Boston College Football

'09 Preview brought to you by www.ACCBlitz.com

The ACC Blitz 2009 football team preview for defending ACC Atlantic Champs Boston College Eagles. Key losses on Defense, question marks on Offense and potential Freshman instant impacts.

Stats
2008 Record: 9-5, 5-3 (1st in Atlantic Division; Lost to VT in ACCCG)
2008 Bowl: L 16-14 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl

2008 Statistics:
OFFENSE

• Scoring: 24.7 (4th)
• Total: 319.8 (8th)
• Rush: 143.3 (5th)
• Pass: 176.5 (10th)

DEFENSE

• Scoring: 18.4 (4th)
• Total: 268.1 (1st)
• Rush: 91.2 (1st)
• Pass: 176.9 (6th)

2009 Schedule
Sep. 05 vs. Northeastern
Sep. 12 vs. Kent State
Sep. 19 at Clemson
Sep. 26 vs. Wake Forest (Parents’ Weekend)
Oct. 03 vs. Florida State
Oct. 10 at Virginia Tech
Oct. 17 vs. NC State
Oct. 24 vs. at Notre Dame
Oct. 31 vs. Central Michigan
Nov. 14 at Virginia
Nov. 21 vs. North Carolina
Nov. 28 at Maryland


Von Voyage:
DT BJ Raji
LB Brian Toal
WR Brandon Robinson
QB Chris Crane


Welcome Back:
WR Rich Gunnell
RB Montel Harris
LB Mark Herzlich (Assuming he is healthy enough to play)
LB Mike McLaughlin
K Steve Aponavicius


Fabolous Frosh

DT Dillon Quinn

4-Star prospect who enrolled early, could see legitimate playing time early with BC needing it on the defensive front with the departure of BJ Rahi. He’ll be in line behind Damik Scafe and Kaleb Ramsey, but the window for playing time is there.

LB Luke Kuechly

Has all the physical tools (6′3″ 220, with speed—this guy can tear your freakin head off) in place to help soften the loss of LB Brian Toal. With a weaker line in ‘09, BC needs playmakers behind the big guys.

TE Mike Naples

Big target for QB’s—Naples is built like a house. Coached right, could step in fast to provide an extra set of hands or some much-needed protection, as time is a much needed asset for Davis.


Slam on the Brakes

QB. When Crane went down late last season, Dominique Davis stepped in and did ok. But ‘ok’ is not what a defending Atlantic division champ needs to reach the title game again.

To his credit, he did lead BC to crucial wins against Wake and Maryland but flopped against VT in the ACCCG. Off-season workouts and new offensive schemes SHOULD raise the bar some, but even in the spring game he wasn’t super-sharp (20-40 for 145 Yards and 1 INT).

The biggest problem for Coach Spaz is lack of depth and experience. Boek and Tuggle have no experience (well QB experience) at the ACC level and didn’t exactly impress in the spring game (though they had limited attempts; they went a combined 4-17 for 22 Yards), so if Davis is a bust or falls to injury, BC could be in a world of trouble - fast.


Give ‘em the Green Light

RB. Four returning starters on the O-Line should provide plenty of space for the Montel Harris and Josh Haden Combo. The double H’s were one of the more formidable RB duos in the ACC, combining for almost 1400 Yards and 6 TD’s.

The addition of two 3-Star RB’s should complete a very solid running crew for the Eagles. Watch out for Harris to eclipse 1,000 Yards this year, and wouldn’t be surprised to see Haden hit 500 (assuming he’s 100%—left the spring game early with an undisclosed injury).


Not a household name—yet

CB Donnie Fletcher. Started 9 games as a true frosh in ‘08, tallying 36 tackles and 3 INT’s. Showed out in the spring game with 8 tackles and 2 pass breakups. Should avoid a sophomore slump and help anchor a young but stout pass defense, assuming the front line can provide some pressure on opposing QB’s.


Circle the Calendar

Sep.19th at Clemson. QB Dominique Davis will have had 2 cupcake games to gear up for ACC play, and he’s facing hell fire with the Tigers Defense. This game should give an early look into the rest of how ‘09 will play out.


ACC Blitz Says

Don’t expect newly appointed Head Coach Spaz to take the Eagles to a 3rd straight appearance in the ACC Title game. As fundamentally sound as they usually are, overcoming the lack of experience/talent in the QB position is a task and a half.

If the O-Line can provide Davis with enough time to make smart passes, even short quick hitters, it’ll keep defenses honest enough to allow the run game to get going. And considering the depth there, that’s what the Eagles should be aiming for.

And even though the defense shouldn’t see THAT big of a drop-off, no one can expect them to lead the league in total defense AGAIN. But I can’t help but wonder the impact of Herzlich no being around if his health is down—he is an anchor on D. The pass defense should in good shape, especially with Fletcher stepping up.

LB/DT are potential weak links to watch for—but they shouldn’t panic. Sack after sack isn’t needed, just enough pressure to allow the DBacks to do their jobs.

This team is good enough to finish in the upper half of the Atlantic, but the lack of fire-power on offense will probably negate a solid D. But mark it down—IF (pay attention to IF) Davis can establish himself and mature in the pocket, BC might surprise a lot of people. Bowl bound? Yes. ACC Title game? No.

- Senior Writer at ACC Blitz

For a man who won the 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for last season's Butkus Award, it is easy to forget that he is human just like us.

That is why it makes it so much harder to hear that Mark Herzlich has been diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a form of cancer found in bone or soft tissue.

"Obviously, I was shocked," Mark said in a statement released by the school. "At this point, I do not know what this means for my football future, but I am determined to rid my body of this disease so that I can put that uniform back on."

He has spent most of his life battling on the field, proving to everyone he belongs and could have been a top 10 pick in this year’s NFL Draft if he had declared. But he stayed loyal to the school.

Mark is the leader of the team on the field, 110 tackles, six interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, and off.

"Also, basically the type of role the coaches here have given me. The ability to be a leader without being a captain. Still giving me responsibilities and the ability to guide the players in ways that I see fit. It’s really helped me mature as a football player and a person off the field," said on his role.

Mark is a good man and it is tragic that something like this could happen. But he is not giving up hope.

"At this point, I do not know what this means for my football future, but I am determined to rid my body of this disease so that I can put that uniform back on," he said. "Thank you in advance for your prayers and concern. Together, we will fight this and win."

As of now he has returned to be with his family in Pennsylvania and to undergo more tests.

Good luck Mark. You will be in my prayers.

This off-season has been a rocky, and often interesting, one for the Boston College Eagles football fans.

The talent lost on the defensive end with Busari "BJ" Raji, and Ron Brace both making the leap to the NFL, as well as last seasons starting QB, Chris Crane, joining the dark side and signing with the Indianapolis Colts is going to be tough for the Eagles to deal with. Combined with what is expected to be a season ending injury to senior linebacker Mike McLaughlin, the loss of talent for the Eagles will be evident coming into the 2009-2010 college season.

However the loss of talent is just a small piece of what has made this off season so interesting for the Eagles.

On January 7, 2009, it was announced that Boston College would fire head coach Jeff Jagodzinski shortly after it was found out that he had in turn broken the terms of his contract by interviewing for the then-vacant New York Jets head coaching position. After just two seasons with the Eagles, and a 20-8 record, coach "Jags" was gone.

But it didn't end there.

Following the firing of Coach Jagodzinski, former Eagles head coach (1981-1990), and then Offensive Line coach and assistant head coach, Jack Bicknell, quickly jumped ship. Offensive Coordinator Steve Logan resigned, opening up the job for former Navy Head Coach, Gary Tranquill to take over the position. However with all the coaching changes aside, one constant remained, Boston College defensive coordinator, Frank "The Mad Scientist" Spaziani.

Staying true to the Eagles, after 11 years with the school's football program, starting as the teams Running Back Coach, then being promoted in 1999 to Defensive Coordinator, Spaziani, on January 13, 2009 was announced as the new Eagles head coach. After 11 years with the Eagles, and 6 seasons coaching in the CFL before that, Spaziani's commitment to the game of football has finally paid off.

Spaziani made his presence known almost immediately with the hiring of new offensive line coach Sean Devine, as well as bringing in former Kansas State offensive assistant, and 20 year coaching veteran. Dave Brock, as the teams new Tight Ends coach. In fact with the exception of linebackers coach Bill McGovern, who has spent nine seasons with the Eagles, the entire coaching staff has been revamped over at Chestnut Hill.

Now that Spaziani has hired his staff, his first recruiting period is well underway, and the 2010 class is looking bright for Eagles fans, with early verbal commitments from four star QB, Joe Boisture, four Star Offensive Tackle, Seth Betancourt, as well as yet another four star recruit, Kevin Pierre-Louis, all of which are rated within the top 150 on both Scouts Inc. & ESPN recruiting databases.

Taking into account the fact that Jeff Jagodzinski failed to recruit a single top 150 player in his two years with the Eagles, it certainly seems as though Frank Spaziani is well on his way to continuing to cement himself as the staple of Boston College Football.

If you like what you read, join in on the discussion at New England Sports 24/7

The most memorable Boston College Eagles quarterback to make they’re way to Chapel Hill in recent times is, without a doubt, Matt Ryan.

Leading the Eagles to as high as No. 2 in the nation, and making a major splash at the NFL level, Ryan set the bar for quarterbacks at the heights.

The one quarterback that makes Eagles fans cringe? Without a doubt, Boston College’s starting QB, Dominique Davis. But don’t worry Eagles fans, the Dominique Davis era won’t last much longer. Why? Well because Joe Boisture is coming to town.

So, who is Joe Boisture? Boisture is a four star prospect, rated as high as the 10th best QB prospect in the country, as well as the top junior, and will be part of the 2010 college recruiting class.

He is a 6′ 6", 205 lbs, pro style QB, with tools that recruits have compared to the likes of Drew Bledsoe. A prototypical three step drop QB, who will play with his face to the offense, but can also make things happen with his feet, showcased by what was reported as a 4.8 40.

The guys over at ESPN’s Midwest Recruiting Blog, offered up this report on Boisture:

"Joe Boisture (Saline, Mich./Saline) is a 6' 6" and 190-pounder who is more out of the classic dropback quarterback mold. Boisture has a strong and accurate arm. He sees the field well and makes good decisions.

Boisture threw for close to 1,600 yards and 14 touchdowns during his junior season when he led Goodrich to a 10-1 record. Boisture has transferred to Saline where he will play his senior season.

Boisture has scholarship offers on the table from Pitt, Wisconsin, Cincinnati, and Boston College. Michigan State is just one of the many other schools showing interest."

Now as a former Eagles alum, whenever the news of a top tier QB prospect committing to our program comes along, naturally I become excited. But I’m doing my best to try not to get my hopes up here.

As of yesterday (5/11) Joe Boisture was still verbally committed to Boston College; however, he has offers on the table from Kansas State, UCLA, Cincinnati, Central Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pitt.

Between his senior year and the 2010 signing day anything could happen, but Eagles fans, keep your fingers crossed on this one, because nothing will help a new coaching stuff look good like a top tier QB.

Matt Ryan burst into the national spotlight in 2007.  

At the start of that season, Ryan was named to the 2007 All-ACC team and did not disappoint.  During his senior season at Boston College, Ryan led the Eagles to an 8-0 start, and beat the likes of No. 15 Georgia Tech and No. 9 Virginia Tech.  Ryan led his team to the 2007 Champs Sports Bowl and beat Michigan State easily, with a 41-24 victory.

Backtrack a few years.  In Ryan's senior season at high school, he was named captain of the baseball, basketball, and football teams.  

Matt Ryan got in his first NCAA game in his freshman year, and completed 35 of 71 passes for 350 yards and a touchdown.  He also played a little in Boston College's bowl game that year.

His sophomore season, Ryan was not immediately named the starter.  Being a second stringer to quarterback Quinton Porter, Ryan finally got the starting job midway through the season, in a game against North Carolina.  Matt Ryan would never look back.

In Ryan's junior year, Ryan was named the starter.  Starting in 11 out of 12 games, Ryan threw for nearly 3000 yards and 15 touchdowns.  Decent numbers, but not nearly as good as his senior season's stats.

The next year, Ryan exploded.  He threw for 4507 yards, 31 touchdowns, and has a passer efficiency rating of 127.04.  Also, while leading the Eagles to their 8-0 start, Ryan got his name out to the NFL scouts.

The next year, while entering the draft, Ryan was taken third overall to the Atlanta Falcons.  Despite not having the best NFL combine drills (5.07 40 yard dash time), Atlanta knew they had the right kid in mind.

That year, Matt Ryan had arguably the best rookie season in the NFL's recent memory. Ryan threw for 3440 yards, 16 touchdowns, and just 11 interceptions.  Ryan was only the second rookie ever to throw for 3000 yards in his first season in the league, Peyton Manning was the first.

Oh yeah, he also led the Falcons to the playoffs, while starting all 16 games.  Not bad, for a rookie.

This year, Ryan will have some of the highest expectations in the entire league.  Ryan will be expected to win his first playoff game, at least, and will set the bar high for rookies of this year's draft, like Matt Stafford and Mark Sanchez.

Also this year, Matt Ryan has a new weapon to throw to.  His name?  Tony Gonzalez. Yeah, the best tight end to ever play the game of football will be catching balls from the best sophomore quarterback in the NFL.  Clearly Matt Ryan will have an amazing year at quarterback.

So we have an amazing rookie season from Ryan, a for sure future Hall of Famer in Tony Gonzalez, but what else do we have?  We have an all-pro running back by the name of Michael Turner and a great possession receiver in Michael Jenkins.

Michael Turner is probably one of Matt Ryan's biggest assets.  Turner will run all over defenses, resulting in safeties and line backers to start to creep in to help stop the run. Then Ryan will throw over the top and really tack on some yardage.

Jenkins, who had a career high in receiving yards in 2008 with 777, is sure to breakout this year with the emergence of Gonzalez.

Honestly, I would be surprised if Matt Ryan doesn't win the NFL's MVP award this year.  I doubt Tom Brady will be back to his old form, and Manning will be without one of his favorite targets in Marvin Harrison.

Anyone who watches sports knows that bringing in talent is simply not enough.

Coaches have got to be able to produce with that talent, otherwise it is all the more frustrating for a fan-base to be stuck in middle of the pack in their conference standings.

When it comes to college football, we see a wide array of coaches.  Some coaches are able to have big seasons with minimal NFL talent while others squander opportunities to make a run towards greatness.

So I decided to take a look at the talent in the ACC (starting with the 2003 season, the season before expansion) and how it compares to the results on the field.

Obviously some coaches have seen their pink slip during that time period and some coaches did a wonderful job of developing players into NFL players while some came tailor-built for greatness.

Those variables represent the unpredictability of college football, but the results for these programs during this time period are as follows:

NFL Draft Picks by College (2004-2009)

1. Miami-32

2.Florida State-31

3. Virginia Tech-29

4. Virginia-23

t5. Clemson-19

t5. Maryland-19

t5. N.C. State-19

8. Georgia Tech-17

9. North Carolina-14

10. Boston College-12

11. Wake Forest-11

12. Duke-1

These numbers are not particularly shocking.  Miami and Florida State have incredible reputations for bringing in a cadre of blue chip players.  That is the appeal of the Sunshine State.

Virginia Tech has become the dominant ACC team since joining the conference so it makes sense that the Hokies would be near the top. 

The Cavaliers have cultivated some very good offensive lineman these past few years and Al Groh's NFL connections certainly help give his players the benefit of the doubt.

The next seven ACC teams are separated by eight players. 

As for the Blue Devils, well Duke is Duke.

First Round Picks (2004-09)

1. Miami 12

2. Florida State 7

3. Virginia 5

t4. Boston College 4

t4. North Carolina State 4

t6. Maryland 3

t6. Virginia Tech 3

t8. Clemson 2

t8. North Carolina 2

t10. Georgia Tech 1

t10. Wake Forest 1

12. Duke 0

Miami clearly leads the way here at 12, with positions 3-11 all bunched together.  Clearly having first round talent is not something that grows on trees. 

Recruiting classes come and go but bringing in and developing potential first round picks is no small task.

For the ACC, talent appears to be pretty well distributed throughout the 12 schools.

Therefore the question must be asked, how did these teams do during this stretch?

ACC Team Records (2003-2008)

1. Virginia Tech 60-20

2. Boston College 56-22

3. Florida State 50-27

4. Miami 48-27

5. Clemson 47-28

6. Georgia Tech 46-31

7. Maryland 43-31

8. Virginia 42-32

9. Wake Forest 41-33

10. North Carolina State 34-29

11. North Carolina 28-44

12. Duke 12-58

That's right, the three ACC teams that bolted from the Big East occupy the first, second and fourth positions on the team record board.

Granted these team records bleed over into their tenure in the Big East but that does not change the fact that the two teams that have appeared the most in the ACC Championship game occupy the top two spots on our board.

The bottom three teams are the only teams to have losing records during this stretch and all three have experienced coaching changes.

The early dividends on all three replacements appear to be good and soon these numbers could change dramatically.

Until then, we can only speak about programs in general.

ACC Teams (Draft Rank, Winning Records Rank)

Boston College (10, 2)

Clemson (5, 5)

Duke (12, 12)

Florida State (2, 3)

Georgia Tech (8, 6)

Maryland (5, 7)

Miami (1, 4)

North Carolina (9, 11)

N.C. State (5, 10)

Virginia (4, 8)

Virginia Tech (3, 1)

Wake Forest (11, 9)

By the numbers it is clear that Boston College has won the big over-achiever award for the ACC. 

The Eagles have a done a great job of producing quality seasons despite only having 12 players hear their names called on Draft Day.

Boston College has won at least nine games every year since 2004 and although they lost a first rounder in Matt Ryan last season, they were still able to win their division.

It will be interesting to see what will happen now after a second straight coaching change in the last three years.

Will this uncertainty upset the continuity of success?  You would have to think so.

Numerically, the biggest underachievers would be the North Carolina State Wolfpack and the Virginia Cavaliers.

If you're a Cavalier fan, you are used to hearing this argument.  Virginia coach Al Groh has done a good job of developing talented players, he just has problems winning big games with them.

Virginia has actually produced more first round picks (most in the top 10) than their arch-rival in Blacksburg, yet it is the Hokies who are constantly bringing home the ACC Championship.

In this time period explored, Virginia has beaten the Hokies only once.

Win a few more of these games and the Cavaliers actually could have made it to Jacksonville and the tables may be turned.

However, the past is the past and if Groh does not make a brighter future he may face a similar fate to that of Chuck Amato.

The Wolfpack have brought us great NFL players like Phillip Rivers and Mario Williams, but they have also brought fans two winning seasons in the past six seasons.

In 2005, N.C. State had three first rounders and a 7-5 record.

After a 3-8 record where the Wolfpack seemed to almost forget how to win, a change needed to be made.

The Wolfpack now have Tom O'Brien, a solid coach who helped make Boston College the overachiever it has been.

O'Brien has his program on the rise and is becoming a trendy pick to surprise people next season.

Will he help take the Wolfpack from underachievers to overachievers?

Well that's the glory of football, we will just have to wait and see.

Check out College Football Campus for more insightful NCAA Football Articles.

Spring football is slowly starting to wind down. The Seminoles wrapped up spring drills a week ago, and the Clemson Tigers look to showcase their progress today with their Orange and White scrimmage in Death Valley.

The next two weeks will see the division's other four schools will put an exclamation point on their 15 spring practices.

With that in mind, we turn an eye to the best of what the ACC’s Atlantic Division has to offer the college football world.

Looking through position groups there are some clear cut leaders in the Atlantic’s landscape. Other names like Nate Ingram, NCSU’s fiery middle linebacker, Riley Skinner of Wake Forest, as well as Clemson’s CJ Spiller, just barely missed the cut for leading their respective position groups in the Atlantic Division.

Here’s an early look at who will stand out in the fall of 2009...your Best of the Atlantic Division.

Offensive Line: Rodney Hudson (Guard, Florida State)

The 6’2” 295 pound junior is entering his third season as a starter in Tallahassee, and he’s already racked up quite a resume:

Third-team All-ACC, freshman All-American in 2007, and first team All-ACC as a sophomore. 

The mauler anchored the Seminole’s rushing attack last season and he’s a solid player in the passing game as well. Another of Hudson’s assets is his ability to get to the perimeter in the run game. He’s remarkably agile for a big man, and his ability to get to the second level after defeating his initial assignment is the best among guards in the college ranks. 

While physically impressive, Hudson’s biggest asset is his mentally focused approach to the game exemplified by his 20-game streak of playing penalty-free football; which was broken by a false start in 2008 (1,024 snaps played). 

He limits his mistakes, and is a guy that the 'Noles can count on game in and game out; the poster-boy for consistency. He’s going to be called upon to protect Ponder as well as be a road grader for FSU’s run game. Expect preseason All-America Honors to come his way from every publication.

Running Back: Da’Rel Scott (Tailback, Maryland)

Most folks will automatically slot Clemson’s CJ Spiller into this slot as the best back in the division. However, facts say otherwise. 

While Spiller is a dynamic back capable of hurting teams in both ways, there is no spot on the All-ACC team for “dynamic guy.”

There is a spot for “running back,” and Da'Rel Scott looks to snatch one of those slots with an encore of his 2008 performance. Scott posted 1,133 yards on the ground and eight touchdowns for a shaky Terrapins offense saddled with the burden of trying to get Darius Heyward-Bey the football. With no Heyward-Bey, the Terps can focus on the best part of their offense: Scott and backfield mate Davin Meggett. 

Look for Scott to battle GT’s Jonathan Dwyer as the ACC’s premier feature back. Scott’s a bruising runner between the tackles who is capable of breaking the ball open if he’s given a seam. 

He’s a back who gets better with each carry as he punishes defenders throughout the game, and with Meggett there to help carry part of the load, watch his second half production increase drastically.

Wide Receiver: Jacoby Ford (Wide Receiver, Clemson)

This is less a testament to Ford’s presence as a dominating wide receiver and more an ode to the departure of Aaron Kelly, Darius Heyward-Bey, and Wake Forest’s DJ Boldin. 

Not to mention Preston Parker’s dismissal from the FSU squad for enjoying an "alcohol induced nap" in a McDonald's drive-thru. The Atlantic is without a true, prototypical NFL, dominant receiver, and thus Ford is thrust from his Robin role in the Clemson offense, to the Batman position for the Tigers.

Ford is a speed demon capable of getting loose down field against both man-to-man and zone coverage. However, the Clemson senior is at his best in the screen and short passing game. 

He can turn a five or 10 yard pass into a long gain with his legs, and Dabo Swinney would be wise to the get the ball in his hands early and often.

Quarterback: Russell Wilson (North Carolina State)

 

Wilson had a breakout season in 2008 and was the biggest and best surprise in the ACC, winning first team honors as well as the ACC Rookie of the Year award. 

Originally just thought to be a stopgap while the highly touted Mike Glennon red-shirted to bulk up and learn the system, Wilson excelled as the ACC season progressed.

Plagued by injuries in the first half of 2008 the red-shirt freshman was able to rebound and lead the Pack to a four game win streak to close out the regular season, making them bowl eligible.

This season, Wilson has bulked up to ready his body for the wear and tear of the ACC schedule, and his receiving corps looks to be more dependable than they were as freshmen just a year ago. 

Coming off a throttling of UNC and a dismantling of Miami in their final two ACC games, the Wolfpack have a lot of momentum. With 2006’s prize recruit Toney Baker finally healthy, Wilson should have the run game he needs to compliment the Pack’s improved passing game.

Defensive Back: Crezdon Butler (Cornerback, Clemson)

Kevin Steele leaves pro-prospect Javier Arenas at Alabama, but inherits a very similar player in Butler. As a sophomore, Butler proved his worth by amassing 43 tackles, four interceptions, and, most impressively, 3.5 tackles for loss.  The kid is a burner who, unlike most cover corners, isn’t afraid to mix it up at the line of scrimmage.

The departure of safeties Michael Hamlin and Chris Clemons, coupled with Kevin Steele’s aggressive, blitzing and man-to-man schemes, will put the onus on Butler to take that next step. 

He has the physical tools to not only be the Atlantic’s best defensive back, but in feasting on mistakes caused by the new pressure front he can become one of the nation’s elite cornerbacks.

Linebacker: Mark Herzlich (Outside Linebacker, Boston College)

Herzlich enters his third season as a full-time starter for the Eagles, playing for his third coach in four seasons. After posting back to back 90+ tackle seasons, Herzlich was named the ACC Player of the Year in 2008, and elected to return for his senior season. 

Returning BC to the nation’s elite defensive rankings will not be easy, as he must combat losing tackles BJ Raji and Ron Brace to graduation and the NFL, as well as starting middle linebacker Mike McLaughlin to a ruptured achilles.

The Eagles will need Herzlich to duplicate his six interception performance of a season ago, as well as fight through more blocks to get to the ball careers. In terms of his NFL stock, returning may have hurt Herzlich, but for the Eagles and BC to be successful, his return for Frank Spaziani was imperative. 

Look for Herzlich to repeat as an All-ACC linebacker, and if Kaleb Ramsey and Damik Scaife can even partially fill Brace and Raji’s shoes, the senior backer should be able to post another dominant season for the Eagles.

Defensive Line: Da’Quan Bowers (Defensive End, Clemson)

Bowers is quite possibly the best physical specimen to play at Clemson since the Perry brothers. In 2008, he stepped onto campus as a man, and has played heavy minutes from day one. 

He showed flashes of brilliance during last season, as he adjusted to the college game and finished the season with a flourish, posting six tackles for loss in his last four games. 

Playing opposite of a healthy Ricky Sapp should give Bowers a better edge than last season, when teams were able to double team and key on the man-child of a freshman. 

Built in the mold of recent ACC phenoms Julius Peppers and Mario Williams, 2009 will be a breakout season for the sophomore. He has the talent to be 2011’s No. 1 overall pick, and this coming season, with a season of experience under his belt, watch for Bowers to take that step towards solidifying his name right alongside Clemson’s other great defensive linemen of all-time.

1. Mark Herzlich, LB, Senior – So it’s no secret that Mark Herzlich is among the top linebackers in Division 1 college football. Setting career highs in tackles (101), Sacks (2) and interceptions (6), Herzlich would likely have been a first round draft selection this year, however he has opted to remain in school and play out his senior year.

With fellow linebacker Mike McLaughlin expected to miss the year with a torn Achilles, there is going to be even more attention on Herzlich this season to match last seasons production.

And if he can do so without McLaughlin helping him hold down the Eagles linebacking core, but as well as the loss of Defensive Tackles Busari “BJ” Raji, and Ron Brace, the spotlight will once again be on Mark Herzlich to hold down what has been a top notch Eagles defense over the last couple of season.

2) Damik Scafe, DT, Junior – With Raji and Brace both heading the the NFL, what was once the Eagles strength on the defensive line, now seems like more of a weakness. While Scafe hasn’t played any significant time, or any time at all for that matter, he seems like the logical choice to be put into a significant role at Defensive Tackle this season for the Eagles.

Not the gap filler that Raji was, but Scafe has good size for DT at 6-foot-3, 293 pounds, and has worked under now head coach, Frank Spaziani, and current defensive line coach Jeff Comissiong for three seasons now, and knows the Eagles system. Kaleb Ramsey will surely see some time at Defensive Tackle as well for the Eagles.

3.) Roderick Rollins, CB, Junior – Without a doubt, the Eagles most polished corner back, Roderick Rollins, will have his hands full leading an unusually young secondary this season.

Rollins made the team as a true freshman, and has seen his playing time increase every year, and the improvement he’s shown on that year to year basis has been encouraging for the young CB.

Set a career high in tackles last season with 43, nearly doubling his previous season high, and showed improvement in his coverage ability recording his first NCAA interceptions (2).

With the way that Rollins has progressed throughout his career, it would be surprising to see him not thrust into a significant role with the Eagles this season.

4) Dan Mulrooney, DB, Sophomore – Mulrooney is an interesting and extremely intriguing player to say the least. He has experience playing not only corner back and safety, but has played on both sides of the ball taking snaps at running back as well.

Ultimately though, under Spaziani, and on a roster full of true freshman defensive backs, don’t be surprised to see Mulrooney converted into a full time DB for the Eagles this season.

At 6-foot-1 he has good size to match up with most ACC receivers, and the speed to go along with the size, as he ran two low 4.5’s in summer camps just a year ago.

5) Dominick LeGrande, DB/LB, Sophomore – It’s not often I’d put a sophomore player with not true natural position on a list like this, but Dominick LeGrande is a player I think we’ll see make tremendous strides this season.

Used last year as a strict special teams player, LeGrande, similar to Mulrooney, is a versatile player who has played the free safety position, corner back, outside linebacker, and even has some experience at QB.

However, with Mike McLaughlin out, I’d expect to see LeGrande transitioned into a full time Linebacker. While he might lack ideal size for the position, he has the speed and explosive first step to be an asset in the Eagles pass rush.

Kevin Distaso could get the nod here, he does have a better frame, and we finally saw Will Thompson begin to get some time with the defense last season, but I’d keep my eye on Dominick LeGrande, his pure speed and raw talent could make him the perfect candidate for Frank Spaziani’s next “project” player.


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B.J. Raji is a talented 6'2'' 337 pound defensive tackle out of Boston College and is a lock for a top ten draft pick.

Like a drink machine, this kid is hard to move. Raji's great strength inside makes him the elite run stopper in this year's draft.

Raji had an immediate impact for the Eagles. He work his way on the field as a freshman and started 38 of his last 40 games. He was a second-team All-ACC Selection in 2006.

Raji was expected to be one of the stars on the defensive side for the Eagles, but due to  academic obligations he had to sit out the entire 2007 season.

This year Raji established himself as the most dominant defensive lineman in the country. He recorded 42 tackles, 16 for loss and 8 sacks. His performance at the Senior Bowl secured him a top-10 pick in this year's draft.

He has rare initial burst off the snap for a man his size and can penetrate into the backfield and disrupt the play. He has good strength at the point of attack to create a pile.

Raji has great short-area lateral quickness. He also has tons of experience. He might have missed the 2007 season, but leaves Boston College with 38 career starts. He locates the ball quickly and works to make the play.

He is strong enough to pull down ballcarriers with just his arms. He was arguably the single-most dominant player during the week of practice at the Senior Bowl.

On the negative side, he only has marginal height for the position. He has rare quickness in confined space, but lacks the speed to sustain and struggles to make an impact outside of the guard box.

He is only a marginal pass rusher, and he relies on his initial burst off the snap and an occasional spin move.

He struggled with his weight in 2006 where he weighed more than 350 pounds. He was suspended for the first half of the Clemson game in 2006 for throwing a punch at a Central Michigan player. 

I have him going to the Green Bay Packers at No. 9 because he will be the best player available. Look at the mock draft to see all the draft selections. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/144514-nfl-mock-draft-stafford-1-overall

The departure of defensive tackle, B.J. Raji, has left many Eagles fans worried about the team's defense coming into the 2009 season. 

But if there is one player that should help BC fans sleep better at night, that player is linebacker Mark Herzlich, who despite being a projected first-round draft selection in this year's class, has opted to remain in school to play out his senior year at the heights. 

Herzlich, who was honored as the ACC Defensive Player Of The Year, helped lead the Eagles in becoming one of the nations top defensive squads along side a defense that included Raji, Ron Brace, Kevin Akins, Robert Francois, and Brian Toal.

Herzlich has made strides each season with Boston College in becoming a better player since seeing significant playing time his freshmen year. 

In his freshman year, Herzlich totaled 32 solo tackles, 42 total tackles, and a forced fumble.  He followed that up with an impressive sophomore year in which the Eagles topped out as high as No. 2 in the nation that season, racking up 97 total tackles, while forcing two fumbles, and snagging his first career interception.

And while his numbers during his sophomore season are impressive, what Herzlich was able to do last season makes his sophomore campaign pale in comparison.  Herzlich entered his junior season as a preseason all-star candidate.

He was named to the Lott Trophy and Butkus Award watchlists prior to the season, and lived up to every bit of the hype.  Herzlich saw his draft stock skyrocket as he led the team in tackles with 110, 81 of which were recorded as solo tackles.  Herzlich also set a career high in sacks with two, as well as interceptions with six, two of which were run back for touchdowns, one being a school record 60-yard return, as he averaged over 20 yards on his INT returns. 

Herzlich continued to hit hard, also forcing two fumbles in the 2008 season.

With his draft stock as high as it was, Eagles fans were rightfully nervous that they would not only be losing Raji, but that they would be losing one of the nations top linebackers as well. 

But in a move that is refreshing for NCAA sports in today’s era, Herzlich announced that he would be returning for his senior year.  Expected to be a top 25 selection in the 2010 NFL draft, Herzlich is a player to keep an eye on this season, as he seems to be well on his way to establishing himself as the most talented linebacker in the nation.

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