2007 Boston College Eagles College Football Picks & Predictions

June 5, 2008 | Posted By Larry Cook

Boston College has a new head coach in Jeff Jogodzinski following a 10-3 season. His first job is to bolster the offense up to nearly 250 passing yards and 150 rushing yards per game to make this unit more dynamic. That is what his Eagles teams did when he was the offensive coordinator in 1997 and 1998 before embarking on a nine-year pro coaching career. Senior quarterback Matt Ryan has to reach his potential, then achieving that benchmark shouldn’t be a problem.

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Jagodzinski says that Ryan reminds him of Matt Hasselback and Matt Shaub, two guys who will be starting in the NFL this season. Ryan now just has to live up to the praise that his head coach is barking. Ryan earned first-team All-ACC honors last year with nearly 3,000 passing yards and 15 touchdowns. He will be supported again by the one-two punch of tailbacks L.V. Whitworth and Andre Callender. They have combined for nearly 4,200 career rushing yards.

The Eagles will be desperately relying on their running game if a couple players don’t step up at receiver. Junior Brandon Robinson and senior Kevin Challenger are the only experience returnees and will have to carry a heavy load. Challenger missed the spring semester and any football action with a medical condition. The bread and butter of this team is their offensive line, and this unit should be strong once again. Senior tackle and NFL prospect Gosder Cherilus leads the way. Starting center Kevin Sheridan and guard Ryan Poles are also back into the mix.

The Eagles’ defense was a big reason for the team’s 2006 success by allowing just 15.7 points per game. Boston College football returns their entire front four, led by the gigantic inside duo of senior B.J. Raji and junior Ron Brace. These standouts made it hard for opposing teams to run up the middle last season. Senior Nick Larkin has emerged as a star at end and sophomore Brady Smith earned some important experience last season.

A shoulder injury kept linebacker Brian Toal from competing in spring drills. He could decide to redshirt, but even then the Eagles shouldn’t miss a beat. Senior Jolonn Dunbar is back after leading the club in tackles last season with 92. Senior Tyron Pruitt and junior Robert Francois combined for 100 tackles a year ago and proved they could hold their own at linebacker. Cornerback Dejoan Tribble is one of the country’s most electric players. He earned second-team All-ACC status after returning three interceptions for touchdowns. He is a true playmaker. The team’s all-time leader in tackles with 185 returns in free safety Jamie Silva. Silva could put that mark out of reach this season.

The Eagles will be tested early by defending league champ Wake Forest and N.C. State. Fortunately they get both games at home and a 2-0 start to the season could lead to big things for this program in Jagodzinski’s first season as head coach. The Eagles should put plenty of points on the board. With a stingier defense, a league title is very possible.

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