made nine receptions for 87 yards in his career with the Wildcats. In two games this season, Boyd has surpassed that number with 14 catches for 136 yards and one touchdown.
Boyd got his first career touchdown with a 14-yard reception from Kentucky quarterback Max¿Smith at the 14:04 mark of the second quarter. The grab by Boyd gave Kentucky a 7-0 advantage. Boyd helped set the tone for Kentucky’s offense with five catches for 38 yards in the opening quarter.
Phillips has been pleased with Boyd’s progression beyond catching the football.
“I got more excited about the blocks (he made) than the catches,” he said. “You have to be a physical wide receiver and Aaron is trying to be physical.”
Phillips credited Boyd’s emergence to a personal willingness to improve.
“A lot of it is just Aaron, saying, ‘Hey, it’s my last (season), I’m going to do what I have to do (to get better). I’m going to work my tail off. For a guy who can’t run as fast as the other (receivers), you have to be a physical guy. Aaron has bought into that and I’m excited that he’s starting to make plays for us.”
Boyd said his goal during the preseason was to produce beyond the stat sheet.
“I simply said I wanted my teammates and my coaches to trust me in any situation or any position and that I could get the job done,,” he said. “That’s what I focus on doing.”
During his tenure with the Wildcats, Boyd has played with three different coaches, including Pat Washington, who was impressed with Boyd’s performance against the Golden Flashes.
“He’s consistent at what he does,” Washington said. “He’s beginning to understand the offense. You don’t have to be the fastest guy in the world to be a receiver. If you understand the offense and understand defenses, study and prepare yourself, you can be successful.”
Boyd’s consistency carried over from the first half to the last two quarters. On Kentucky’s first series of the second half, Boyd hauled in a pair of passes for 19 yards on a drive capped by Gene McCaskill’s 18-yard touchdown catch from Smith. It was a scoring drive helped put the Cats over the proverbial hump.
Despite his breakthrough performance, Boyd isn’t finished just yet.
“It felt really good, but I’m not done,” he said. “I want to keep this thing going.”
Making his second career start, the Kentucky receiver caught 11 passes for 100 yards and a scored a touchdown in Kentucky’s 47-14 win over Kent State Saturday night at Commonwealth Stadium.
Boyd, a graduate of Henry Clay and brother of former Kentucky quarterback Shane Boyd, emerged as a starter against the Golden Flashes following the team’s season-opener at Louisville last weekend. Boyd’s performance in a 32-14 setback to the Cardinals led to his second career start in Kentucky’s home opener against the Golden Flashes. His final numbers against Kent State established new career highs in three offensive categories.
His family was in attendance for his best outing in a Wildcat uniform, including Shand Boyd, his older brother. Boyd said his older brother Shane has provided a stable support system even during the tough times.
“He’s always been an inspiration to me,” he said. “He’s always been a big brother to me and I talk to him before every game and after every practice. He just tells me to keep focused and do whatever I have to do to get better.”
Boyd’s outing against the Cardinals featured three catches for 36 yards. He doubled that number in the first half against Kent State, setting new single game highs in catches with seven for 73 yards. A 21-yard grab by Boyd on the sidelines was his longest reception as a WIldcat, keeping a drive alive, capped by Craig McIntosh’s 47-yard field goal that gave the Wildcats a 17-7 halftime lead.
“I felt confident during the game and I had an adrenaline (rush) going,” he said. “When the ball comes my way, my job is to catch it and that’s what I want to do and that’s what I was recruited to do. When they ball comes my way, I want to catch it and help my team, mostly.”
Prior to his breakthrough performance against the Golden Flashes, one that had him trending on Twitter in the first half, Boyd a four-star recruit out of high school and brother of former Kentucky quarterback Shane Boyd, had made just made nine receptions for 87 yards in his career with the Wildcats. In two games this season, Boyd has surpassed that number with 14 catches for 136 yards and one touchdown.
Boyd got his first career touchdown with a 14-yard reception from Kentucky quarterback Max¿Smith at the 14:04 mark of the second quarter. The grab by Boyd gave Kentucky a 7-0 advantage. Boyd helped set the tone for Kentucky’s offense with five catches for 38 yards in the opening quarter.
Phillips has been pleased with Boyd’s progression beyond catching the football.
“I got more excited about the blocks (he made) than the catches,” he said. “You have to be a physical wide receiver and Aaron is trying to be physical.”
Phillips credited Boyd’s emergence to a personal willingness to improve.
“A lot of it is just Aaron, saying, ‘Hey, it’s my last (season), I’m going to do what I have to do (to get better). I’m going to work my tail off. For a guy who can’t run as fast as the other (receivers), you have to be a physical guy. Aaron has bought into that and I’m excited that he’s starting to make plays for us.”
Boyd said his goal during the preseason was to produce beyond the stat sheet.
“I simply said I wanted my teammates and my coaches to trust me in any situation or any position and that I could get the job done,,” he said. “That’s what I focus on doing.”
During his tenure with the Wildcats, Boyd has played with three different coaches, including Pat Washington, who was impressed with Boyd’s performance against the Golden Flashes.
“He’s consistent at what he does,” Washington said. “He’s beginning to understand the offense. You don’t have to be the fastest guy in the world to be a receiver. If you understand the offense and understand defenses, study and prepare yourself, you can be successful.”
Boyd’s consistency carried over from the first half to the last two quarters. On Kentucky’s first series of the second half, Boyd hauled in a pair of passes for 19 yards on a drive capped by Gene McCaskill’s 18-yard touchdown catch from Smith. It was a scoring drive helped put the Cats over the proverbial hump.
Despite his breakthrough performance, Boyd isn’t finished just yet.
“It felt really good, but I’m not done,” he said. “I want to keep this thing going.”
