Ranked as the nation’s No. 446 player by 247Sports, three-star offensive lineman Larry Boyd (MO) is one of the top players lined up for Illinois football’s 2017 recruiting class. The big Trinity Catholic (St. Louis) product pledged a verbal commitment to Lovie Smith and the Fighting Illini during a campus visit in early August, picking the Orange and Blue over the likes of Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma State.
But with National Signing Day less than a month away, how solid is Boyd’s commitment? It’s evidently very strong.
There had been recent rumors out the St. Louis area which indicated that Boyd may go ahead and take an official visit to Missouri. The 6-foot-5 lineman caught wind of these reports, and felt it necessary to release the following statement via Twitter.
@coachpatterTCHS @wardth09 pic.twitter.com/dqE1W50Ksp
— Big Larry (@LBJ__76) January 10, 2017
“For everyone wondering, I will not be taking my second official visit to Missouri on the 27th. I gave my word as a man and loyalty is high on my list of priorities.
I am 100% committed to the University of Illinois #WeWillWin”
Sometimes you just have to be able to take a hint!#TheyGoneLearnToday
— Thaddaeus Ward (@wardth09) January 10, 2017
So, sorry Mizzou, it looks you’ll need to turn elsewhere to flip offensive line prospects.