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Rakeem Boyd of ‘Last Chance U’ Season 3 is healthy, NFL ready
Rakeem Boyd was the first Arkansas running back since Rawleigh Williams III in 2016 to rush for more than 1,000 yards. (Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Rakeem Boyd of ‘Last Chance U’ Season 3 is healthy, NFL ready

HOUSTON (BVM) – Rakeem Boyd, former “Last Chance U” and star running back for the Arkansas Razorbacks, wants to get back into the NFL after a short stint with the Detroit Lions last year.

During a recent episode of the Hate Me Now, Love Me Later Podcast hosted by Jason Brown, former head coach of Independence Community College, Boyd joined his former coach on the show. 

The two are still close after Boyd played for Brown at Independence in 2017 and, according to Brown, helped raise his dog, Stogie. They were both featured in season three of the Netflix series “Last Chance U” and became well known from their time on the show.

While on the podcast, Boyd explained to Brown his plans heading into the NFL season and his desire to get on a roster.

“I’m trying to get into somebody’s training camp,” Boyd said to Brown. 

Last May, Boyd signed with the Detroit Lions after going undrafted in the 2021 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, Boyd was dealing with injuries during his time in Detroit and was waived with an injury settlement in June of 2021. He went back to his hometown of Houston to rehab. 

There were other teams interested in Boyd during the 2021 season and he had a workout with the Kansas City Chiefs in January. 

Nothing came of the workout but Boyd is healthy now and ready for another shot at the league. 

“Hell yeah,” Boyd said to Brown when asked if he was finally healthy.

Boyd recently competed in HUB Football’s The Camp, which is for professional football free agents to get noticed. He certainly has the talent to get another shot at the NFL. Boyd has dominated at every place he has been. 

On “Last Chance U,” Boyd was the one of the main stars of season three along with Malik Henry, Jermaine Johnson and Calvin Jackson Jr. After earning the starting role early in the season, Boyd rushed for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns in 10 games for the Pirates. 

Boyd transferred to Independence after a short stint at Texas A&M. Prior to his time with the Aggies, Boyd was a phenomenal back for Stamford High School. He had multiple power five DI offers out of high school and amassed 6,436 yards and 80 touchdowns while at Stamford. 

After one season at ICC, Boyd was considered the No. 3ranked JUCO running back in the nation and signed with Arkansas. 

As a Razorback, Boyd was the leading rusher his sophomore and junior year but it was his junior year that put him on the map. He became the first Arkansas running back since Rawleigh Williams III in 2016 to rush for more than 1,000 yards. Through 12 games and 184 attempts, Boyd had 1,133 yards and eight touchdowns. 

His 5.81 yards per carry is sixth all-time for the Razorbacks and his nine games with 100plus rushing yards during his career is tied for eighth all-time in Arkansas history. 

However, halfway through his senior season, Boyd opted out and began to train for the NFL Draft. 

“I was banged up my senior season,” Boyd said about his senior year at Arkansas.

Rakeem Boyd Last Chance U
Rakeem Boyd dealt with injuries during his entire senior season with the Razorbacks. (Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports)

Those injuries carried into the spring and affected his time with the Lions. But his time in Detroit made a lasting impression on Boyd. 

“I really want to go back there,” Boyd said about Detroit. 

The goal is to be on an NFL team after training camp. Brown even offered to connect Boyd with a coach that he knows with the Tennessee Titans but if it doesn’t happen, he will pursue a roster with a USFL or XFL team.