Boston College Athletics
Senior Defensive Leaders Stepping Up
August 11, 2015 | Football
Two days of camp, two days of entirely different weather.
On Monday - when camp opened -- there were blue skies, sun and warmth. Tuesday? Rain, wind and a bite to the air. It was a great early reminder of what fall football can be like in New England.
But despite the changes in conditions, BC players continued with one goal in mind: grow and develop as the season opener approaches on Saturday, Sept. 5 against Maine.
Just two days into practice -- both without pads -- senior leaders on the defensive side of the ball cherish the opportunity to help the young players adjust to BC and head coach Steve Addazio's system.
"There's a bunch of excitement," senior linebacker Steven Daniels said. "Guys, from the end of spring until now, we've just been working out, looking at each other, doing combine drills and stuff like that. Guys are just excited to get out here and play with the football. Guys just want to go!"
As the only senior among the linebacker corps, Daniels embraces his role with the younger players, making sure to show them the ropes.
"(There are) Not a lot of older guys, and being out here with a bunch of younger guys, we're just trying to find a way give them as much knowledge as we have," Daniels added. "Those guys need leadership. So that's what we're here to provide. We have a lot of experience and we're just working as hard as possible. We know what it takes. When we think we reach the point that we know what it takes, we're going to push ourselves a little bit farther."
Senior defensive back Justin Simmons echoed Daniels' thoughts as the team prepares to don pads for the first time on Wednesday.
"It went pretty well, it went pretty well," Simmons said of the first two days of practice. "I feel like we're coming out -- the secondary and myself -- and we're trying to get our stuff together and came out today with great energy and hopefully that transitions to the rest of camp."
Daniels and Simmons are expected to lead a defense that returns six starters and 16 total letterwinners after losing five starters from 2014.
While Simmons emerged as a defensive leader in 2014, he -- as well as his veteran teammates -- is being called on to help the young squad.
"I'm really just leaning on my teammates to help me in that aspect," Simmons said. "I know I'm taking an even bigger leadership role this season, but guys like John Johnson, Steve Daniels and Connor Wujciak and the support system I have in this defense with the coaches, as well, I know that I can succeed on the field being that leader because I have such a great support system in guys that are really laying it all down on the line with each other."
Two days down, only 25 days until BC football returns to the field.
