Boston College Athletics
Harold Landry leads the nation with 15 sacks in 2016.
Photo by: John Quackenbos
Landry Earns New England Player of the Year Accolade
November 30, 2016 | Football
Strachan joins Landry on All-New England defense
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Boston College junior defensive end Harold Landry has been named the Division I Gold Helmet of the Year Award recipient, given annually to the top player in New England by the New England Football Writers' Association. Landry is the seventh Eagle in school history to receive the award and the first since 1998.
In addition, Landry was joined on the 2016 Division I All-New England defense with Boston College teammate Connor Strachan.
Both players were key cogs on a Boston College team that finished 6-6 overall and earned its third bowl trip in four seasons under head coach Steve Addazio.
Landry joins a list of former Boston College standouts who have won the Gold Helmet of the Year Award including linebacker Pete Cronan (1976), linebacker Jeff Dziama (1979), quarterback Doug Flutie (1982, 1984), defensive lineman Mike Ruth (1985), tight end Pete Mitchell (1994) and running back Mike Cloud (1998). The Gold Helmet of the Year Award began in 1974.
Boston College ranked as one of the nation's top defenses the entire season. Currently, the Eagles rank ninth in the nation and second in the ACC in total defense allowing just 310.6 yards per game. BC has allowed just 106.9 rushing yards per game, sixth-best nationally and second in the conference.
BC is also among the top-20 defenses nationally in third down conversion percentage defense (12th, 31.9%), fourth down conversion percentage defense (17th, 36.4%), first down defense (9th, 184), fumbles recovered (10th, 12), sacks (10th, 3.25 per game), tackles-for-loss (15th, 7.7 per game) and turnovers gained (20th, 23).
Landry, an All-ACC second-team selection, has put together one of the best seasons in the nation in 2016. The North Carolina native is tied for the national lead with 15 sacks and leads the country with seven fumbles forced. Landry rewrote the Boston College single-season record for sacks in 2016, breaking the old mark of 13 held by Eric Storz (1997) and Mike Mamula (1994). Landry is tied for fourth in the country with 20.5 tackles-for-loss, the second-best total in Boston College single-season history behind only Mathias Kiwanuka's 25.5 TFLs in 2004.
Strachan earned All-ACC honors for the first time after the junior led the Eagles with 70 tackles in 2016. The Wellesley native shared the team-lead in solo tackles (40) with Milano. Appearing in 11 games including 11 starts, Strachan is third on the team with 10.0 tackles-for-loss and led the Eagles with four fumble recoveries. The four fumbles recovered rank second nationally. In addition, Strachan finished the regular season with 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble.
Boston College will find out its bowl destination Sunday, Dec. 4. It will be the 25th bowl appearance in school history and the 15th in the last 18 years for the Eagles.
In addition, Landry was joined on the 2016 Division I All-New England defense with Boston College teammate Connor Strachan.
Both players were key cogs on a Boston College team that finished 6-6 overall and earned its third bowl trip in four seasons under head coach Steve Addazio.
Landry joins a list of former Boston College standouts who have won the Gold Helmet of the Year Award including linebacker Pete Cronan (1976), linebacker Jeff Dziama (1979), quarterback Doug Flutie (1982, 1984), defensive lineman Mike Ruth (1985), tight end Pete Mitchell (1994) and running back Mike Cloud (1998). The Gold Helmet of the Year Award began in 1974.
Boston College ranked as one of the nation's top defenses the entire season. Currently, the Eagles rank ninth in the nation and second in the ACC in total defense allowing just 310.6 yards per game. BC has allowed just 106.9 rushing yards per game, sixth-best nationally and second in the conference.
BC is also among the top-20 defenses nationally in third down conversion percentage defense (12th, 31.9%), fourth down conversion percentage defense (17th, 36.4%), first down defense (9th, 184), fumbles recovered (10th, 12), sacks (10th, 3.25 per game), tackles-for-loss (15th, 7.7 per game) and turnovers gained (20th, 23).
Landry, an All-ACC second-team selection, has put together one of the best seasons in the nation in 2016. The North Carolina native is tied for the national lead with 15 sacks and leads the country with seven fumbles forced. Landry rewrote the Boston College single-season record for sacks in 2016, breaking the old mark of 13 held by Eric Storz (1997) and Mike Mamula (1994). Landry is tied for fourth in the country with 20.5 tackles-for-loss, the second-best total in Boston College single-season history behind only Mathias Kiwanuka's 25.5 TFLs in 2004.
Strachan earned All-ACC honors for the first time after the junior led the Eagles with 70 tackles in 2016. The Wellesley native shared the team-lead in solo tackles (40) with Milano. Appearing in 11 games including 11 starts, Strachan is third on the team with 10.0 tackles-for-loss and led the Eagles with four fumble recoveries. The four fumbles recovered rank second nationally. In addition, Strachan finished the regular season with 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble.
Boston College will find out its bowl destination Sunday, Dec. 4. It will be the 25th bowl appearance in school history and the 15th in the last 18 years for the Eagles.
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