A few final thoughts heading into Week 1

Fordham Week is here.

On the surface that doesn’t sound like much, it should be a blowout. But, the start of this year is arguably one of the most anticipated in my lifetime. Or, at least in the last decade or so.

It’s a fork-in-the-road type year for the Eagles with the current landscape of college football. There’s a lot more than just respectability on the line this year. Is BC truly capable of keeping itself in the national picture? Or, is the program just destined for 6-6, 7-5 for the next decade again?

Bill O’Brien and his staff have had a legitimate, full offseason and made their mark in the transfer portal and in recruiting. Now, it all lies in the development.

Here’s a few final thoughts I’ve got heading into next Saturday (my sixth year covering the Eagles)…

The development

Already off to a great start it seems. Young receivers VJ Wilkins (Campbell transfer) and freshmen Nedrick Boldin Jr. and Dawson Pough should see opportunities early behind The Big Three of Bond, Skeete and Harris. Their speed is evident, they pluck the football when appropriate and they get open. You can’t ask for much more. Now, they have to do it in a game and then continue doing it successfully, but so far, so good.

Freshmen running backs Bo MacCornack (BB&N) and Mekhi Dodd (CM) have made their presence known early, especially MacCormack. Alabama transfer Ty Lockwood and freshman Kaelan Chudzinski have been outstanding throughout the summer behind Jeremiah Franklin and could make that room the deepest its been in years.

Arguably the best story could end up being Vaughn Pemberton. The transfer RB from Ball State has made the switch to LB and could be an impact guy there. Guys in the secondary like Syair Torrence and Omar Thornton appear like they’re going to be big pieces of the puzzle.

Not now or never, but it’s close

Like I said earlier, this feels like a ‘fork-in-the-road’ type of year. They’ve paid some legitimate transfer guys (not SEC money, but it’s been a fine start). They’ve recruited really well it appears. There’s depth at just about every position, especially the skill positions. Penalties were way down last year, which means the stupid football has mostly been eliminated.

It’s all about finishing.

Can BC turn those close losses into close wins? Can they get a big stop instead of giving up that last 3rd-&-3 that allows a team to run out the clock? Can they be better before the half and not give teams momentum? Can they play the field position game on special teams without going for it on 4th-&-everything and handing other teams the ball at midfield?

Bill O’Brien has talked recently about how he believes BC can be the ‘5th team in Boston’ when it comes to gaining attention from the general public and not just the BC sickos. The only way that happens – and he’s talked about this too – is by playing entertaining, winning football. The crowd continues to have reasons to leave by halftime and they do. That has to change. Clemson, Notre Dame and SMU NEED to be close going into the fourth quarter. The other home games absolutely need to be a showcase of talent rather than ugly 17-14 slogs.

This 2025 roster is put together well. There’s no reason BC can’t compete in every single game it plays and get people invested (assuming health of course). It’s up to them to bring back those glory day-type nights at Alumni.

Sticking with my record prediction

I said I would re-asses after camp. Having been there for just about every practice, I’m still really, really high on the Eagles and going with 9-3. I genuinely believe it’s the best offensive roster I’ve seen and I’ve been around since 1988. They may not have the absolute stars like Matt Ryan, Will Blackmon, AJ Dillon or Zay Flowers, but there’s a ton of really good talent at each position.

I do stil have questions with linebacker aside from Daveon Crouch, but man, people are sleeping on the front I think. Even with Owen Stoudmire out (still unsure of how long), there’s players like Sedarius McConnell and Chuck Naaeto that can stop the run. Edge guys Q Hutchins and new addition Favor Bate are problems. The secondary will be elite.

It may just be because I wasn’t a diehard BC fan growing up and haven’t been traumatized by the past, but I really do believe this is the season it all changes for the better.