The 8-0 Indiana Hoosiers are rolling, especially on defense, where Indiana is holding opponents to an average of 10.9 points per game, the third best in all of college football. While guys like D’Angelo Ponds and Aiden Fisher have deservingly gotten the bulk of the credit for Indiana’s defensive domination, one player has continually produced under the radar this season: defensive back Devan Boykin.
A transfer from NC State, Boykin is no stranger to big plays. While with the Wolfpack, he had two game-sealing interceptions and recovered a muffed punt for a touchdown. Following a senior season in which he redshirted due to injury, Boykin entered the transfer portal. Immediately after entering the portal, Indiana rose to the top of Boykin’s list.
“When I got into the portal, they were one of the teams that hit me up. When I came up here on my visit… as soon as they picked me up from the airport, I kind of got a feeling that this might be where I need to be.” Boykin said to the media on Tuesday.
While the beauty of Indiana’s campus is one thing, it was a conversation with Head Coach Curt Cignetti that sealed the deal. “Obviously, I talked to Coach (Ola) Adams. When I met with (Curt) Cignetti, it was kind of the one that hit home for me. Just learning him, I really didn’t know much about him at first, but when I met him, he’s a guy that’s very direct. He gone say what’s on his mind and he’s going to tell me what he needs from me and my roll, better relationship with him.” Boykin said.
The transition from NC State to IU was not without its challenges, however, as the veteran player found himself quickly thrust into both a free safety and rover position with the Hoosiers. “When I first got here, I dove right into the playbook immediately. Obviously, it takes you a couple weeks to really understand and understand your role just in the defense. When I got here, I was playing free and rover, so it’s a lot.” Boykin said about the transition.
This preparation has certainly paid off for the transfer, who has been an integral part of the Hoosiers’ secondary all season long. Throughout the first 8 games of the season, Boykin has 29 tackles (15 solo), 3 QB hurries, 4 pass breakups, and an interception.
Speaking about the success of the defense as a whole this season, Boykin said, “A lot of the things we do on defense, as far as disguise and just kind of confuse the quarterback, and our ability to kind of fly around and to show different coverages and play man, I think that really helps us.”
Boykin has only gotten better and better as he has become more comfortable playing in Indiana’s defensive system. He is coming off his best game as a Hoosier against UCLA, where he totaled 7 tackles, a QB hurry, and an interception.
Boykin isn’t using this performance to rest on his laurels, however, as his sights are firmly set on Indiana’s matchup against Maryland on Saturday. Speaking about Maryland QB Malik Washington, Boykin said, “[We need] to always have vision on him, just do our best to contain him, things we’ve shown we’ve been able to do.”
While this Indiana defense is full of big names, don’t forget about Devan Boykin, because if you do, he’ll make you pay. Just ask opposing quarterbacks.