The Oklahoman's Super 30: Jino Boyd is 'just really electric' for 6A-I power Tulsa Union
TULSA — Coach Kirk Fridrich and his Tulsa Union staff have several options in critical offensive situations.
The Redhawks are a talented team with plenty of playmakers.
But slot receiver Jino Boyd has continually found a way to stand out.
“When the game is on the line and I’m trying to find a way to get the ball to him, he’s a guy that’s going to make that catch for that first down when you need it,” Fridrich said. “He’s a guy that he may catch a 6-yard slant and turn it into 26 yards, too. Just really electric.”
Boyd’s big-play ability was on full display during his junior year last season. And as a result of that, colleges around the country are showing interest in the 5-foot-11, 170-pounder.
Boyd is No. 29 on The Oklahoman’s Super 30 list of the state’s top recruits in the 2024 class. A starter at Tulsa Union since he was a sophomore, he holds offers from New Mexico State, South Dakota and Southeast Missouri State, a list that will likely grow.
Boyd is coming off a season in which he was Tulsa Union’s top target for star Shaker Reisig, one of the state’s top quarterbacks in the 2025 class.
More: OU football: Carl Albert RB Xavier Robinson commits to Sooners' 2024 recruiting class
Boyd finished with 54 catches for 1,030 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 19.1 yards per reception. He helped Tulsa Union go undefeated before the Redhawks lost to Owasso 50-47 in a whopping six overtimes in the Class 6A-I semifinals.
Tulsa Union had an 11-1 record and was impressive throughout the year, and Boyd was a big reason why.
One of his main goals this year?
Finishing his high school career with a state title, which would be Tulsa Union’s first since 2016 and 10th overall.
“Just finishing it off really,” Boyd said. “Just trying to get it done.”
Boyd comes from an athletic family and has always had a passion for football.
New Mexico State became the first Division-I school to offer him a scholarship. That came in May 2022, and Boyd would love to play at the next level.
“Been playing football since about first grade,” he said. “Family is all athletes. Older cousins, older uncles — basketball, football, anything sports-related. Been playing since a pretty young age. Love the game.”
Fridrich has known Boyd is an elite-level athlete for a while.
Boyd’s success isn’t much of a surprise to the coach.
“We’ve been following him for several years,” Fridrich said. “Watched him grow up in our system.
“Even as an eighth- and ninth-grader, you knew he was going to be a special player. Has really produced quite a bit for us sophomore year, junior year. Excited to see what he does in his senior year.”
More: Oklahoma HS baseball coaching carousel spins after retirement of Silo's Billy Jack Bowen
One of the things that makes Boyd a great receiver is his catch radius. If a pass is in Boyd’s general vicinity, he’s likely to come down with it.
He also has the ability to turn short-yardage catches into long gains.
For Fridrich, Boyd is an ideal player. Boyd leads by example and will likely have a major role this season.
“Tough kid and really like the commitment he has to try to get better,” Fridrich said. “Works very hard and just loves to compete.”
The Oklahoman's 2024 Super 30
Name: Jino Boyd
School: Tulsa Union
Super 30 ranking: No. 29
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 170 pounds
Position: Wide receiver
Recruited by: New Mexico State, South Dakota and Southeast Missouri State
About the series
The Oklahoman’s Super 30 feature series will spotlight each high school football player on the Super 30 recruit rankings for the 2024 class. Here are the first two players featured.
No. 29: Jino Boyd, WR, Tulsa Union
No. 30: Kingston Tito, LB, Lawton Eisenhower
Reporter Nick Sardis covers high school sports across the Oklahoma City metro and state. Have a story idea for Nick? He can be reached at nsardis@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @nick_sardis. Support Nick’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at oklahoman.com/subscribe or by using the link at the top of this page.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma HS football: Jino Boyd, Tulsa Union recruiting profile
