Jheranie Boyd doesn't buy into the hype.
As one of the nation's most talented and most recruited wide receiver prospects, Boyd lives his life in the spotlight.
But if the Gastonia, N.C., native could have it his way, there would be no lights. No headlines. No expectations.
Constantly called, perpetually emailed and unable to dodge the never-ending barrage of text messages, Boyd is in high demand for a 17-year-old soon-to-be high school senior.
"It can be a lot to handle," Boyd said.
From head coaches to Internet recruiting pundits, seemingly everyone wants a piece of the 6-foot-3 Ashbrook High prospect
"My phone is always blowing up, man," Boyd said. "Sometimes I wish it would just stop ringing for a few days."
As a junior, Boyd showed great production, catching 47 passes for 1,151 yards and 11 touchdowns.
But what coaches are really after is his big-play ability.
He averaged 24 yards per catch last season and boasts a self-proclaimed 44-inch vertical leap.
Boyd, who holds scholarship offers from UF, North Carolina, Clemson, Alabama and Auburn among others, made his first trip to Gainesville for July's Friday Night Lights football camp.
The 184-pound Boyd showed why he was chosen to be an Under Armour All-American.
Sprinting past, leaping over and reaching around some of the nation's most talented prospects, Boyd made easy work of the camp's defensive backs.
"I don't want to sound cocky or anything, but I didn't have too much trouble with the corners out there," Boyd said. "I just used my speed to run by them."
Boyd came away from the camp just as impressed with UF as everyone else was with him.
He said that what really stuck out about the Gators was the personal attention that he received from the coaches.
"At all the other schools I've been to, I had to go up to the coach's office, or someone brought me to the coach," Boyd said. "But when I got here, coach Meyer was waiting downstairs for me."
One of UF's top targets for the 2009 recruiting class, it looks as if a commitment from the North Carolina standout may come sooner rather than later.
"It's going to be tough to beat Florida right now," he said.
If the soft-spoken Boyd does eventually land in Gainesville, he is going to have to get used to a whole new level of exposure - something that he says he is ready for.
"I wouldn't mind playing out here under these lights," Boyd said sitting in the first row of metal bleachers in The Swamp. "Not one bit."
