Senior Bowl Spotlight – Tajh Boyd, QB Clemson – 2014 NFL Draft
Byron Lambert, Rosterwatch.com

Tajh Boyd, QB Clemson

Height: 6’1″
Weight: 225 Pounds
Projected 40-Time: 4.65 (estimate)
NFL Comparison: David Garrard

Player Notes:

* Via ClemsonTigers.com

Had an ACC-record 107 passing touchdowns…first in school history in passing touchdowns, first in passing efficiency, first in touchdown responsibility, first in passing yards, first in completions, first in completions per game (19.2), first in passing attempts, first in completion percentage, first in total offense yards, first in total offense plays (1,907), first in 200-yard passing games (35), first in 300-yard passing games (18), first in 200-yard total offense yard games (36), first in 300-yard total offense yard games (22), first in consecutive starts at quarterback (40), first in snaps by a quarterback (2,963), first in top-25 wins by a starting quarterback (8), tied for first in wins by a starting quarterback (32), third in passing yards per attempt (8.49), fifth in interception avoidance (.0278), fifth in snaps, and tied for 10th in rushing touchdowns … had 12 of the top-14 single-game passing yardage totals in school history … set the school record for consecutive passing attempts without an interception (187) from 2012 to 2013 … had a 32-8 career record as a starter … three-time All-ACC selection (media) … two-time First-Team All-ACC selection (media)

Scouting Notes:

Thanks to our good friends at Draft Breakdown, the following game films can be viewed here

Florida St 2012
:30 stands in pocket delivers nice deep ball to DeAndre Hopkins. Designed QB runs. Scrambles with eyes up. Arm is pretty strong. Mobility- durable and hard to take down. Nice read for a TD at 4:15. Throws a little high on short and intermediate passes. Throws ball away when necessary. Poor throw down middle at 7 min- tough throw but could have made it. Horrible INT at 8:30 trying to force throw with bad mechanics – could have been pressing but still almost 9 min left only down by 11. Trying to win game in one kind of play type of deal. Would like better awareness of situation. Great throw down sideline with velocity, touch, accuracy at 9:45. Obvious first comparison is Russell Wilson- don’t think he’s quite that gifted of a passer

LSU 2012
2nd read nice throw in traffic at 1:00 – escapability from mean pass rush at 1:15 – Stays in pocket vs heat at 1:30 delivers a bit high but still a nice completion – Nice rushing TD at 1:50 – back 2 back good throws at 3:00 first is quick rhythm pass underneath second is sideline out under pressure – 11:50 a really nice throw down the had to DeAndre with three defenders around- like the type of offense Clemson runs against a stacked LSU-NFL roster – Boyd taking hits and staying in there – sick 2nd read TD to Hopkins in clutch situation 15:18 – throws high sometimes – overall a strong performance to lead team

South Carolina 2012
Nice pump fake and work with eyes to throw bullet down the middle in traffic for a big completion – Run option 1:20 for TD – 1:32 Beautiful throw deep to DeAndre for TD w/ 2 defenders – In good rhythm until horrible low throw on easy slant at 1:53 – 3:20 under pressure makes bad decision for horrible floater deep middle for INT – takes a sack he doesn’t have to take at 4:10 – beautiful throw on roll out for sick catch w/ defender close could be a real risky decision at next level for a possible pick – off back foot w/ LB looming in coverage for a pick – Lots of Clowney in this one

Auburn 2012
2:40 bad throw down the middle high and inaccurate – 3:25 throw on run terribly inactive – 7:35 great ability to improvise and keep play alive for a nice completion – Drops by WR hurting Boyd – has to run a lot in this game fairly effective a couple of big runs – accuracy issues

Florida St 2013
1:00 throws behind WR – Short throw in the dirt at 2:05 – Nice throw on rollout at 3:20 – 3:40 nice throw to Watkins for TD in tight coverage throws a little high and behind but Watkins reels it in could have been an easier completion with a decent window in front – 6:20 completion but could have led WR for easier YAC – 7:00 terrible INT downfield towards sideline either didn’t see or misjudged CB positioning – Florida St puts a whipping on Clemson tough day for Boyd

South Carolina 2013
:50 Nice throw down the middle drops it between two defenders for completion to Watkins – Read option TD Boyd a tough durable runner – A bit low but nice play action completion down the seam for intermediate yardage – 5:20 horrible interception under huge pressure just floats one out over the middle into a sea of SoCo defenders prob pressing down by 14 w/ time running out – another INT of same variety at 5:50

Georgia 2013
TD to Watkins over middle for big RAC in space between defenders still could have been a better throw to lead Watkins he had to reach back and snatch ball – Too often throws behind WR – not a wildly inaccurate passer but a guys who tends to be a little high or low or behind quite a bit – 3:10 pass high intermediate to sideline single coverage but shoulda been a nice completion for a big 3rd and long conversion – 3:30 should have been INT on a bad short throw to WR – Just not seeing much improvement from ’12 to ’13 -4:35 steps into nice throw for intermediate completion in coverage window was decent but still three defenders in area – 5:00 leads RB on nice little swing pass for RAC – 6:00 mark terrific thrown with velocity and touch down the sideline in tight single coverage for a very well placed ball one of only spots for WR to catch – 7:00 under thrown deep ball down sideline should have been TD to open WR

Ohio St. 2013
:30 Big run up the gut for TD – 2:30 handles blitz finds open man down the sideline nice throw – 3:00 no red zone discretion trying to make wild play improvising INT – overly reliant on moving the ball using rushing skills – fortunate to have played w/ Hopkins, Watkins, Ellington. 4:40 beautifully placed deep ball should have been caught – 6:20 good escapability + fairly nice deep ball at attempt for big yardage on broken play – 7:30 beautiful scramble and deep pass to for a high point TD over defenders for a TD

Pre-Senior Bowl Projection:
Boyd has an intriguing set of physical skills. He’s shown real grit and real skill in some crunch time situations. He’s also shown a concerning lack of accuracy and consistency. The lack of improvement in his game from 2012 to 2013 is a major draft concern. His draft stock will ultimately hinge on the evaluation of his intangible qualities. Currently, we have a 3rd-4th Round Pre-Senior Bowl Draft Projection for Boyd. If his character and intelligence check out his stock has a chance to rise.