The Pittsburgh Panthers do not receive much national recognition, but the program has produced some of the best NFL talent for decades. The long list includes NFL Hall of Fame players Mike Ditka, Tony Dorsett and Dan Marino along with current NFL stars like Larry Fitzgerald and LeSean McCoy.

That tradition is in good hands (no pund intended) with sophomore receiver Tyler Boyd. He defies the impossible play. In order to be great first you must make great plays. Watching him emerge as a true freshman, Boyd has the ability only given by the guy upstairs. On the road to being better than the rest it’s imperative you wow the crowd, lift your team and bring the fans to their feet. Boyd delivers on all of those levels. Like many who play the receiver position Boyd is a different breed besides his freakish football skills. On the diva scale, Boyd barely moves the meter.

“I’m a Pittsburgh guy,” said Boyd.  “I want to represent the city.”

Boyd is spectacular in an unspectacular fashion. Going about his business like a professional, and not allowing his potential to be great interfere with his greatness. We see that a lot in sports.

In 2013, Boyd was the nation’s most productive freshmen receivers, compiling 85 catches for 1,174 yards (13.8 average) and seven touchdowns. He set Pittsburgh freshman records for receptions and yards, eclipsing marks held by Larry Fitzgerald (who had 69 catches for 1,005 yards in 2002).

“It’s real great to me,” said Boyd after the Panthers’ win over Virginia Tech 21-16. “But I’m a real humble individual, so I’m not really pressed about breaking anyone’s records. I am pressed for winning and competing at the top stage.”

Boyd means what he says. He capped the 2013 finale with a magnificent performance in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, compiling 242 all-purpose yards to help the Panthers’ defeat Bowling Green, 30-27. His freshman reception total also set an ACC record, surpassing Buffalo Bills rookie Sammy Watkins’ record 82 catches at Clemson in 2011.

“Go out there and give it everything you got,” Boyd said about playing under the lights on national television.

He took advantage of the moment, especially with 17 NFL team’s scouts in the press box to watch the next group of NFL prospects between the two schools. On the Panthers’ second drive Boyd scored his longest touchdown of the season, a 53 yard pass from the quarterback Chad Voytik. Boyd’s halftime totals of six catches for 86 yards and one touchdown would be his final statistics for the game. The Panthers’ trended away from the pass and ran the ball for the majority of the game allowing the brief glimpses of Boyd’s talent to glimmer under the light rain in Pittsburgh.

Voytik passed for 92 yards on ten completions and his lone touchdown pass to Boyd. Boyd accounted for 93 percent of the teams receiving yards against the Hokies. Pitt ranks last in passing yards per game in the ACC at 148.7, but Boyd ranks near the top in every single receiving category. On the season, Boyd has accounted for 49 percent of the Panther’s receiving yards and five of the nine touchdowns thrown by Voytik have seen Boyd on the other end. Last season Boyd played with Houston Texans rookie and fourth round pick Tom Savage at quarterback. Boyd has played with two different quarterbacks between his freshman and sophomore seasons. Boyd has gone through the transition as smooth as he does in his route-running through defenses with ease.

“He has the tools to be a real pro,” A NFC North scout said. “A real good pro.”

Boyd has another season of collegiate football before he can decide to stay for his senior season or leave school early for the NFL.

It would be hard to argue that if Boyd played at Florida State where defending Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston is passing for 321 yards per game, we very likely would be mentioning Boyd in the discussion as one of the nations 2014 Heisman candidates. For now, Boyd will remained quietly nestled in western Pennsylvania making paranormal plays on the field seem normal.