Boston College Athletics
Ross Gets The Nod At Tailback
August 26, 2004 | Football
Aug. 26, 2004
Sophomore Jeff Ross will start at tailback when the Eagles open the 2004 season at Ball State, Coach Tom O'Brien announced Thursday. O'Brien also plans to give redshirt freshman L.V. Whitworth a close look early in the game at Ball State. "Both performed extremely well in camp," O'Brien says. "Jeff Ross will start and work the first two series, then we'll give L.V. a shot in the next two." Ross, Whitworth and redshirt freshman Andre Callender will have big shoes to fill as they seek to replace all-time rushing leader Derrick Knight and to carry on the tradition of BC running backs to rush for 1,000-plus yards in a season. An Eagle running back has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of the past six seasons. O'Brien's announcement came as he released the first depth chart of the 2004 season. As announced earlier in the week, senior Paul Peterson will start at quarterback, backed up by redshirt freshman Matt Ryan. Barring unforeseen injuries, senior Quinton Porter, who started the first 10 games of the 2003 season, will redshirt this season. Peterson and Ross will operate behind a rebuilt offensive line anchored by junior center Patrick Ross and left tackle Jeremy Trueblood, both all-star candidates. Redshirt freshman Gosder Cherilus has been given the nod at the other tackle position while sophomores James Marten and Josh Beekman will start at guard, filling the shoes of graduated All-Big East first-teamers Chris Snee and Augie Hoffmann. Sophomore Mark Palmer will start at fullback, backed up by senior Everett Lee, a former walk-on. Starting tight end David Kashetta will be backed up by junior Chris Miller and redshirt freshman Trey Koziol. On the other side of the ball, the Eagles will bring an experienced defensive line to the field led by 2003 starters Phillip Mettling and preseason All-America selection Mathias Kiwanuka at the end spots and senior Tim Bulman and junior Al Washington at tackle. Starting middle linebacker Ray Henderson will be backed up by redshirt freshman Jolonn Dunbar, who stood out in spring and fall drills. Junior Ricky Brown will start at one outside slot, backed up by redshirt freshman Tyronne Pruitt. Junior Jon Misiewicz gets the other starting nod, backed up by true freshman Brian Toal. Redshirt freshman Jamie Silva asserted himself in fall drills and has been selected to start at strong safety, backed up by sophomore Ryan Glasper. Senior T.J. Stancil returns at free safety along with corners Will Blackmon and Peter Shean. The Eagles are young in the kicking game as both the starting punter (Johnny Ayers) and place-kicker (Ryan Ohliger) are true freshmen. The team welcomes the return of long snapper Francois Brochu, who was sidelined all of last season with a wrist injury.
