The Heights 2016 Football Preview

RETURN TO THE

THE HEIGHTS FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2016

C2

C4, 5

C7

Run Loud, Speak Louder

Blue Collar, Ivy Green

Catching On

2 THE HEIGHTS SEPT. 1, 2016

FOOTBALL PREVIEW JONATHAN HILLIMAN

run loud speak louder

DREW HOO/ HEIGHTS SENIOR STAFF

On his road to recovery from a broken foot last fall, Jonathan Hilliman turned to music.

Alec Greaney

T

en years before Boston College running back Jonathan Hilliman suffered the first impactful injury of his career, Inquoris Johnson, a University of Tennessee defensive back better known as “Inky,” finally got his big shot. When starter Jason Allen went down in the fifth game of the season, a kid who grew up running extra laps hours after practice by the lights of his late-working mother’s car got the call to start against the powerhouses of the SEC. Johnson shone during his rookie season, and came back ready to cement his status as a first-round NFL Draft prospect. But then came the second game of the year, a nonconference matchup against Air Force, and a head-on tackle from which he couldn’t get up.

He survived a surgery that almost cost him his life, but nerve damage in his shoulder left him forever sidelined from the one thing he had always loved: playing football.

A few weeks ago, ESPN featured Johnson.

He has since become an inspirational speaker, delivering one of Hilliman’s favorite motivational speeches, which he discovered back in May. On a SportsCenter 30 for 30 special, he spoke about his journey before and after the life-changing tackle of Sept. 9, 2005. His mission: to encourage people to embrace the hurdles life slips in front of them before they have the chance to leap clear. But it’s easier said than done for athletes, young or old, who have never known a life outside the realm of the gridiron. As SportsCenter anchor John Anderson said of recently-injured athletes before introducing the clip, “And then you do what? And then you do what?”

On Sept. 24, 2015, nine years and 17 days after Johnson had to confront his own new direction, Hilliman was faced with this question. Like Johnson, he exploded onto the scene his freshman year, coming as close to filling the mammoth gap left behind by now-NFL back Andre Williams as anyone could have expected in 2014. Like Johnson, he began his sophomore campaign with sky-high expectations, though he underwhelmed until breaking out for 119 yards

. Heights Editor

and a touchdown on 24 carries in that last game against Northern Illinois. But unlike Johnson, his injury—a fractured foot—came on an innocent-looking cut that just about no one paid real attention to during the game.

Neither he nor his coach anticipated the severity of the injury.

“I just really thought we were dealing with some sort of foot sprain,” BC head coach Steve Addazio told The Boston Globe on the following Monday. “I had no idea after I left my [postgame] press conference that I was going to find out he had a fracture.”

Also unlike Johnson’s injury, Hilliman’s was season-ending, not career-ending, but BC’s back still found himself in a place he’d never seriously imagined. He had been bumped and bruised plenty before—after all, he’s a 6-foot-1, 230-pound power back whose job is to barrel North-to-South through the defensive line—but since he first discovered the game as a toddler, he had never been prevented from taking the field.

“It was tough. I had to hold back some tears,” Hilliman said last week. “I never really had plans of sitting out, I didn’t know how to deal with it because I’d never had to. I had no practice of dealing with it.”

Depression crept up on Hilliman in the coming weeks as he was stuck trudging through the first steps of recovery and rehab from a successful surgery. Meanwhile a platoon of second-stringers—at both running back and quarterback, as starting QB Darius Wade went down with his own season-ending injury the game before Hilliman—struggled to lead BC’s offense through the heart of the ACC. But Hilliman wants to be clear. He isn’t just a ballplayer. It has been his primary passion since he was 4, watching his hometown New York Giants on TV with his dad.

Ironically enough, it wasn’t the 41-0 offensive explosion in the NFC Championship win over the Minnesota Vikings that sparked his interest in the game of pigskin. It was the next game he remembers, when the Baltimore Ravens, a team ranked

as one of the best defenses of all time, manhandled the Giants in a crushing 34-7 loss.

“I kinda just saw that, saw how Ray Lewis was playing, that Ravens defense, the attitude it brought, the swagger it brought, the type of mentality it brought—and I thought, I want to be a part of that,” Hilliman said.

But even though he remembers a moment of inspiration far earlier than some people remember anything, he wouldn’t call football his original love. Yes, football now has top billing in his life. But before he began devoting much of his life to training and practice, he loved music. So when he had to put his first love on hold, he put energy back into the second one, music.

“Besides football, music is definitely his safe haven and he absolutely turned to music to help him through his recovery,” Hannah Argul, Hilliman’s girlfriend since last November and a student at Seton Hall, said in an email. “Whether it was to help him relax or to motivate him to get better, music was always his go to when football couldn’t be.”

In his newfound downtime, a conversation came up with a couple guys from the team—primarily kicker Mike Knoll. The two discovered they shared similar tastes in music. Knoll had enough recording equipment in his room to call it a mini studio, and roommates tolerant enough to accept the noise. The kicker eventually offered his buddy the mic to freestyle, and their partnership took off from there.

On Nov. 20, 2015, Hilliman and Knoll released their first track on SoundCloud. The project: S.W.A.G. (Society Wants A General).

The track: “I’m Not A Rapper,” by Ea$tSyde Jon aka AceThaPoet, feat. DJ Mike Knoll. The

song contains subtle references to football: “I just started but I’m highly regarded like veterans” and “used to dribble the ball but I’m on the field now,” but it also shows another side of Hilliman from the No. 32 that would take the field on Saturdays.

“My favorite thing to do is play football, but definitely when everything’s done, when I get done watching film, and done with homework and everything else, I definitely try to get on music a little bit,” he said.

The often-reserved Hilliman posted the song in the BC Class of 2018 Facebook group a week later, something he was excited to do.

(He’d posted three times before in the group, all in the summer before freshman year: a welcome note inviting anyone to drop by his room, and two posts to share his Instagram handle.) This doesn’t come as a huge surprise to the people who know him best, who see he’s constantly laughing and joking, only serious on the football field, and according to Rich Hansen, his high school football coach at St. Peter’s Prep, a “sweetheart of a kid.”

This side of his personality showed through more when he was younger. He entered high school as a post-Pop Warner star with tons of raw talent but the immaturity of any other freshman boy. He resisted coaches’ proddings to mentally mature at first—when you have such a strong natural athletic ability to run through future Division-I players as a freshman, it’s easy to feel invincible to even the most insistent coaches. But with a few “lightning-bolt moments” along the way, he embraced the process of becoming a more intelligent player.

By the time he was a senior, he had become a role model for the younger guys. He learned discipline—trusting the play and the offensive line, and not trying to do too much.

He was always strong, but his field vision improved exponentially, allowing him to set records at St. Peter’s and rake in offers from 26 schools, including Alabama, Florida, and Ohio State, as well as seven ACC schools.

After initially committing to hometown team, Rutgers (he grew up in Plainfield, N.J., just half an hour from New Brunswick), Hilliman felt the need to revisit his choice in the wake of the reverberations made by coach controversies, the resignation of Director of Athletics Tim Pernetti, and numerous other decommitments. After a visit to BC, which was powering its way to a bowl game under the new reign of run-heavy

Addazio, he knew pretty quickly where he wanted to be.

“When I came to BC, I felt like this is definitely a place where I could thrive,” he said. “I felt like it was a no-brainer.”

Part of that appeal came from BC being a Jesuit school like St. Peter’s. Hilliman grew up in a religious family, though it leaned more Baptist. But he sees both sects as carrying the same message, which makes his passion for preaching via rap verse an unsurprising fit. And not one he plans on giving up any time soon.

“Even if I go to the NFL, or get a regular job, I want to keep music with me,” Hilliman said.

Hilliman and Knoll continued to produce music into the winter. They released another song via Facebook on March 10 and two more after that. He plans to continue the activity that kept his boredom in check, though at this point his free time has all but evaporated. He’s back to the grind that comes with love number one. Now, it’s about getting focused for his return to the game on foreign soil, as BC will travel to Dublin for its first game of 2016. On July 13, he declared via Twitter he wouldn’t post another Instagram photo until the first game, and then also took over 40 days off from Twitter.

These hiatuses are fitting for a player whose mantra is “work silent … play loud”—a phrase he has taken from his father and uncle, and integrated into his identity as a player.

“If you’re balling out you don’t really talk about it, you know what I’m saying?” Hilliman said. “People know, they feel you. My dad would always tell me, your actions were so loud, I forgot what you just said.”

Though a younger Hilliman got mad at his father for this, eventually he got it.

Empty talk didn’t make someone better.

Hard work did.

As the now-redshirted sophomore gets set to return to the field, the continued effort has kept his ceiling high and the possibility of an NFL future on the table. After all, few are concerned about his ability to bounce back this season, and that’s without him having to reassure them. The man hearing his 4-yearold kid sitting with him on the couch during the Super Bowl saying he was going to play in the NFL someday may have laughed, but no one is laughing anymore. They’re too busy listening.

3 THE HEIGHTS SEPT. 1, 2016

FOOTBALL PREVIEW PATRICK TOWLES

Patrick Towles played his whole life in Kentucky, but he is at BC for one final ride.

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Tom DeVoto Heights Editor

H

ave you ever faced pressure before?

Have you ever felt the eyes of thousands bearing down on you each Saturday, watching your every move? Playing in front of family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers in your home state, people who have known your name since high school?

Have you ever carried the weight of an entire state that expects you to be its savior?

Patrick Towles knows that feeling all too well, and it nearly did him in.

But Towles has a knack for extending plays.

Just when it seems like hope is lost— the pocket collapsing, a herd of hungry defensive linemen barreling toward its prey—the fifth-year quarterback finds a way to stay alive.

Towles can take a play that seems destined for failure, work his magic, and turn it into something special.

He has the composure to envision big plays, and the skills to go out and make them happen.

“I’ve played pretty much ever ywhere, and I’ve se en pretty much everything,” Towles said. “Nothing is going to phase me.”

Towles has worked his magic on countless occasions to extend plays on the field over his career. His final act, if he’s up for it, will be extending his college football career at Boston College.

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hysically, Towles had every tool to succeed at the University of Kentucky, where he spent his last four years. At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, he’s a big quarterback—not just big by human standards, but big by football standards—and he has an absolute cannon of a right arm.

He’s got quick feet to escape the pocket and rumble downfield, and he’s nimble enough to shake-and-bake even the quickest linebackers for a first down.

He sees the field well, throws with good accuracy, and has a level head on his shoulders. He’s not afraid to get in your face, but he’ll be the first one to congratulate you after a big play.

What, then, went wrong?

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that the pressure got to Towles during his four years at Kentucky. The perfect storm of familial and athletic ties to the state could be enough to crumble even the strongest mind.

His grandfather is MLB Hall of Famer and former senator Jim Bunning, and his quarterback coach at Highlands High School in Fort Thomas,

also got offers from Louisville, Vanderbilt, and Arkansas—it was essentially a done deal.

Towles’s first two years at UK were tumultuous, and he played sparingly on youthful teams with crowded quarterback depth charts. Described by former Kentucky offensive coordinator Neal Brown as “goofy” at that time, Towles just didn’t have the on-field maturity necessary to win the starting job.

It took two years—a major period of development both on and off the field—for Towles to win the coaches over.

And now, even though he’s currently the head coach at Troy University, Brown still fields questions from scouts about a certain quarterback from Kentucky.

“Ever ybody that comes through here asks me about Patrick Towles,” Brown said.

It was easy to see why. When Towles finally got to see the field regularly as a redshirt sophomore in 2014, he flashed skills that amazed and became a fan favorite for his personality (as well as his hair).

In his signature game, a two-score loss to No. 1 Mississippi State, the Kentucky offense torched the Bulldogs defense—one of the best in the country at the time—for 31 points. Towles threw for two touchdowns, ran for two more, and avoided turning the ball over.

Kentucky is the place where Towles came to fame and succeeded his entire life. The only way he could continue to succeed, it turns out, was if he left.

Toward the end of last season, Towles was unseated as Kentucky’s starting quarterback by freshman Drew Barker. The Wildcats struggled to a 4-6 record through the team’s first 10 games, and head coach Mark Stoops opted to get a look at the future by choosing Barker to start the final two games.

For the second time in his college career, Towles was on the outside looking in. He was denied playing time as a freshman, fought for two years to finally get it, but had it snatched away from him just as his career started to wind down.

So he did something he hadn’t really done in 20-plus years—he left Kentucky.

After graduating from UK this past winter with a degree in political science, Towles consulted his family and his parish priest about where to go next.

As it turned out, Boston College was the answer to that question.

“It’s kind of like a bubble down there

“It’s kind of like a bubble down there in Kentucky and it’s nice to get out for a bit. ” -

PATRICK TOWLES

Ky., was former NFL quarterback Jared Lorenzen.

“He’s as good of a high school player as I have ever been around,” former NFL wide receiver and current Sunday Night Football color commentator Cris Collinsworth once said of Towles.

Collinsworth was right, because Towles was a star at Highlands—in three years, he lost just one game. He won a state title in each of his four years at the school and was named Kentucky’s “Mr. Football” in his final season.

Needless to say, the hype surrounding Towles in Kentucky was sizeable.

When it came time to select a college, there didn’t seem to be much of a choice. Towles’ parents met at Kentucky. His older sister went there. Once the Wildcats offered—even though he

in Kentucky, and it’s nice to get out for a little bit,” Towles said.

Towles is slowly adjusting to the differences between Boston and Lexington—colder weather, more walking, more frequent trips with Uber—but the people around him are making it a little bit easier. He has gotten along well with his teammates, and the coaching staff has been nothing but supportive.

“Coach Addazio is a guy that I want to play for,” Towles said. “Coach Loeffler is a guy that I want to play for. They’re people that I know care about me, and that makes it way easier to go out and put it all on the line for them.”

J

ust as Towles has so often received ne w life—in the pocket, in his career—he has

O U T OF

S T A T E ALEC GREANEY / HEIGHTS EDITOR

also given it to those in need. A devout Catholic who cited BC’s status as a Jesuit institution as a primary reason for transferring, Towles recalled a profound experience from this past March that sticks with him today.

On a mission trip to Jamaica, Towles met Stephen, a hit-and-run victim from Kingston who was essentially left to die in his wheelchair in the weeks following the accident.

Towles’s job on the trip took him to the intensive care unit at a care center in Kingston, where he carried out daily tasks like transfers, bathing, shaving, changing clothes, and others. Of all the people in the facility, though, Towles instantly formed a special connection with Stephen, who, despite a laundry list of physical ailments , was ver y mentally sharp.

They bonded through faith. Towles asked Stephen if he prayed regularly, and he did. He asked Stephen if he had ever been baptized, and he revealed that he hadn’t, though he would be interested. Well then, Towles said, when can we baptize you?

Stephen replied, Well, how about now?

And so, with the help of an on-site priest, Stephen was baptized right then and there. Naturally, Towles became the man’s godfather.

“I’m a firm believer that the closest you get to Jesus on Earth comes by working with the poor,” Towles said.

“It was a truly incredible experience, and I can’t wait to go back.”

Towles does, in fact, have a plan in place to return to Jamaica to reunite with his godson—after he takes care of some business, of course.

“Hopefully I’ll go back in January, after our bowl game,” he said.

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fter playing his whole life for everyone else, Towles’ move to BC seems like he’s finally playing for himself. He got out of his home state, leaving all the pressure that came with his family and his reputation behind. He switched jersey numbers from 14, which he wore at Kentucky to honor his grandfather, to eight.

Though he obviously still keeps in contact with his family and his friends from back home, Towles begins his one-year tenure at BC with a clear mind and a full heart.

He knows his stay in Boston is temporary—Towles’s best-case scenario is that he leads a retooling BC team to a bowl game, setting the tempo for the next regime. Like any grad transfer, he isn’t really part of the bigger picture, more a stopgap brought in to minimize the bleeding in the short term.

When asked about what he wants his legacy to be at BC, Towles huffed, smiled, and reared his gaze to the sky.

He gave an answer straight from the public relations textbook, but because it came from him it sounded completely genuine.

“I just want to win football games,” Towles said.

And win them he will, though he might lose a few along the way as well. For every few touchdowns, there might be a few interceptions. For every dazzling scramble and 50-yard heave downfield, there might be a miscommunication on a simple slant route.

But through it all, the ups and the downs of a very long college football season, Towles will be at peace with himself, his game, and his new home on the East Coast.

He knows that if he wants to extend his career and legacy, BC is the place to do it.

@ UK 24 TDs 24 INTs GAMES 28 PLAYED

22 STARTS 5,099 PASSING YARDS

4 THE HEIGHTS SEPT. 1, 2016

FOOTBALL PREVIEW DEFENSE

SEPT. 1, 2016 THE HEIGHTS 5

BLUE cOLLAR IVY GREEN

Aggressive. Disciplined. Together. Unselfish. Confident.

That’s how the Boston College defense will stay on top.

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Michael Sullivan Sports Editor

B

eneath the drab cement ceiling holding up Yankee Stadium, in the corner by a loading dock littered with maroon cloth, gold helmets, and white backpacks, Truman Gutapfel stood alone.

The action was on the other end of the dark hallway in the cargo wing of ‘The House That Jeter Built.’ Some reporters huddled around Tyler Murphy. The graduate transfer quarterback had captivated Chestnut Hill with his sharp dekes and breakaway speed, and many wanted to get in a few final questions before he embarked on a professional career as a wide receiver. Others gravitated toward Jonathan Hilliman. The freshman running back sensation had just run for 148 yards on 25 attempts in the Pinstripe Bowl. Even in a losing effort—a heartbreaking 31-30 overtime defeat to Penn State—you can build a solid narrative around those numbers.

But Gutapfel was largely ignored by the media, despite being one of the most important players in the game. The sophomore defensive tackle had three tackles and a fumble recovery. His unit allowed a mere 82 rushing yards on 29 attempts, a 2.83 per-attempt average. Impressive numbers, but no surprise to the few but proud Boston College diehards out there.

Defensive coordinator Don Brown had worked wonders with a mostly no-name squad that season. In 2013, the Eagles allowed 5,557 yards and 376 points, respectively ranking 97th and 85th in the nation. In 2014, BC—thanks to Brown’s aggressive, blitz-all scheme—made a huge jump: 11th in total yards (3,754) and 18th in points (246).

Gutapfel wasn’t satisfied.

After muddling through mundane questions about the game and postseason plans, Gutapfel fielded one about the defense. It’d be losing important pieces at each position, many of whom would be replaced by relatively inexperienced sophomores. How did he expect BC to stack up again next year?

Without hesitation, Gutapfel replied: “We can be the best defense in the nation next year. All of the tools are there.”

How right he was.

W

hen thinking back to the fall of 2015, fans will recall an anemic offense and painstakingly brutal losses. 19-16 to Notre Dame at Fenway Park. 9-7 in the rain at Duke. 3-0 to Wake Forest at Alumni Stadium, with two missed field goals and a thrown headset. Five losses by a combined 14 points. A 3-9 record, without a conference win.

History will remember 2015 as one of college football’s standout teams, if not the best team to ever finish last in the ACC (sarcastic cheers abound). That’s because of one thing: BC fielded one of the best defenses of all time.

The Eagles ranked in the top 10 in every significant defensive category in 2015. They led the nation in yards allowed (3,054) and yards per game (254), and only allowed 15 touchdowns all season. Even when you take out BC’s

two FCS blowouts against Maine and Howard—wins by a combined score of 100-3 in which BC’s defense ceded just 102 total yards—the Eagles are perched among the nation’s best. Football Outsiders’ advanced statistics agree, putting them high in defensive efficiency, touchdown rate, and available yards percentage.

But the Eagles have lost four starters on defense: Justin Simmons, Steven Daniels, Mehdi Abdesmad, and Connor Wujciak. All of them were drafted or signed by NFL teams.

Simmons, the heart and soul of the defensive backs, led the way with a third-round selection by the Denver Broncos.

More importantly, they’ve said goodbye to Brown, the man who coined the phrase “Be a Dude,” who has gone to greener pastures (both in a figurative and monetary sense) at the University of Michigan. Brown will be as missed for his fire on the sidelines—not to mention his expletive-laden rants in practice—as for his hyperaggressive, 4-3 fronts with a press-zone in the defensive back. A Brown-led defense will blitz anywhere from 65 to 85 percent of the time. His philosophy is pressure, pressure, and more pressure. And, unlike other schools, which are peppered with four- and five-star players (like his new favorite toy, the highly versatile Jabrill Peppers), Brown has built BC’s strong defense largely with no-name prospects.

Surely any defense that has lost this much would be in disarray, worried about the future. So why is Steve Addazio so calm?

“The last time I checked, Steve Addazio didn’t go out and block anybody,” the loquacious head coach said at BC’s media day. “Don Brown did not tackle anybody and blitz anybody. It’s a player’s game and we have some great players and those players made some hellacious plays and with all due respect to all coaches myself included, it is a little overrated.”

Even with Brown gone, Addazio has no intention of changing the core ideology of a defense that has become emblematic of his program. All that will change are the faces on the sidelines. There’s a new cast of characters in town. Led by defensive coordinator Jim Reid, these coaches are ready to lead a hungry group of players who don’t give a s—t about rankings or haters. And these players are prepared to once again be the best in the nation.

In fact, they expect to be.

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lue-collar players with ivy-green minds.

Al Washington wanted that known loud and clear. That is exactly what he expects from a defensive lineman at BC. Routinely found in his black BC sweats and maroon sweatshirt, even in brutal August heat, the vibrant Washington loves to brag about his guys.

A BC man through and through, Washington played defensive tackle on the Heights in the early 2000s before joining the coaching staff in 2012. During the last three years under Addazio, he worked with the running backs.

But now he’s in charge of his old position, alongside Paul Pasqualoni, the most experienced man on the roster. The

67-year-old Pasqualoni has been everywhere across the coaching map: 17 years as a head coach at Syracuse and Connecticut, plus eight years as a position coach with four different NFL teams, most recently defensive line with the Houston Texans.

Together, they expect two things: grit and intelligence.

With that, perfection will come.

Few exemplify those qualities quite like Gutapfel, the 6-foot-3, 288-pound senior tackle from Harrison, Ohio. A two-star recruit, Gutapfel wasn’t highly coveted out of high school—in fact, the offer he got from BC was the only one he would receive. For Sean Devine, the man who recruited him to the Heights, it was a blessing.

Devine, a former offensive line coach at BC who now is offensive coordinator at Delaware, saw Gutapfel as an all-time steal for a program in flux. Though Gutapfel wasn’t that fast, and slightly undersized for a middle-of-the-line defensive tackle, Devine was impressed with his flexibility and toughness, skills that came from wrestling—not football. Gutapfel holds Harrison High School’s single-season record for wins, and is top 10 in many categories. But when Devine saw him step out onto the gridiron, he knew this would be the man that would kill ACC offensive linemen for the next four years. Mostly because he was afraid of going up against him.

“When I recruit, I ask myself, ‘Would I want to block this guy?’” Devine said. “If the answer is yes, then I’ll pass.

If the answer is no, then you better get him. Truman is that guy.”

The minute he stepped onto the field at BC, Gutapfel was out to prove he deserved Devine’s trust. He found his way onto the two-deep following Abdesmad’s injury in 2013. When Abdesmad tore a ligament in his left knee again in 2014, Gutapfel grabbed a starting spot for good.

His name shot up the depth chart thanks to something his mother Yvonne, a 15-year member of the Cincinnati Police Department, taught him. You’re never given anything in life, you have to earn it.

It also helps that Gutapfel ran around the practice field with reckless abandon. Washington remembers how a younger Gutapfel would run around Shea Field tackling everything in sight. It earned him the nickname “War Daddy” from Brown, one of the only names bestowed by Brown on a player that didn’t include an F-bomb. Why War Daddy? Washington thinks it should be obvious.

“Because he’s a War Daddy, man!” Washington said.

“When the game’s on the line, he’s going to give you everything he’s got. You want that guy. He prepares his ass off. I mean, his butt off. I can’t say ass.” Washington paused, wanting to establish the nicer side of Gutapfel, too. “That guy, you would trust him to date your sister, and feel good about it.“ But playing defensive line isn’t just about brute strength.

Well, okay, that’s a big part of it. After all, BC’s 15 defensive linemen average 6-foot-3, 268 pounds. At its core, the job is to run your head into the blocks and eat up the offensive linemen. But Pasqualoni teaches that the defensive line is an art. And with that blue-collar toughness has to come ivy-green smarts. You must understand both your own defense and other teams’ offenses. And you have to show your

smarts, both on and off the field. Gutapfel and his fellow senior, defensive end Kevin Kavalec, have done that, with regular appearances on the ACC’s All-Academic Team.

“Truman? That guy right there?” Washington said.

“He’s a grinder. Intelligent as hell. One of the most intelligent defense linemen out there. Him and Kavalec, they’re geniuses.”

Perhaps the most intelligent man on the field is the team’s star defensive end, Harold Landry. He proved that last year against Florida State. Landry owned the Seminoles’ Brock Ruble, totaling 11 tackles, 4.5 for a loss, and a huge 14-yard sack of Everett Golson that also drew an intentional grounding penalty.

The performance earned him ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week. But even a perfectionist like Landry can’t take solace in that. Instead of focusing on the 50 good plays he made against FSU, Landry remembers the one play he didn’t make. The missed safety. Landry nearly wrapped up Golson in the end zone, but reached with the wrong hand.

An easy two points turned into a first-down run.

It’s a play he’ll never forget. Every day, he uses it to remind himself of what he can be.

“I don’t listen to all the positive things people say about me based on last year’s performance,” Landry said. “I think there’s a lot I can improve on, so I can be the greatest out there.”

Not everything is perfect on that defensive line, mind you. The Eagles lost two defensive tackles: Wujciak and Abdesmad. The replacements, however, are a core of young guys who have redshirted and taken the time to learn this defense. Defensive end Zach Allen has impressed many and has taken a lot of first-line snaps in scrimmages and practice. His speed will give Washington and Pasqualoni the freedom to create more dangerous blitz packages. Noa Merritt, Wyatt Ray, and Ray Smith are all candidates to line up against Gutapfel in run-stop schemes.

If that all works, the Eagles will create magic, just like they did in the Duke game. Down 9-0 in the third, BC’s defense had its back against the wall. Following a muffed punt by Sherman Alston, Duke had four downs and 1 yard to get a touchdown and put BC away for good. But the line wouldn’t be beat. Gutapfel, Kavalec, Landry, and Wujciak combined to shut down the Blue Devils four plays in a row. This season, Gutapfel believes that we shouldn’t expect anything less.

“I don’t know if we’ve ever had a year where everyone collectively understands the defense as well as they do this year,” Gutapfel said. “We set a precedent last year for greatness, and now we’re trying to replicate that and go past it.”

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deafening roar bursts out from the big brass band by the east end zone of Memorial Stadium. At once, 81,500 in the stands pivot their hungry eyes toward Howard’s Rock. In bright orange and purple they come racing down the hill, jumping and flapping their arms, cupping their hands over the holes on their helmets as the people shout: C-L-E-M-S-O-N. Yep, they don’t call it Death Valley for nothing. But Matt Milano wasn’t fazed by the mystique surrounding Tiger Rag or the undefeated Clemson Tigers. In fact, it only charged him up more.

The Eagles had hung tough against the soon-to-be ACC Champions. Down only 17-7 nearing the half, Milano did what BC linebackers do in the Addazio-Brown system. He lined up on the strongside, appearing prepared to drop

quarter, Wake quarterback John Wolford had to hurry to get off a third-down snap. That rushed throw found the hands of a defensive back, clanging off behind him into the air.

Strachan was there with a diving grab right off the turf to give BC superb field position.

Milano, meanwhile, showed off his clutch gene to go with the toughness he believes is at the core of this linebacking group. With Wake needing only a single first down to run out the clock and send the Eagles home with an embarrassing loss, Milano was off to the races. But instead of rushing directly at Wolford, he waited for the handoff to freshman running back Matt Colburn. Once Gutapfel and Co. closed any gaps up the middle, Colburn bounced off his center … right into the expectant arms of Milano. He again lowered his head and used his right arm to punch the ball out and into the hands of Simmons.

DREW HOO/ HEIGHTS SENIOR STAFF The only question is how BC will back. Off the snap, Milano then dashed in without hesita- settle that third spot next to Milano and Strachan. After all, tion. Landry headed to the outside off Clemson left tackle Steven Daniels was an integral part of the Eagles’ defense, Mitch Hyatt, drawing him to the left. With Gutapfel headed as proven by a seventh-round selection in the 2016 NFL straight on at the center, that left a gaping hole for Milano to Draft to the Washington Redskins.

Enter Jim Reid, the linebacker whisperer. attack. The only man in his way was Wayne Gallman.

At first glance, with his khaki shorts pulled high and BC As if that mattered.

Milano lowered his head and pushed Gallman back. polo tucked in, Reid may remind you more of a kindly old While carrying the 6-foot, 210-pound running back in grandfather at a buffet. But the new defensive coordinator his right hand, Milano ensnared Deshaun Watson, the and linebackers coach is as spry and energetic as anyone nation’s best quarterback, with his left. He knocked him who has ever taken the field at Alumni Stadium.

Yes, that includes Don Brown. on his backside, but not before Watson let go of the ball He comes to the Heights with a strong resume: 17 years … right into the hands of Steven Daniels. The play directly led to a Mike Knoll field goal. A complete game-changer as a head coach at UMass, Richmond, and Virginia Military for a team that was the ultimate underdog. To that, Milano Institute; two years as a linebackers coach for the Miami Dolphins; and, of course, a stint at BC in 1994 as defensive could only smile.

“I don’t know why,” Milano said, thinking back to the coordinator. (For the record, that BC team coached by Reid atmosphere at Clemson, “but that play always sticks with went 7-4-1, allowing 14.1 points per game, seventh-best in the nation, and finished ranked No. 23 overall.) me.”

Reid’s most recent job was a three-year stint as Iowa’s That brand of toughness and aggressiveness defines BC’s linebackers and makes them one of the most feared linebackers coach. In 2013, he helped three linebackunits in the nation. Right now, Milano—the man Addazio ers—Anthony Hitchens, James Morris, and Christian called “the best player on this defense”—is the most talked Kirksey—to superb careers at Iowa with 100 tackle seasons. about. After spending two years mostly as a second-string- Each now plays in the NFL. His most recent studs, Josey er, Milano burst onto the national scene in 2015. Given free Jewell (a two-star recruit) and Cole Fisher, both amassed range by Brown to eat up offensive linemen, Milano dashed over 110 tackles.

Now, with Daniels gone, Reid has the opportunity to for 60 tackles—17.5 for a loss—with 6.5 sacks, not to mengroom the next star tackler. He’s got a few choices. Setion three passes defended and two forced fumbles.

His perfect hybrid brand of quick feet and smashmouth nior Mike Strizak is an option—he has the most starting tackles comes from his days as a defensive back. Through- experience. The hard-hitting Ty Schwab also has strong out his high school career at Dr. Phillips High School in potential. Or Reid could opt for a hybrid like Milano: former Orlando, Fla., Milano played safety. Many coaches, how- defensive back Sharrieff Grice. No matter his decision, ever, saw his 6-foot-1, 200 pound frame as more suited for Reid has good options. Plus, it helps when you have a guy the middle section of the defense, including the man who like him coaching.

“I’ll tell you what, they just fly around the field, and they recruited him to BC, Jeff Comissiong, now Old Dominion’s defensive line coach. Making a position change wasn’t love the game,” Reid said of his linebackers. “And when you exactly something Milano looked forward to, but based on love the game, and you take pride in the basic fundamentals of the game, it just allows you to make big plays …. It’s going the results, he’s pretty happy the coaches knew best.

“I was so against it, because no one wants to move down to be fun to be around them.” to a bigger position,” Milano said about the weight gain that comes with moving to linebacker. Still, he had to laugh. defensive line built on intelligence and tough“That being said, I’d say it’s worked out so far.” ness. A linebacking corps reliant on speed and While Milano was an unheralded player who switched aggressiveness. Two of the most talked-about positions out of high school, his partner-in-crime, Connor units in the nation. And they’re still not the best part of Strachan, was widely coveted. Strachan, a product of St. this defense.

Sebastian’s in Needham, Mass., was a four-star recruit and That honor belongs to the final line of warriors: the the No. 1 overall player in Massachusetts in 2014. Stra- defensive backs. Because, while the defensive line and chan wasn’t expected to factor heavily into the defensive linebackers each are breaking in a new starter, Anthony behemoth being built by Brown until his junior year. Once Campanile’s unit runs two-deep at an elite level.

Daniels left, Strachan was to take over for him at middle It begins with the new leader of this defense, John linebacker, his natural position.

Johnson: a man on the verge of one of BC’s all-time greatBut you just can’t leave talent like that on the sidelines. est seasons.

So Strachan proved his worth starting from the weakside, While Justin Simmons received all of the praise and something he said didn’t bother him. glory, Johnson was quietly matching him step for step “Once you know this defense, it’s easy to transition throughout the 2015 season. As a junior, he matured, movanywhere,” Strachan said. “The ability to be versatile and ing from left cornerback to strong safety while still playing see plays from different positions is a big help.” it at a high level. Not that this comes as any surprise to his On the opposite side of Milano, Strachan compiled high school head coach, Bryan Pierre. For many years, 75 tackles—12.5 for a loss—plus two sacks. That perfor- Pierre has molded men at Northwestern High School in mance was good enough to earn him a spot on ESPN’s Hyattsville, Md. He has seen a lot of great players come All-ACC First-Team for 2016. And, like Milano, he was through his system, especially at defensive back. Two of a turnover machine, adding three fumble recoveries and those DBs—Leigh Bodden and Greg Toler—became suctwo interceptions. cessful NFL players.

In that Wake Forest game—yes, that Wake Forest Yet it’s still Johnson that Pierre has the highest praise game—Milano and Strachan showed the world what they for. He is floored by Johnson’s speed, how he can rush the can do. passer in Brown’s system and still keep up with the ACC’s For Strachan, it was the aggression. Early in the second best wideouts. He admires the attention to detail and pre-

paredness with which Johnson approaches every game. But most importantly, he appreciates having Johnson because it’s like having another coach out there on the field. Pierre attributes that to Johnson’s days on the hardcourt, when he led Northwestern as a swing guard who could handily start at both the 1 and 2.

“I think the sky is the limit for him,” Pierre said.

Johnson’s best quality, however, is as the ultimate ballhawk. Remember that Notre Dame game, with the five turnovers? One of them was Johnson’s (and he nearly had a second, when he forced a fumble by C.J. Prosise). With BC’s backs against the raucous crowd of leprechaun faithful in the bleachers of Fenway Park, Johnson took control.

Quarterback Deshone Kizer lofted a pass on the run in the direction of tight end Alizé Jones. Johnson read the pattern perfectly, jumping in front of the pass in the end zone, directly preventing a score. And, as he got up, he pounded on his chest and pointed up at the Notre Dame student section, reminding everyone whose house Boston is.

Amazingly, it wasn’t the only time Johnson directly took away from a score. Against Virginia Tech, the Eagles’ defense was pinned on the end zone after a fumble caused

by Taj-Amir Torres on a punt made for a quick and unexpected turnaround. As if tracking it with radar, Johnson found the poorly thrown pass by Michael Brewer and hauled it down in the end zone. His only regret?

“I’d like to get some yards after the catch this time around,” Johnson said.

For Johnson to be successful, he’ll need his team of defensive backs to join him. Under the direction of Anthony Campanile, a first-year DBs coach at BC with strong recruiting ties to New Jersey, this group appears to be as sure of a thing as any in the nation. There’s Kamrin Moore and Isaac Yiadom, two up-and-coming stars in the ACC. Both of their seasons were hampered by injuries—Yiadom, some bumps and bruises on his shoulder, and Moore, a broken leg—yet have returned to playing at a high level in summer camp. Will Harris will be lined up alongside Johnson at safety. Addazio believes Harris “has the highest ceiling of any DB we have had” at BC. And, even if one of them goes down, the Eagles have Torres, Gabriel McClary, Mehdi El Attrach, and Hamp

Cheevers ready and waiting in the wings. Though he has only been here for a short time, Campanile knows that his men will single-handedly get a victory for BC at some point this season.

“I didn’t know where scholarships were allocated when I got here, but when I arrived, I can tell you what, they did a great job at choosing them,” Campanile said. “There’s a spoiler in this unit.”

D

espite all of their accomplishments, the world is still against the Boston College defense.

People doubt its success without Brown. Not a single defensive player appeared on the Associated Press’ Preseason All-ACC Team. SB Nation sees no chance of a repeat of the 2015 magic, at least not at that same level.

ESPN predicts Florida State’s secondary and front seven will outpace BC’s, though BC returns nine of 11 starters and beat FSU in every defensive category.

Yet the Eagles are not fazed. Especially not Washington, the man who has been around the BC defense longer than anyone. When asked what qualities exude the unit, Washington didn’t hesitate.

“Aggressive, disciplined, together, unselfish, confident,” Washington said. “You can have tons of schemes.

Schemes only work with the right guys in it. … We have really good players, but they’re also really good kids.”

Aggressive: the hard-hitting, quick-to-the-quarterback tackling machine that Brown built, and Addazio and Reid will carry on.

Disciplined: the intelligence you would expect from a group of students at BC, who also happen to dominate the ACC every Saturday.

Together: the leadership imparted on the younger guys by the team’s captains, Gutapfel and Johnson.

Unselfish: working not as individual star players, but as a unit that puts up numbers that no other team can match up to.

Confident: every word that comes out of the mouths of these players and coaches.

That’s not only what makes a Boston College defense.

It’s what will make Boston College’s defense the best in the nation.

A

ABBY PAULSON / HEIGHTS EDITOR

6 THE HEIGHTS SEPT. 1, 2016

FOOTBALL PREVIEW TOMMY SWEENEY

The Jewel From Jersey DREW HOO/ HEIGHTS EDITOR

The latest in a long line of New Jersey tight ends, Tommy Sweeney is ready to breathe life back into BC’s passing attack.

Riley Overend Steve Addazio has a type.

He likes his guys dudely, his Smuckers uncrusted, and his victories topped off with a celebratory fight song for good measure. And when it comes to his tight ends, the fourth-year Boston College head coach is even more particular. Throughout his tenure, the position group has been dominated by a different New Jersey native with a relentless work ethic and Bunyanesque build each year.

The program’s fascination with tight ends from the Garden State dates back to before the Dude Era, when Chris Pantale racked up 98 catches for 986 yards and seven touchdowns to pace Eagle tight ends from 2009-12. Pantale would later move on to the NFL, and recently earned himself a spot on the Philadelphia Eagles’ roster as a fullback. Soon after his departure, Mike Naples and Dan Crimmins followed in his footsteps, both turning in decent careers on the Heights.

The latest lumberjack look-alike to emerge from the Garden State is 6-foot-5, 258-pound Tommy Sweeney, a walking mismatch for opposing defenses on a BC squad starved for offensive weapons.

As a redshirt freshman last season, Sweeney saw playing time in all 12 games, leading all tight ends with five catches for 68 yards. Those numbers don’t exactly jump off the page, but he became a much-needed safety valve for the passing game over the last month of the season, tallying two receptions against Virginia Tech, two against NC State, and hauling in a careerlong 22-yard grab against Notre Dame.

Sweeney carried that momentum into the spring, nearly equaling his totals from 2015 with four catches for 57 yards in the annual Jay McGillis Memorial Spring Game. He spent the summer bulking up and buckling down on fundamentals.

After all, it wasn’t until his junior year of high school that he decided his 6-foot-5 frame was better suited for football than basketball.

Sweeney attended Don Bosco Prep, a football powerhouse that won its second national championship and sixth-straight state title when he was a sophomore. Led by head coach Greg Toal, who took up amateur boxing after his college football career ended because he missed hitting people, the school developed a tough, regimented winning culture that has attracted (and repelled) young stars like current Michigan standout Jabrill Peppers.

Perhaps it was the surplus of talent on his high school roster, or maybe the result of being a two-sport athlete, but Sweeney didn’t generate much hype as a recruit. Despite winning Tight End MVP at the National Underclassmen Combine, posting impressive numbers in his senior season, and earning an All-State Honorable Mention, he received only one FBS offer.

For a recruit as low-profile as Sweeney to rack up so much playing time in his first season—and to bear such high expectations for the upcoming year—is a testament to his rigorous training. It also begs the question: How much better can this kid get?

“I’m going to improve on everything,” Sweeney said. “I’ve been working really hard this spring, with all the quarterbacks,

. Assoc. Sports Editor

on my hands, on my route-running. But still maintaining heavy focus on my run-blocking, pass-blocking.”

Sweeney understands that catching passes garners attention, but blocking—so often a thankless job—is what keeps a player like him on the field.

The job of a tight end requires a dynamic skill set unmatched by any other position—it demands the pass-catching ability of a wide receiver and the blocking prowess of a lineman. It’s a balancing act for Sweeney, who must tiptoe a fine line in order to beat coverages with speedy route-running while also stopping defensive ends in their tracks with size and strength.

There’s nothing outwardly flashy about Sweeney—he is, however, extraordinarily well-rounded. As his coaches have noticed, his tools were not grown overnight.

“What he’s done is his maturity level has just gone up tremendously,” tight ends coach Frank Leonard said. “What I mean by that is his approach to the game, the detail of the run game, the route-running, and just the way he carries himself throughout the practice.”

He’s no longer that lanky teenager with only one offer from an FBS school. He’s gritty, scruffy, and ready to be an elite tight end at the college level.

You wouldn’t have guessed it by talking to him, though.

Aside from his periodic hot takes on Twitter—“Jason Kidd is the greatest player of all time,” “Eli Manning is the greatest human being ever to walk this earth”—Sweeney is as mild-mannered and humble as they come. When asked about his potential as a lethal red-zone target this season, he was quick to deflect the attention.

“We got a lot of big receivers, a lot of tight ends, so we can all do a lot down there,” Sweeney said. “We have a really diverse receiving corps this year.”

Diverse is one way of putting it. Unproven is another.

The Eagles are returning a group of wideouts that averaged just 75 receiving yards per game last year as part of the worst Power Five offense in the nation. With three freshmen—Jeff Smith, Troy Flutie, and John Fadule—under center, their passing attack ranked 125th out of 128 teams in the FBS. But last year was a fluke—at least that’s what this team believes.

“I don’t know what Year Three was. No one knows what Year Three was,” Addazio said. “We’re playing with third-string walk-ons, we lost our tailback, you’re just kinda hanging on to your rear end. We’ve duly documented that.”

Now, Jonathan Hilliman and the rest of the running back regiment are healthy and hungry. Now, graduate transfer Patrick Towles and new offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler are trying to inject a pro-style aerial attack into a previously lifeless unit.

Now, excuses hold even less weight.

No one should benefit more from these changes than Sweeney, who will remain one of the most enticing targets in a system that will undoubtedly improve. Together, Addazio, Leonard, and Loeffler have crafted a game plan to accentuate their most talented position groups: running backs and tight ends. With a punishing ground game, look for Sweeney to feast on broken defenses during play-action fakes.

Not to mention the fact that wherever Sweeney goes in an opponent’s secondary, he owns a major size advantage. What’s more, he knows how to utilize his length better than most big men. He can explode off of the line of scrimmage, cut up the field past his defender, and contort his body to complete a leaping snag just like his photogenic catch against Virginia Tech.

All Fadule had to do was lob the ball up there, and Sweeney did the rest. Sweeney’s numbers may not speak for themselves, but his tape does.

Addazio likes his tight ends to know the play-action playbook like the back of their hand. He likes them to run-block like a bulldog, unafraid to flatten any linebackers in sight.

He likes them to look a little scruffy, right at home with a flannel and an axe. And it doesn’t hurt if they’re from New Jersey, either.

Once again, Addazio has found his type. All that’s left now is for Tommy Sweeney to live up to the hype.

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2015 .

5 RECEPTIONS 68 YARDS

2016 BC SPRING GAME:

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ALEC GREANEY / HEIGHTS EDITOR

4 CATCHES FOR 57 YARDS

FOOTBALL PREVIEW JEFF SMITH

7 THE HEIGHTS SEPT. 1, 2016

Catching on Jeff Smith looks to make an impact at a brand-new position.

Annabel Steele

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ith a little more than 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, things looked bleak for Boston College football.

It w a s the long-aw aite d, much-hyped matchup against Notre Dame at Fenway Park. But for most of the game, the 3-7 Eagles looked outmatched by the Fighting Irish. The offense could not muster up any dazzling—or even mediocre—plays, putting the Eagles behind 19-3 with 10:30 remaining in the game.

The buzz in Fenway came from Notre Dame’s faithful. BC fans looked glum and dejected.

On first-and-10, the Eagles were line d up at their own 20-yard line. The quarterback called for the ball. Running back Myles Willis, standing to his left, cut toward him. The quarterback faked a handoff and took a step to his left. His offensive line gave him a present in the form of a beautiful, wideopen hole right in front of him.

He took off running and never looked back. At his own 45-yard line, three Notre Dame players clamored to bring him down.

They never even came close. He dodged the Fighting Irish with ease, cutting across the field and taking it all the way home for the score.

It was an 80-yard touchdown run, an electrifying play. Fans cheered raucously from the stands. The team celebrated on the sidelines. The band played a rousing rendition of “For Boston.” And although BC would go on to lose the game, the touchdown run was cemented as one of the brightest spots in a pretty dull season for the Eagles.

The quarterback in question was Jeff Smith. He had stepped

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Asst. Sports Editor

in at quarterback after starter Darius Wade broke his ankle against Florida State. Throughout the 2015 season, he split time with fellow freshmen Troy Flutie and John Fadule. Though he had not started the Notre Dame game, he sure energized it. Smith was just that much faster than everyone else. He made it look almost easy.

Five months later, Smith was stretching on the sidelines of Alumni Field. It was a warm April day, a sure sign of summer’s approach. The Eagles were just about to play the Jay McGillis Memorial Spring Football Game. He got up, ran a few sprints, stretched a little more—your average warm-up.

There was a relaxed atmosphere in the stadium. A few of BC’s most dedicated fans had turned up for the game, but the stands were mostly empty. Throughout the week, the coaching staff stressed that the game was more for fun than anything else. The two captains—Michael Giacone and Kevin Kavalec—were injured players who had chosen the teams themselves. It was never supposed to be too competitive.

Smith was on the Gold team, so he wore a white jersey. When the time came, he lined up on the field, itching for the play to start. And when it did, he took off downfield. But this was no quarterback sneak.

Smith—the quarterback who had daz zle d e ver yone w ith his lightning-fast speed and agility—was no longer a quarterback.

Instead, he was a wide receiver.

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arly in his high school career, Smith played wideout as well as quarterback. But when it came time to commit to a college, he knew he wanted to be behind center. He had a few offers from programs, such as Wisconsin and Indiana , that exp e cte d him to change positions. Despite the doubt from coaches, Smith knew he could compete as a quarterback at the college level.

Enter BC. Head coach Steve Addazio and former offensive coordinator Todd Fitch, the man who recruited Smith, had complete faith in him as a signal caller. After all, this was the type of guy Addazio loves as his quarterback—the Eagles succeeded with Tyler Murphy in 2014, and Addazio had the incomparable Tim Tebow at Florida. When Smith was recruited, there was no expectation that he would have to change positions in order to get playing time.

This appealed to Smith, and it soon became official: Smith was an Eagle.

But last offseason, circumstances changed drastically for BC. Darius Wade rehabbed all winter, determined to overcome the ankle injur y. Kentucky ’s P at r i c k To w l e s a n n o u n ce d he w a s transfer r ing to B C .

High school recruit Anthony Brown—a long sought-after recruit of Addazio’s—arrived as a grayshirt in spring 2016.

What had once been unthinkable was suddenly a reality for Smith. He was going to transition from quarterback to wide receiver.

Smith was joining a receiving corps that could have used some help. The wide receivers had an

ALEC GREANEY / HEIGHTS EDITOR

underwhelming season in 2015, contributing to BC’s offensive woes. It was a young squad, mainly freshmen and sophomores. The revolving door of quarterbacks did not help the receivers, either—they did not even have a strong connection to one individual quarterback.

The lack of consistency, experience, and connection meant that they could not establish the trust necessary to excel and dominate in games.

Smith’s official debut as a wide receiver came in the spring game. He proved that his hands were not too rusty, hauling in four passes from Towles for 51 yards. But at times he did not look comfortable with the new responsibilities—especially on special teams. As a punt returner, Smith did not look confident enough to make a real impact. And he waved for fair catch when sent out to return the opening kickoff of the second half. But overall, Smith’s performance was solid, especially considering that it was the beginning of his transition to wide receiver.

The corps is a little more seasoned now, a bit more accustomed to adversity. Charlie Callinan, a redshirt junior who put up strong numbers against tough opponents Notre Dame and Clemson last season, will probably be a big contributor this year. Last year, Thadd Smith’s 17 receptions for 233 yards were good enough to make him the team leader in both

categories. He will be another key member of the receiving corps this year.

The wide receivers did not have an easy time last season. They have weathered the worst a football season can give them—hopefully. And after an offseason of hard work, they are ready to show off some real results.

“We’re working a lot, watching film, and so we’ve really improved as a group, too,” Smith said.

And although they have all worked together, one person in particular has stood out to Smith as a mentor. Callinan has been a role model for Smith as he adjusts to the new position. “[Callinan] is a great leader, so I’ve been getting help from him,” he said.

Time is ticking closer and closer to BC’s season-opening matchup against Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland. That will be Smith’s first real opportunity to prove that he can make a difference as a wide receiver.

S

mith looks good now, but that doesn’t mean it was an easy transition. Playing wide receiver is a whole different ball game, and it has been most obvious for Smith in the faster pace of play. But Smith has challenged himself to adjust to the speed, and after a full spring and summer he is more than prepared to face the competition.

Already a speedy player to

begin with, he is running a sub4.4 40-yard dash. Right now Smith is even faster than he was when he outran the Notre Dame competition for the touchdown back at Fenway Park last November.

He has also bulked up more than 20 pounds over the offseason. Now listed at 194 pounds, Smith is ready for a more physical style of play.

That is welcome news for BC fans. Although he has been nagged by some injuries throughout the summer, he feels set to go now.

Smith will not hold back from making the tough plays.

He has the grit and determination to get the job done, and no concern about being physical.

He is ready to make an impact in his new position.

It was never supposed to be like this. Smith was recruited as a quarterback. Part of BC’s appeal was that he would be able to play the position he preferred.

Nobody expected a transfer and recruit to shunt Smith from quarterback to wide receiver.

But despite the unexpected change, Smith has kept a positive attitude. He is not focused on himself. He has not allowed himself to wallow and think about what might have been.

Instead, he is thinking of the team, and working hard to do whatever he can to contribute this season.

“It hasn’t been frustrating,” Smith said. “However I can help the team is good.”

DREW HOO / HEIGHTS SENIOR STAFF

Career-high number of rushes/game: Career-high rushing yards/game: Career rush TDs/game: Career long run:

13 117 3 80

yds DREW HOO / HEIGHTS SENIOR STAFF

8 THE HEIGHTS SEPT. 1, 2016

FOOTBALL PREVIEW SCHEDULE

Road To A Bowl

After reaching the postseason in back-to-back seasons, the Eagles fell to a 3-9 record in 2015.

This year, they are on a question to return to at least six wins. Here are their opponents.

Georgia Tech

@ Massachusetts

@ Virginia Tech

9/3

9/10

9/17

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST

3-9

29.3

25.8

3-9

Wagner

22.2

31.4

7-6

31.0

24.2

Buffalo

9/24

10/1

Clemson

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST

1-10

14.3

36.1

5-7

26.7

10/7

27.6

14-1

38.5

21.7

Syracuse

@ NC State

Louisville

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST

10/22

4-8

27.3

31.0

@ Florida State

10/29

7-6

33.2

25.8

11/5

8-5

28.7

24.1

Connecticut

11/11

11/19

@ Wake Forest

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST

10-3

31.7

17.5

6-7

17.2

19.5

11/26

3-9

17.4

24.6