Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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132 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY JORDAN WELLS Boston College finished 7-6 in each of head coach Steve Addazio's first two seasons in Chestnut Hill, but it looks like the Eagles might take a step backward in 2015 before they make any leap forward. "The range for this team could be any- where from 4-8 to 7-5," said Eric Hoffses, who covers Boston College for EagleAction. com on the Rivals network. "This is being pointed to as kind of a rebuilding year. Last year was supposed to be the rebuilding year, but they did bring in some quick-fix fifth- year transfers like Florida quarterback Tyler Murphy and Florida offensive tackle Ian Silberman. Now this year they have question marks at those same positions that they fixed last year with those fifth-year guys, so they have to play some young players now at, for example, quarterback. "The running backs, led by Jon Hilliman, are really good. The question will be how good the play at quarterback and offensive line is. That will separate them from being a really solid bowl-eligible team that scares some really good teams, and a team that takes a step back and doesn't go to a bowl this year." Replacing the star quarterback Murphy could be sophomore Darius Wade, although he'll have competition in the fall from true freshman Elijah Robinson and sophomore Troy Flutie (Doug Flutie's nephew). Rivals ranked Robinson as a three-star recruit and the No. 25 dual-threat quarterback nation- ally in the 2015 class. Wade won't have much of an advantage in experience, having attempted only eight passes in his freshman year. The Eagles should have a stout defensive line with three returning starters, headlined by senior tackle Connor Wujciak. The 6-3, 300-pounder ranked third on Boston Col- lege's 2014 squad with 7.5 tackles for loss and earned third-team All-ACC honors from both media and the league's coaches. As a unit, the line helped hold opposing teams' running backs to four yards or less on 64.9 percent of their carries (No. 27 nationally), according to Football Outsiders. The secondary is a bit questionable, with cornerback Justin Simmons the lone return- ing starter. The linebacking corps also re- turns only one starter, but sophomore Con- nor Strachan is expected to have a big season in his first year as a starter. The Eagles finished 2-10 in 2012 — the season before Addazio took over — and he was able to lead them to two straight bowl games. But the new offensive line and rookie starters in the back seven defensively will have to develop quickly to make it three straight bowl appearances. ✦ 2015 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2014 Result Sept. 5 Maine W, 40-10 Sept. 12 Howard — Sept. 18 Florida State L, 20-17 Sept. 26 Northern Illinois — Oct. 3 Duke — Oct. 10 Wake Forest W, 23-17 Oct. 17 Clemson L, 17-13 Oct. 24 Louisville L, 17-13 Oct. 31 Virginia Tech L, 33-31 Nov. 7 North Carolina State W, 30-14 Nov. 21 Notre Dame — Nov. 28 Syracuse W, 28-7 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Notre Dame leads 13-9 Last Meeting: Notre Dame 21, Boston College 6 (Nov. 10, 2012; Chestnut Hill, Mass.) Head Coach: Steve Addazio, 14-12 (3rd year) and 27-23 overall (5th year) 2014 Results: 7-6 overall, 4-4 ACC (4th Atlantic); fell 31-30 to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl Returning Starters: 8 (3 offense, 5 defense) 2015 Preseason Rankings: No. 56 by Athlon, No. 57 by Lindy's, No. 73 in Brian Fremeau's FEI and No. 84 in ESPN's FPI Did You Know?: Boston College's last league title was 2004, when it was Big East co-champs … With the game being at Fenway Park (home of the Boston Red Sox), the two teams will share the same sideline … The Irish will use the Red Sox locker room on game day ... Notre Dame is 6-0 in Shamrock Series games while averaging 36.7 points per game. Prediction: Notre Dame 27, Boston College 10 STRENGTH: Running Backs The Eagles still do not know who will be under center this fall, but there is no doubting the ability of the other players in their backfield. Running back Jon Hilliman headlines a position group that has depth and contrasting abilities to take advantage of match- ups against different defenses. Hilliman finished second on the Eagles in rushing (860 yards) as a true freshman last season, while his 13 touchdowns ranked second in the ACC. The 6-0, 224-pounder earning third-team All-ACC honors from both media and the league's coaches. Junior Myles Willis and sophomore Marcus Outlow provide depth. The 5-9, 194-pound Willis is a big-play threat, already ranking fourth in Boston College his- tory with 1,455 return yards. He played in 12 contests last year, ranked first in the ACC in kickoff return yardage and produced a 95-yard touchdown against Syracuse. If the new line can play well, Boston College could again have a great running game in 2015. WEAKNESS: Offensive Line The Eagles must replace their entire offensive line in 2015. Fifth-year senior guard Harris Williams does have extensive experience — he started 12 games in 2013 for a Boston College team that averaged 213 rushing yards a game, second in the ACC — but he's coming off an ankle injury in 2014 that sidelined him for the entire season. Three of the other projected starters are seniors, and the trio did play in all 12 regular-season games last year. But the fact that all three are entering their last season of eligibility with no starting experience is cause for concern. Sophomore guard Jon Baker — a three-star recruit and the No. 26 offensive guard nationally in the 2014 class according to Rivals — is the only non-senior slotted to start. The 6-3, 293-pounder played in nine games as a true freshman, including 24 snaps against Colorado State, a contest where the Eagles rushed for 239 yards and three touchdowns. BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES NOV. 21 • FENWAY PARK • BOSTON RETURNING LEADERS Rushing: RB Jon Hilliman (860 yards, 13 TD) Passing: QB Darius Wade (23 yards, 0 TD) Receiving: TE Dan Crimmins (305 yards, 0 TD) Tackles: DB Justin Simmons (76) Sacks: DE Malachi Moore (4) Interceptions: DB Justin Simmons (2) X-FACTOR: Running back Jon Hilliman ran for 860 yards and ranked second in the ACC with 13 rush- ing touchdowns as a true freshman in 2014. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN