Written by Brett Korpi
On Friday night, Boston College will take a trip DeKalb, Ill., to open up the 2017 football season against Northern Illinois. The Eagles will be looking to continue the success they found at the end of last season when they finished with three-straight victories capped off by their 36-30 victory over Maryland in the Quick Lane Bowl. To conclude the season with a 7-6 record.
The season opener against the MAC opponent will be an important first step in the new season as the Eagles look to make the jump from the bottom of the ACC, to re-establishing themselves as a legitimate threat in arguably the best conference in college football.
The fact that I can write that sentence without laughing is a testament to what head coach Steve Addazio and his team have done in the last ten months to lift the spirits of their fan base.
On Nov. 11, the Eagles were embarrassed by Florida State, 45-7, suffering their fourth loss by 30 or more points to an ACC opponent. After that defeat, many were looking for the other shoe to drop on Addazio’s job.
However, with victories over UConn, Wake Forest, and Maryland, new-found positivity started to engulf the program. Moreover, the popular decisions made off the field has the faithful in Chestnut Hill overly hopeful for the new season.
Addazio was able to help convince “all-everything” defensive end, Harold Landry, to forgo the NFL Draft after a junior season that saw him lead the nation in sacks.
The fifth-year coach was also able to persuade local four-star recruit, A.J. Dillon, to switch his commitment from Michigan to BC. Which added more firepower to a backfield returning its two leading rushers.
The good news continued for the program in the offseason when Boston College’s Board of Trustee’s tabbed former Ohio State associate athletic director Martin Jarmond as its new athletic director.
Jarmond, is the school’s first African-American AD, is also the youngest in the country at 37 years old. It is thought his youthful energy and experience working at football powerhouses Ohio State and Michigan State, will give the Eagle’s program the jolt it needs.
All the energy and excitement that currently surrounds the program will quickly dissipate if Addazio does not deliver the goods on the field.
An improved offense will be a something to look for on opening night. The Eagles showcased an up-tempo offense in their bowl win last year, and the expectation is that it will be seen more often in the new campaign.
The execution of such scheme will rely heavily on the play of the quarterback position. The starting quarterback for the Eagles has not been named publicly ahead of the opener.
Graduate student Darius Wade and redshirt-freshman Anthony Brown are the two under consideration. Wade has the experience, starting three games in 2015 before suffering an injury at Florida State. Brown, on the other hand, has the raw talent and potential. The two were seen as neck and neck during training camp.
Whomever, the signal caller, is on Friday night he will have a plethora of experience and talent around him.
The group that was a showcase of training camp was the running backs as mentioned above. Dillon turned many heads with his massive 6-foot 240 lb. Frame, as well as his raw power and speed. However, he is not the only impressive runner in the backfield. Junior Jon Hiliman returns after leading the Eagles in rushing with over 600 yards last season. Sophomore Davon Jones returns as well, and the bruiser delivered a lot of big hits at the end of runs during camp. Travis Levy is another true-freshman that impressed in the preseason and is in the mix on the depth chart.
The wide receiver position is viewed as a group that could take a giant step forward in the new season. With speedster Jeff Smith having a full-year under his belt, after switching from QB during the preseason last year. He is expected to be the leader of a group that is seen as bigger and faster than years past. Graduate-student Charlie Callinan joins him as the big target on the outside at 6’4”, 240 lbs. Sophomore Ben Glines and Junior Michael Walker will both see time in the slot. Redshirt-freshman Kobay White is someone to look out for as he stood out during camp making acrobatic catches and flashing a ton of speed.
Junior Tommy Sweeney returns at tight end and is joined by sophomore Chris Garrison who is coming off of an injury shortened season. Sweeney was the Eagles top target in the red-zone last year with three touchdown grabs.
In past years, many fans used the Eagles lack of experience on the offensive line as an excuse for the poor offensive play. That should not be the case this year as the unit has an experienced group that has played many snaps. The linchpin of the line is senior center Jon Baker who was named offensive captain by his team mates earlier in the week. He is joined by junior Chris Lindstrom who is listed at guard on the depth chart but is expected to move on around at tackle as well. Junior Aaron Monteiro will line up at left tackle and next to him will be sophomore John Phillips. Graduate-transfer, from West Virginia, Marcell Lazard will line up at right tackle.
On the other side of the ball, one would think that losing three of your best defensive playmakers would cause a setback. However, this defense is annually statistically ranked in the top ten nationally is still loaded. It is none more apparent than with the return of Landry up-front. However, there is experienced talent all over the defense. Senior Connor Strachan returns at outside linebacker and was all over the field during camp. Seniors Kamrin Moore and Isaac Yiadom, each return at corner, and are both potential draft-picks that have shown they can compete in the talented conference. Moore was named defensive captain by his teammates.
Friday night at 9:30 pm, on the CBS Sports Network, BC’s SuperFans will get their first glimpse at a team that could lead their school back to national prominence, When the Eagles take on Northern Illinois at Huskie Stadium.
The season opener against the MAC opponent will be an important first step in the new season as the Eagles look to make the jump from the bottom of the ACC, to re-establishing themselves as a legitimate threat in arguably the best conference in college football.
The fact that I can write that sentence without laughing is a testament to what head coach Steve Addazio and his team have done in the last ten months to lift the spirits of their fan base.
On Nov. 11, the Eagles were embarrassed by Florida State, 45-7, suffering their fourth loss by 30 or more points to an ACC opponent. After that defeat, many were looking for the other shoe to drop on Addazio’s job.
However, with victories over UConn, Wake Forest, and Maryland, new-found positivity started to engulf the program. Moreover, the popular decisions made off the field has the faithful in Chestnut Hill overly hopeful for the new season.
Addazio was able to help convince “all-everything” defensive end, Harold Landry, to forgo the NFL Draft after a junior season that saw him lead the nation in sacks.
The fifth-year coach was also able to persuade local four-star recruit, A.J. Dillon, to switch his commitment from Michigan to BC. Which added more firepower to a backfield returning its two leading rushers.
The good news continued for the program in the offseason when Boston College’s Board of Trustee’s tabbed former Ohio State associate athletic director Martin Jarmond as its new athletic director.
Jarmond, is the school’s first African-American AD, is also the youngest in the country at 37 years old. It is thought his youthful energy and experience working at football powerhouses Ohio State and Michigan State, will give the Eagle’s program the jolt it needs.
All the energy and excitement that currently surrounds the program will quickly dissipate if Addazio does not deliver the goods on the field.
An improved offense will be a something to look for on opening night. The Eagles showcased an up-tempo offense in their bowl win last year, and the expectation is that it will be seen more often in the new campaign.
The execution of such scheme will rely heavily on the play of the quarterback position. The starting quarterback for the Eagles has not been named publicly ahead of the opener.
Graduate student Darius Wade and redshirt-freshman Anthony Brown are the two under consideration. Wade has the experience, starting three games in 2015 before suffering an injury at Florida State. Brown, on the other hand, has the raw talent and potential. The two were seen as neck and neck during training camp.
Whomever, the signal caller, is on Friday night he will have a plethora of experience and talent around him.
The group that was a showcase of training camp was the running backs as mentioned above. Dillon turned many heads with his massive 6-foot 240 lb. Frame, as well as his raw power and speed. However, he is not the only impressive runner in the backfield. Junior Jon Hiliman returns after leading the Eagles in rushing with over 600 yards last season. Sophomore Davon Jones returns as well, and the bruiser delivered a lot of big hits at the end of runs during camp. Travis Levy is another true-freshman that impressed in the preseason and is in the mix on the depth chart.
The wide receiver position is viewed as a group that could take a giant step forward in the new season. With speedster Jeff Smith having a full-year under his belt, after switching from QB during the preseason last year. He is expected to be the leader of a group that is seen as bigger and faster than years past. Graduate-student Charlie Callinan joins him as the big target on the outside at 6’4”, 240 lbs. Sophomore Ben Glines and Junior Michael Walker will both see time in the slot. Redshirt-freshman Kobay White is someone to look out for as he stood out during camp making acrobatic catches and flashing a ton of speed.
Junior Tommy Sweeney returns at tight end and is joined by sophomore Chris Garrison who is coming off of an injury shortened season. Sweeney was the Eagles top target in the red-zone last year with three touchdown grabs.
In past years, many fans used the Eagles lack of experience on the offensive line as an excuse for the poor offensive play. That should not be the case this year as the unit has an experienced group that has played many snaps. The linchpin of the line is senior center Jon Baker who was named offensive captain by his team mates earlier in the week. He is joined by junior Chris Lindstrom who is listed at guard on the depth chart but is expected to move on around at tackle as well. Junior Aaron Monteiro will line up at left tackle and next to him will be sophomore John Phillips. Graduate-transfer, from West Virginia, Marcell Lazard will line up at right tackle.
On the other side of the ball, one would think that losing three of your best defensive playmakers would cause a setback. However, this defense is annually statistically ranked in the top ten nationally is still loaded. It is none more apparent than with the return of Landry up-front. However, there is experienced talent all over the defense. Senior Connor Strachan returns at outside linebacker and was all over the field during camp. Seniors Kamrin Moore and Isaac Yiadom, each return at corner, and are both potential draft-picks that have shown they can compete in the talented conference. Moore was named defensive captain by his teammates.
Friday night at 9:30 pm, on the CBS Sports Network, BC’s SuperFans will get their first glimpse at a team that could lead their school back to national prominence, When the Eagles take on Northern Illinois at Huskie Stadium.