NFL Draft 2012: Exclusive Interview With Virginia Tech WR Jarrett Boykin

The world of college football is different from that of the professional sporting world. The stage is much bigger and the risks higher. Transitioning one’s skills from one stage to the next can prove difficult for some athletes. Jarrett Boykin, a talented wide receiver and recent graduate of Virginia Tech is preparing to make this transition. I had the opportunity to sit down with Jarrett and ask him about his experiences with respect to football and Virginia Tech.

Here is what Jarrett had to say:

Brittany: What was it like playing college football at Virginia Tech?

Jarrett Boykin: Playing college football at Virginia Tech was a great experience.  It had a great family atmosphere, which could not have been better; helping to make me a better person, the person I am today.

Brittany: What was the most important skill you learned while at Virginia Tech?

Boykin: The most important skill I learned was to not be selfish.

Brittany: What was it like training for the Combine?

Boykin: Training for the Combine was a good experience.  Danny and I were down in Atlanta together, we pushed one another.  Training with Chip Smith’s team was great, they really prepared me for the Combine.  When you are training you have to work as hard as you can to put yourself in a good position.

Brittany: What was your experience at the Combine like? How did you feel after you received your marks?

Boykin: The experience was a great experience- it is a rare opportunity really, because you are selected to attend.  It is also tiring because you are up early going through preparations- interviews, medical evaluations, your workouts, etc.

After I got my marks I was not too happy. I wish I had done better.

Brittany: How did your experience at the Combine differ from your experience at Virginia Tech’s Pro Day?

Boykin: Pro Day differed from the Combine in that I felt a lot better at Pro Day.  Pro Day allowed me to address any concerns.

Brittany: The NFL draft is now less than a month away.  According to analysts you are predicted to go anywhere from the fifth to seventh round of the draft, or possibly as a free agent — what are your thoughts on that?

Boykin: For me, it doesn’t really matter where I go.  It is about getting the chance and taking advantage of the opportunity.  I want to “Victor Cruz” it, meaning that I want to explode on the scene and become the caliber player that he was last year to the Giants; to any team I’m fortunate to play for this year as a rookie.

Brittany: What do you bring to the table that someone who had superior performances at the Combine may be lacking?

Boykin: I bring physicality, size and strength — that aspect of the game.

Brittany: You wore the number 81 throughout college.  What inspired you to request that number?

Boykin: I have always been a Terrell Owens fan.  I requested that number because I respect his game and his style of play.

Brittany: Most athletes have a professional role model, whose style they adapt.  Who is your role model ?

Boykin: My role model is Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals.  He is a man with a hard work ethic, great catching style, has game changing techniques and works hard at the little things, trying to perfect them that- these skills make big differences in games.

Brittany: You have many friends and former teammates who currently play in the NFL.  What words of advice have they given you with respect to the draft and entering the world of professional football?

Boykin: They have told me to “go hard, full speed ahead.”

You can follow Jarrett on twitter @boykinhecatch81.

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