Floyd Boucard | The juggernaut with ballerina feet that makes the NCAA salivate

Penn State, Oregon, Georgia, Alabama: the crème de la crème of American universities, Floyd Boucard had it at his feet.

More than 50 programs tried to attract the Quebec football player. However, not so long ago, he was just a simple schoolboy in Terrebonne, before committing to the University of Southern California (USC).

It must be said that it is rare to remain incognito for long when you have such agility, despite being 6’3″ and 310 lbs.

“He moves like he only weighs 180 lbs. I’ve been in football in Quebec for 20 years and I’ve never seen a phenomenon like that,” explains his former coach at Armand-Corbeil high school in Terrebonne, François Cajelais.

In addition to playing him on the defensive line, the Terrebonne Scorpions entrusted Boucard with kick returns. He was sometimes even used as a receiver because he was so versatile.

“He could have easily been a running back, or even a quarterback. We could have put him everywhere on the pitch, but we didn’t want to exaggerate: he wouldn’t have been stoppable,” assures Mr. Cajelais.

“In the end, he was known to everyone in Quebec. The coaches of the opposing teams were proud to say that they had faced him,” he adds.

In 3^e secondary, Boucard already weighed 250 lbs. He was so physically dominant that his coaches had to warn him: he had to hold back sometimes, tackling opponents. The risk of injury was too great.

“When it wasn’t necessary to tackle, I didn’t go,” says the main person on the phone. I knew the height difference was too great, so I made sure to just push the opponents to the ground. »

After his 3^e high school, Boucard continued his career at Mobile Christian High School, Alabama. A perfect 15-0 season, a state championship, 85 tackles and 11 sacks later, he was ripe for a new adventure. So much so that this year, he left for the Miami Central program in Florida, recognized as one of the 20 best private schools (prep schools) of the United States.

For Boucard, another change of program rhymed with other dominant performances: in eight games, he claimed eight sacks and two touchdowns.

Given his performances, Boucard can already allow himself to dream. The American Rivals scouting system gives him a rating of four stars out of five. This means that he is among the 250 to 300 best players in his country.

A total of 224 players are drafted into the NFL each year. If Boucard maintains his level of play, he risks falling on the radar screen of teams on the Goodell circuit.

Boucard sees much bigger. He refuses to limit himself to making his way in the NFL. He wants to become one of the best in the history of his sport, nothing more, nothing less.

“I want to become a Hall of Famer, collect as many bags as possible,” he says, without the slightest hesitation in his voice.

“I am the most athletic defensive lineman in the country,” he declares on his social networks. When asked about this statement, he corrects it: he is rather the best in his age group at his position, period.

“Some people may say otherwise by looking at my stats. It doesn’t bother me, he says. What you think of yourself is directly linked to how you will perform on the field. If you tell yourself that you are worthless, you will no longer have confidence. »

Arrogant. Condescending. These qualifiers might come to mind when hearing such a speech. However, this would be to misunderstand the motivations of Floyd Boucard.

When the Deux-Montagnais approaches his performances, he always completes his thoughts by specifying his real long-term objective: to become an example. Give hope to young Quebecers that it is possible to excel in the United States.

“Where I come from, I think that most players have not had the luck that I have, the influence that I had. I will do everything to open the door for them,” he promises.

Whenever he has the opportunity, Floyd Boucard gets involved with his former football program in Terrebonne. Armed with his usual confidence, but also with humility. The one who has always lived there.

“When he played with us, he was the best player in Quebec. Everyone knew it. But he never made his teammates feel it. He has always had a great attitude, and I am sure he will always be like that,” concludes François Cajelais.

Change of direction

In July, Floyd Boucard invited family and friends to a restaurant in Terrebonne to reveal the identity of the university with which he had chosen to get involved. After visiting several campuses, he chose the University of Oklahoma. Two months later, he reversed course, withdrawing that commitment. It is instead at the University of Southern California (USC) that he will continue his career next year. Why this about-face? “It’s USC that offers me the best chance of going to the pros,” he limits himself to saying. One thing is certain, his decision will have created a stir in the United States. Various analysts have looked into the question, particularly on social networks. This is a good overview of what Boucard should experience in terms of media attention over the next few years.