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Alex Khvatov:
What are your measurements (height,
weight and forty time)?
Chad Boyd:
5’10, 190 pounds and my best time was a 4.5
Alex Khvatov:
Coming out of high school, what
programs showed interest in you?
Chad Boyd:
Tulsa, Northern Illinois, Louisiana Tech, Tulane,
McNeese State, Nicholls State and Ole Miss.
Alex Khvatov:
What made you choose Louisiana Tech?
Chad Boyd:
Coming out of that time, we had a big 2009 class at
Louisiana Tech. I was really close to a lot of the
guys. At least nine of us came from New Orleans
area. When I went on a visit, I liked everything
that they were telling me. I liked the role that I
would be playing. I was a cornerback at the time.
They were straight forward with me. They told me
that I could play as a freshman, but it wasn’t
guaranteed. They were a truthful school. I liked
the area. It was close to home. It was the best
decision that I could have made by coming
here.
Alex Khvatov:
Describe your career at Louisiana Tech to us up to
this point.
Chad Boyd:
I have been a fulltime two-year starter. I started
only a couple of games my freshman year. So far it
has been a good career. I think that I have about
180 total tackles with 7 interceptions. The first
two years have been up and down. We had great
talent the first couple of years, but we have been
plagued by injuries. I made All-Conference last
year. I couldn’t have done those things without my
teammates.
Alex Khvatov:
Were you happy with your performance during your
junior year?
Chad Boyd:
I started off playing the nickel back position. A
couple of injuries happened, and I was moved back to
strong safety. It was a good move because I knew
that position well. I had a torn labrum in my
shoulder. I played with it the whole year. It
didn’t hinder me in any way. It was painful, but I
played through it. I had 78 tackles and 3 picks
during the season. It was a good year. We won the
Conference Championship. We came a long way by
starting 1-4 and finishing 8-5. We got great talent
coming in. Junior year was a success. Hopefully,
senior year could be even better. That is all we
hope for.
Alex Khvatov:
What have you learned about your team so far?
Chad Boyd:
We are a lot closer than the other teams from the
past. Team camaraderie is great. A lot of guys
like each other on the team. Overall, we get along
well. We are all humble. We are all taking
everything in stride. We are in a lot of preseason
rankings. Hopefully we can make it the best season
that Tech has ever had.
Alex Khvatov:
What are your expectations for this
upcoming senior season from a team and individual
standpoint?
Chad Boyd:
Individually, I want to go over 100 tackles in a
season. I have been close in college. It is
something that I did in high school. I always had a
goal of 10 interceptions in a season. I want a
leader during the senior year. I want to be someone
that the team can count on. Our goal is to win
every game as a team. We have the players and the
coaches to do it. We have a tough schedule. We
start the season against Texas A&M on August 31st.
The best team will prevail. Hopefully, it will fall
in our favor. We have been working hard. Everybody
is ready. We think that we have a great team to
make it happen.
Alex Khvatov:
What is the highlight of your career
up to this point?
Chad Boyd:
Highlight of my career was last year against New
Mexico State. I had two interceptions during that
game. We beat them and won the conference title.
It was my first title. I came close in high
school. I lost three title games in high school.
It is the best feeling that I had in my life. It is
truly the highlight of my career.
Alex Khvatov:
What separates you from all of the other players at
your position?
Chad Boyd:
In today’s game, people focus on the height and the
weight. I don’t look at that. Everyone puts me in
the big hit category. I like the physical aspect
category. I come up with big hits. I am a physical
player.
Alex Khvatov:
What are your strengths?
Chad Boyd:
I am a good visual reader. I detect certain
tendencies about an offense. I am also physical
during the game. I am a good zone cover guy and a
good man-to-man player. I learn quickly.
Alex Khvatov: What
areas of your game do you need to improve upon?
Chad Boyd:
I always want to get better in man-to-man. I am
pretty good. But I strive to get better in that
aspect. I want to add that to my game. It will
just complete me. I always strive towards getting
faster and stronger. Nowadays, safeties are 6’4 and
they move like a receiver.
Alex Khvatov:
What is your favorite NFL team?
Chad Boyd:
I have to go with the Saints. I have been a big fan
even through the rough times. We will get through
this tough time and come out on top.
Alex Khvatov:
Who is your favorite
NFL player?
Chad Boyd:
I always looked up to Sean Taylor when he played at
Miami and with the Redskins. I loved Sean Taylor.
He was a great player. I loved his presence on the
field. His hitting ability and his overall
playmaking abilities were great. I have to toss Ed
Reed and Troy Polamalu into the conversation. They
can change the game at any given time.
Alex Khvatov:
What can you tell me about your
teammate safety Jamel Johnson?
Chad Boyd:
Jamel Johnson is a great safety for us. He is a
great athlete. He is a great player on the field.
He is a senior leader. He is a big guy at 5’11 and
205 pounds. He is very fast. He is equal to me.
He is good at all aspects of the game. He was a
Juco guy last year. He had an interception against
Cam Newton in junior college. He is a good
tackler. He will be big for us this year.
Alex Khvatov:
Tell me about WR Quinton Patton.
Chad Boyd:
Quinton is a game time guy. If you need a play and
throw him the ball, he will make something happen.
He did incredible things for us last year. It was
his breakthrough year for him. He is a tremendous
athlete. He is a very strong player. One guy won’t
be able to tackle him. He is very fast. He has
great hands. He is not afraid to get hit. If he
has another great year, he will make someone’s team
at the next level and do the same thing that he did
in college.
Alex Khvatov:
Which underclassmen on your team
should we keep an eye on in the future?
Chad Boyd:
Redshirt junior defensive tackle Justin Ellis was an
All-Conference player last year. He is 6’2 and 330
pounds. He is a big guy, but he is tremendous
athlete. He is a top five athlete on our team.
Redshirt junior defensive end IK Enemkpali is a
tremendous athlete. He is 6’2 and 260. He is an
animal coming off the edge. He is the strongest guy
on our team. He is kind of like Courtney Upshaw.
Alex Khvatov:
What are your hobbies?
Chad Boyd:
I am a laid back type of guy. I like to hang out
with guys on the team and play video games. I have
a little hobby. I like to race gas operated remote
control cars every once in awhile.
Alex Khvatov:
If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it
be and why?
Chad Boyd:
I would take Lebron James. He is my favorite
athlete. He is one of the best individual and team
players ever. I love what he does on the court.
Alex Khvatov:
What do you plan to do with your life
after your football career is over?
Chad Boyd:
I am getting my degree in business management.
Hopefully it has some leeway. I am leaning towards
becoming a coach. I am good at teaching. I am also
a third degree black belt in taekwondo. I am good
at teaching kids. My brother has a school in New
Orleans.
Alex Khvatov:
What do you enjoy most about college
football?
Chad Boyd:
I like the atmosphere. You get to grow and mature.
You learn how to grow up quickly. My freshman year
was tough for me, but I embraced it and grew. Only
good can come out of it.
Alex Khvatov:
What makes you a unique individual?
Chad Boyd:
I am a humble guy. I am a social guy. I am easy to
get along with. I have never been in trouble. I am
someone that you can always count on.
Alex Khvatov:
Finish the sentence, Chad Boyd is….
Chad Boyd:
On the field, I am pretty quiet. You will never
hear me say anything except for calling the plays.
I am vicious and very intense player. I am always
looking for a big hit or a big play. I get a lot of
nicknames because I am quiet. I am a humble and
social guy. I always have a smile on my face. I
like company. I like life. |