Jackson Christian’s Boyd headed for Arkansas State football

Kam Boyd finished up his football career at Jackson Christian as the all-time leader in rushing yards for the Eagles, finishing with 3,728 yards.

“God is good,” Boyd said when asked how he amassed that many yards in three years of playing for the Eagles. “But I’ve been a part of three really good teams with quality coaching and blocking, and I tried my hardest to get yards when I had the ball because I knew how hard everybody around me was working.”

Boyd solidified the next chapter of his career when he signed on to play college football at Arkansas State University last week.

Boyd admits having been born in Nashville and being raised in Jackson that he most of his attention for college football has been focused on Vanderbilt, Tennessee and the Southeastern Conference.

But playing Division I football has been the dream for him since he was 7 years old, and he’s grateful to head coach Butch Jones and the coaching staff for giving him the opportunity.

“I was invited to go there in January for a recruiting weekend, and they laid it out for me of the opportunities and expectations of playing football at Arkansas State,” Boyd said. “I liked what I saw and heard and look forward to playing there.”

He said his exact position is still up in the air, but it appears as if he will play either running back or a position on special teams.

“I love playing the game, and I love getting the opportunity to play it for four more years,” Boyd said. “So I’m looking forward to it.”

When looking back on his time at Jackson Christian, Boyd said wins over the big rivals inside the Jackson city limits were two of the big highlights for him.

“I was at USJ as a freshman and transferred to Jackson Christian and had to sit out a year,” Boyd said. “So when we beat them my sophomore year, I was very proud of that game.

“And then this past season against TCA – I ran for 268 yards and three touchdowns and broke the career rushing record for our school against them when we beat them. I’ll remember that game as long as I live.”

Boyd said he appreciates the coaches and teachers at Jackson Christian for giving him the education he has now.

“[Jackson Christian head coach Darby Palmer] … I love that man because he’s the type of coach that players know he has our back no matter what,” Boyd said. “He and the whole coaching staff are great people who did great leading us to the success we’ve had the last few years.

“And the teachers and other support staff here at school is the best I’ve ever seen. I appreciate them for helping me get this opportunity too.”

Boyd will move to Jonesboro, Ark., right after graduation to enroll early and begin working with the team in the summer.

“The city there is a lot like Jackson – kind of a small town but a pretty good size too,” Boyd said. “So hopefully I’ll feel like I’m at home as soon as I move in and get to work with my new teammates there.”

Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news