Notre Dame incoming freshman Miles Boykin earned one more prep as his career in South Bend begins.
The Chicago Tribune/WGN named Boykin, who starred as a wide receiver and basketball player at Providence Catholic, as its Athlete of the Year. The 6-foot-4 Boykin, a four-star recruit, earned the honor for "being the X-Factor in two sports."
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CSNChicago.com chronicled Boykin's senior year at Providence -- which won the IHSA 7A championship -- with Mark Strotman and Scott Changnon's "Drive" series. Check out in-depth stories and highlights from Boykin's monster season there.
Boykin will join a crowded depth chart at Notre Dame, one which returns every 2014 reception made by a wide receiver. But he hasn't shied away from the challenge and coaches like his championship pedigree, which they think will help him quickly adjust to competing at the college level.
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"Once I get down there coach (Brian Kelly) said I'm big enough physically to come in and compete right away so I just have to prove myself to earn playing time early as a freshman," Boykin said after signing his LOI with Notre Dame in February. "But that's the thing, I just have to go down there and compete. That's the biggest thing I can ask for and that's exactly what I'm going to do."
"We just think that he gives you a great match‑up on the perimeter," Kelly said on signing day. "The ball needs to get outside a lot today with the quarterback situation. Sometimes when you don't have that 6‑4 quarterback and you can't see those drives and digs, you've got to get the ball outside and he gives us a great target and we are looking forward to working with Miles."