FRISCO, TX - FEBRUARY 01: East Team defensive lineman Khristian Boyd (99) of Northern Iowa gets set during the East-West Shrine Bowl game on February 1, 2024 at the Ford Center at the star in Frisco, TX. (Photo by Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HEIGHT: 6'2"
WEIGHT: 329
HAND: 9⅝"
ARM: 31⅞"
WINGSPAN: 77⅛"
40-YARD DASH: N/A
3-CONE: N/A
SHUTTLE: N/A
VERTICAL: N/A
BROAD: N/A
POSITIVES
— Thick build and good weight. Hit 38 reps on the bench press.
— Good get-off with a quick reaction to the snap and accelerates off the ball well.
— Keeps his feet moving through contact and has good pad level to collapse the pocket as a bull-rusher. Also has a nice arm-over as a counter off the bull rush.
— Flashed a solid push-pull move.
— Physical at the point of attack when taking on blocks and will occasionally reset the line of scrimmage.
NEGATIVES
— Short arms and likes to take on blocks with his shoulder instead of hands, preventing him from consistently getting extension as a run defender.
— Subpar block recognition, leading to him getting reached or scooped against zone runs.
— Lacks rotational strength to avoid getting shoulders turned versus combo blocks.
— Narrow base when taking on blocks. Will get washed inside versus down blocks.
— Hips are a little stiff to clear his lower half when working finesse moves.
— Had FBS scholarship offers to Arkansas State, Kansas and UCF, per 247Sports profile
OVERALL
Khristian Boyd is an intriguing FCS/small-school prospect. He has a stocky build with good weight and plenty of upper-body strength, as evidenced by his 38 bench press reps at Northern Iowa's pro day. He can also be disruptive against the run and as a pass-rusher.
However, Boyd's best position in the NFL remains unclear. He has the physical profile of a nose tackle, but he struggles against double-teams and plays more like a 3-technique.
Still, he's worth taking a flier on during Day 3 of the draft and seeing what he can do in training camp.
