Once under the radar, Devan Boykin shines in IU football’s secondary

IU football defensive back Devan Boykin.

At the center of Ragsdale High School’s 1-3-1 zone stood a three-year varsity starter fresh off his junior season as a two-way football player. Standing 5-foot-11 and wearing number 12, Devan Boykin thrived on picking off Asheboro Blue Comet passes.

He turned nine steals into 19 points to lead the Tigers to a 73-58 victory. The January night in central North Carolina was not an outlier. Intercepting passes on the hardwood became a habit for Boykin, who averaged 2.2 steals per game in that season.

Six years later, Boykin attributes his basketball skills as a big reason for his success. His ball-hawking abilities translated to the gridiron and have led him to where he is now, a starting safety on the No. 2 team in the nation.

“Being versatile in basketball and being able to stay in front of people helps me a lot in man coverage,” Boykin said. “Anticipation, being able to play the lanes, and just being able to stay in front of people.”

Playing under his father, Johnny, Boykin thrived in the secondary during his senior season of football. With his days as a quarterback behind him, he transitioned to being a wide receiver and defensive back. He had 16 touchdowns and four interceptions, earning a composite three-star ranking.

Boykin committed to NC State in April of 2019 and spent four seasons with the Wolfpack, where he appeared in 45 games, recording 117 tackles and four interceptions.

After redshirting the 2024 campaign with a knee injury suffered in NC State’s 2023 bowl preparations, Boykin entered the transfer portal in search of a new home for his final season.

Not knowing the program or having any relationship with any of the coaches can be intimidating for most. However, Boykin felt a connection with Indiana the moment he stepped off the plane for his January visit. The Jamestown, North Carolina, native was seeking a coach who wanted him. Curt Cignetti provided that.

“He wanted me here and was going to do anything in his power to get me here,” Boykin said. “That was very strong for me and my family, just knowing that my presence was needed on his team.”

Boykin committed a week later and moved to Bloomington for the start of spring camp. He dove straight into the playbook while building camaraderie with fellow veteran safeties Amare Ferrell and Louis Moore.

The safeties spent time getting better together during spring, summer and fall camp practices. However, Boykin was unsure whether he would be a starter. Indiana had freshman phenom Byron Baldwin Jr. ready to play. A long-term injury sidelined the five-star, allowing Boykin to start against Old Dominion alongside Ferrell and Moore.

Since then, the trio has reaped the benefits of hard work and commitment, combining to intercept eight passes across eight games.

“I’ve seen that whole safety position, the more snaps they get, the more familiarity they have playing together,” Cignetti said on Monday. “A lot of interceptions in the back end. Boykin, Lewis, Moore, and Ferrell all have good skills.”

The last of the starting safeties to get his first takeaway, Boykin had a breakout game in Saturday’s blowout victory over UCLA. The redshirt senior snagged his first interception in nearly two calendar years, picking off Nico Iamaleava in the fourth quarter.

Cignetti gave Boykin defensive player of the week honors after his seven-tackle and two pass breakup performance on Saturday. His name and photo will stay on the team room wall all season, a lasting reminder of his effort.

On top of his safety responsibilities, Boykin is a key contributor on Indiana’s elite special teams unit. His performance in both roles earned high praise from his coach on Monday.

“Boykin is a really smart player. He can play all three safety positions,” Cignetti said. “He made a really nice play on that interception Saturday, but had some big special teams tackles, too.”‘

In his appearance on “Inside IU Football” last Thursday, cornerbacks coach Rod Ojong spoke highly of the veteran defensive back. While talking about Ola Adams’ safeties room, Ojong praised Boykin for being a guy who flies under the radar.

With 16 tackles in his last three games, Boykin will look to stay productive as Indiana visits struggling Maryland in College Park this weekend.

“When you have big games like that, it obviously breeds more confidence in not only yourself, but your coaches, too,” Boykin said. “Coming off that big game, I’m just trying to keep it rolling for the next week.”

Boykin’s first 10 months in Bloomington have been rewarding, yet expected. He came to Indiana to shine and win football games. Both are happening simultaneously, earning him the wry smile he wore when he proclaimed, “When you win, you get no complaints.”

Six years later, the stage is much larger, but Boykin, still in his familiar No. 12, plays the same way: patient, sharp, and ready to steal the spotlight.

(Photo credit: IU Athletics)

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