All throughout training camp and in the first week of the preseason, the Eagles rookies have shined bright and impressed any and all who have watched them. From first round pick Fletcher Cox to a player like Mychal Kendricks earning a starting job, the 2012 defensive rookie class might be the best in Philadelphia since the 2002 draft that yielded Lito Sheppard, Michael Lewis, and Sheldon Brown.
Brandon Boykin, the fourth round pick in April, has the starting kick returning job all but locked up and will likely continue to fight for a starting position at nickel corner. Joselio Hanson and Boykin made up one of the low-key training camp battles. Hanson did a good job of showing coaches that the nickel corner job was his and Boykin would have to do something huge to unseat the seven year veteran.
During Thursday’s practice, Hanson suffered a dislocated finger; an injury that will likely cause him to miss Monday night’s matchup against the Patriots. Next in line is the former Georgia Bulldog. Lining up across from Wes Welker or Brandon Lloyd, whoever will line up in the slot for New England, will be a major test for the rookie. As the Mike Kafka injury may help the Eagles to find out what they have in Nick Foles, Hanson’s injury will get Boykin on the field and he will make the most of his reps to catch the eye of the coaches to possibly take Hanson’s position.
Boykin excelled in college against slot receivers and showed that he is one of the quickest, most agile corners that was entering the 2012 draft. With the ability to quickly change direction and lock down on a receiver, Boykin is almost a prototype for the slot position. Like the former number 22 on the Eagles, Boykin also has great closing ability and a natural skill of knowing where the ball is at all times. With nine career interceptions in Georgia, his ball skills were clearly on display during his four year tenure.
The first chance Boykin got with the ball in his hands, he took advantage of. He took a kickoff eight yards deep in the end zone and to the chagrin of some fans and coaches; he decided to try to return the kick. Luckily, the reward was worth the risk. The rookie returned the kick 46 yards and was only stopped by teammate Stanley Havili who was trying to set a block. Adding 43 more yards on two returns, Boykin finished the game with an average of almost 30 yards per return.
A winner of the Louisville Sports Commission’s Paul Hornung award, Boykin showed off his versatility by playing on offense as well as special teams and defense at Georgia. The game that best shows his versatility has to be the 2012 Outback Bowl against Michigan State in which Boykin won MVP honors despite being on the losing team. The 5’9 corner scored three different ways during the triple overtime game and put the NFL world on notice. By returning a punt for a touchdown, registering a safety, and catching a touchdown Boykin accounted for 14 of the team’s 30 points.
While Boykin will not be asked to play any offense for the Eagles, his versatility will certainly keep him in midnight green for a stretch of time. The Eagles could have a huge steal after drafting Boykin in the fourth round if he does provide the return threat that the Eagles think he can. Howie Roseman said during the telecast of the Eagles vs. Steelers game that if Boykin had run any faster at the combine he would have likely been a late first or early second round pick. His subpar 4.40 40-yard dash time means little when you see Boykin with the ball in his hands. It is clear that, like most players, he plays much faster than any 40 time can tell you.
If Boykin can average anywhere close to what he averaged returning kicks in last Thursday’s game and earn some starting reps at nickel during the season, Boykin might just be the Eagles rookie of the year. The battle between Boykin and Hanson will continue throughout the season and as soon as one takes a step back, the other will jump on the opportunity to play. This will be one of the more interesting battles going on during the season as one of these players will be the third corner behind Pro Bowl corners Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
