FMR. GAMECOCK STAR CORY BOYD GOES IN LAST ROUND OF DRAFT

Former University of South Carolina running back Cory Boyd is going to be an NFL star some day, I’m absolutely certain of that. But after being selected in the seventh round of this weekend’s draft — 238th overall — by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he has a long way to go.

And that is pretty disappointing for a guy who had an incredible college career that included 2,267 rushing yards, 117 receptions and 28 touchdowns in four season with the Gamecocks; a large percentage of those stats being earned in the last two years.

WLTX-TV’s Matt Barrie agreed and called Boyd’s insultingly undervalued draft position “a joke.”

I am so sick of the 40-times, the vertical jump, and the shuttle times being huge factors in which a team evaluates talent. They are all GARBAGE. Cory is not the fastest back, he’s not the most elusive, and he may never be a star in the NFL. But every time the Cardinals were on the clock I would scream, “Draft Cory Boyd!”

Why? Because he’s a football player. He won’t quit on your team. He won’t think he deserves special treatment. And he’ll fight as hard for that yard on 3rd down as any back in the league. I understand Cory’s had his problems in the past. But he took it on the chin and moved on. And without fail, win or lose, Cory would be in tears after the Carolina games because it means that much to him.

31-teams passed on the chance to have Cory Boyd become a member of their franchise. And most seventh round picks fail to even make the active-roster. But you mark this down: five-years from now Cory Boyd will be a name in the NFL. He’s faced life’s challenges before. And knowing him, he wasn’t upset about where he was drafted. He was smiling from ear-to-ear chomping at the bit to prove 31-teams wrong, and make every player drafted ahead of him pay. [MATT BARRIE - WLTX]

The Bucs already have veteran running backs Warrick Dunn, Michael Pittman and Michael Bennett, but those guys are all pretty old, so Boyd should have a shot.

Most importantly, I hope he has a shot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders — who really need a better name than the “Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders,” like the Buccanettes or something — because those ladies are fine. Chicka chicka yeah, just like McLovin.