Eagles cornerback Brandon Boykin doesn’t yet possess the reputation -- or the vocal cords -- of Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, but the two men share one very important trait.
They find significant motivation in being overlooked in the draft.
The 154th pick in the 2011 draft, Sherman knows the names of every cornerback picked ahead of him. Via Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com, Boykin does, too.
A fourth-round pick in 2012 and the 123rd player taken overall, Boykin constantly is aware of the 11 corners who were selected before him.
“It’s over my bed,” Boykin said. “That’s motivation for me. It legitimately motivates me. That’ll never go away.”
So how long will a list that includes Morris Claiborne, Stephon Gilmore, Dre Kirkpatrick, Janoris Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson, Josh Robinson, Jamell Fleming, Bill Bentley, Jayron Hosley, Omar Bolden, and Coty Sensabaugh remain in Boykin’s bedroom?
“Every year,” he said. “‘Til all of them are out of the league. Every single one of them. That doesn’t go away.”
As the nickel corner, Boykin participated in roughly half the snaps for Philly this season, but he has had a major impact this season. While it’s too early to declare that he’ll be the last man standing of the first 12 corners taken in the 2012 draft, his attitude wlll serve him well for however long he plays in the NFL.