Secret No More: Eagles Ready For 2018

Preseason media days sometimes feel like an exercise in repetition. The same teams always seem to draw the lion's share of attention, and the same, occasionally-tired storylines permeate countless interviews. Coaches and players often are asked the same questions because the expectations never really seem to change.

The 2018 ACC Kickoff felt different, though, thanks to the new team reintroducing itself as Tobacco Road's party crashers. Boston College earned that reputation and respect because of last year's expectations, and this year's event provided the backdrop for heightened expectations and optimism surrounding the Maroon and Gold.

"We've had some good teams at BC over the past four years, but I think this year, we have 16 seniors back," tight end Tommy Sweeney said. "We have a lot of guys who have played before, and we've come a long way. We've been through a lot, and I think that adds up a lot as far as how this year is going to go. Not only do we have a lot of talent, but we have a lot of hard work and grit that's been on the field for a long time."

The Eagles earned swagger last year with big moments in key games, but it's often tempered by the time media days roll around. Expectations are usually tempered by a team's reputation, and a strong finish to last season doesn't always translate to increased attention in Charlotte. The old guard of Clemson, Florida State, Virginia Tech and others are always ranked at or near the top, while schools like BC can feel overlooked.

The changing tides are now clearly and obviously visible. ESPN ranked the Eagles as the No. 4 team in the preseason conference power rankings, and nobody is simply asking BC how it expects to compete in league games. The Eagles aren't even a so-called "sleeper pick" anymore; it's hard to feign surprise when experts are predicting a move back to the top of the Atlantic Division for the first time in almost a decade.

There's good reason for those expectations given the team's potential. Sophomore AJ Dillon is a potential Heisman Trophy running back, and he will run behind one of the nation's deepest and most experienced offensive lines. Quarterback Anthony Brown will be back to full health, and Sweeney is one of the nation's elite pass-catching tight ends. Kobay White is a top-flight wide receiver capable of stretching defenses.

"(Anthony) is doing fantastic," head coach Steve Addazio said. "He's been cut free to full activity, and Anthony is a very, very competitive guy. He's been training really, really hard. It was a shame (when he was injured). He was really starting to peak, as was our team, which speaks to the importance level of the quarterback position. But Anthony is a high-level player. We've got three more years of Anthony Brown in the ACC, and I think you're going to see him rise."

"As you get older, your role increases in the locker room and on the field," Sweeney said. "Our offense is very complementary, so being a tight end, if I can play great in the run game and be a good run blocker, it'll open up for me down the seams, on the outside, in play action and stuff like that. The evolution of the whole offense has really contributed to my personal evolution in a big way. Each year we progress and we've gotten better, and it kind of correlates to my personal play."

It combines with a defensive returning players at the right positions. Zach Allen is a workhorse on the defensive line, and Lukas Denis and Will Harris are "the next ones" in a long line of BC defensive backs. Connor Strachan returns from an injury that allowed players like John Lamot to blossom at linebacker. It's a unit comprised from versatile players who learned on the fly. A trial-by-fire in 2016 and 2017 bred intelligence and experience, which in turn bred critical depth.

"We brought John to Boston College because he was a high school quarterback," Addazio said. "He was a great athlete, and he's transitioned over to playing linebacker. He's amazing. He's a natural athlete. He's got great acceleration to the ball. He's part of that linebacker crew that had like five (players) go down. All these new guys like John came in and played at a high level, (so) now we've got the whole pool of them."

"What makes us so special (as a team) is just our depth," Allen said. "You've seen how many different guys have started or played in games, (but it's) also our attitude about it. All those projections are nice and (it's) nice to have good press, but nobody has really kind of bought into it. They haven't slacked off. I think we've worked harder than we ever have, and I'm excited to see what will happen this year."

On paper, the coaching staff finally has its blueprint. Injuries and a lack of depth forced BC to play some players before they were ready, but those players are now bigger, stronger and more experienced. They've passed that experience to other players who were also forced into early playing time. It's now a locker room built by shared experience, tied together by a glue every team looks for but few are able to find.

"I'm a big believer in chemistry," Addazio said. "I just feel that's what college football is all about, and there has to be a passion and love for each other. These guys have got to believe that they're the most important thing to (the coaching staff), that we're going to do everything we can to make it great for them. That's part of being part of a family. It's easy to love these guys. They're great kids, and we have a team of (great kids). There's a chemistry in our locker room that we're not going to let each other down, and we're going to fight for each other."

Players Mentioned

Zach Allen

Anthony Brown

Lukas Denis

AJ Dillon

Will Harris

John Lamot

Connor Strachan

Tommy Sweeney

Kobay White

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