Cape’s Boyd to commit to Notre Dame
Cape Coral High football standout Spencer Boyd took some time to evaluate the many prominent scholarship offers he’s received over the past several months.
Boyd now is set to make his decision and will verbally commit Friday to play football at Notre Dame.
The first Cape High football product to play at Notre Dame is Peter Rausch, who played on the Irish’s 1988 national championship team. He returned to Southwest Florida to coach the Seahawks two seasons (2002-03), compiling a 4-16 record.
Boyd attended the Notre Dame Spring Football Game and also had Irish assistant coaches Bernie Parmalee and Corwin Brown watching from the sidelines during spring practice. He visited Notre Dame, along with other top schools, such as Michigan and Ohio State, before making the decision.
“I talked to Spencer (Tuesday) and he told me he was going to verbally commit to Notre Dame,” Cape High coach Mike Goebbel said. “He thought that was the best place for him. He was excited and his parents are excited about it.”
Boyd (5-foot-10, 178 pounds) is entering his senior year with the Seahawks. He’s expected to play defensive back at the college level after contributing all over the field for the Seahawks since his freshman year.
He started off as a receiver that season and then became the team’s feature running back the past two seasons. As a sophomore, Boyd rushed for 1,069 yards and 15 touchdowns, helping to lead the Seahawks to the Class 5A Regional Finals.
Boyd continued to provide big plays as a junior, including a school record 104-yard interception return in the Seahawks’ win over Mariner and a 90-yard kick return in a playoff loss to Venice.
“Spencer is just a guy you try to find different ways to get him the ball,” Goebbel said.
Overall, it’s been an active offseason for Cape football players. Boyd becomes the third member of the Seahawks to verbally commit to a Division I school, joining quarterback/defensive back Jaylen Watkins (Florida) and receiver/defensive back Jeremy Davis (Miami).
Offensive tackle Dan Koenig has received several offers, but still is making visits and mulling over his options.
“I’ve been doing this for some 30 years and I’ve never had an offseason like this,” Goebbel said, “with this many young guys getting these offers and making decisions prior to their senior season.”