BC Football Announces Early Signing Recruiting Class

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Interim head coach Rich Gunnell announced the signing of nine student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday during the early signing period. The new group of Eagles featured two defensive backs, two tight ends to go along with a running back, defensive lineman, offensive lineman, linebacker and a wide receiver.

"This group speaks a lot to who we recruit and who we have on our team," said Gunnell. They are a loyal group of guys that stayed committed to Boston College. They want to come to BC and start building relationships with their new teammates."

In all, the latest additions to the BC family hail from Massachusetts, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Maryland.

"I think we bring in true leaders and student-athletes," said Gunnell. "We've got a couple of defensive backs that we're excited about; Denzel Blackwell and Jason Scott. Long guys that can cover and run. We're excited about our hometown kid, Ozzy Trapilo. His father played here. He's a big, strong, athletic offensive lineman with a high ceiling."

Gunnell spoke about the two tight ends coming in to the Heights.

"This class has two really good tight ends," added Gunnell. "One tough kid from Pennsylvania, Hans Lillis we had in camp, who's a competitor. Another tight end, Charlie Gordinier, from New Jersey, who is a skilled athlete and can run. He's got really good hands and is a phenomenal basketball player."

One position Gunnell knows quite well is wide receiver with the addition of Taji Johnson to Boston College.

"A nice, long receiver from Georgia, Taji Johnson, just won a state championship," Gunnell stated. "At running back, Andre Hines is going to be a big, strong athlete. He's another one that just won a state championship. We look forward to those guys bringing their winning ways to the Heights."

Gunnell also spoke about a pair of Jersey high school defensive standouts heading to Chestnut Hill.

"We're excited about Cam Horsley from South Jersey, another bigger body guy with strong hands. Korey Smith went 8-0 at Peddie School. He's another Jersey kid. We love his leadership skills. He will be a plugger inside as a backer for us."

Boston College is expected to sign additional student-athletes to National Letters of Intent in February as well.

Denzel Blackwell
Defensive Back
5-10, 170
Houston, Texas/Strake Jesuit

Three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals … ranked as the No. 100 prospect in the state of Texas by Rivals … led team to a pair of consecutive appearances in the Texas state playoffs … played for head coach Klay Kubiak … key performer of a Fighting Crusaders squad that went 10-3 his senior season … three-year starter and a team captain for the Crusaders … in his junior year, he helped lead Strake Jesuit to a 6-1 District 23-6A finish and an overall 10-2 record, as well as a resounding 55-7 playoff victory over Friendswood Clear Brook High … 2018 District 23-6A Second Team honors and was among the prestige few to be selected to the Touchdown Club of Houston's 2019 preseason All-Greater Houston UIL team … member of the Crusaders relay team that won first place in the 4×100-meter relay with a time of 40.72 … son of Kevin Blackwell and Lisa Wilson.

Charlie Gordinier
Tight End
6-5, 225
Monmouth Beach, N.J./Red Bank Catholic

A three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals … rated as the No. 19 prospect in the state of New Jersey and the No. 31 tight end in the country by 247Sports … No. 18 player in the state and No. 31 at tight end by Rivals … ranked as the No. 21 recruit in the Garden State and No. 24 tight end in the nation by ESPN … Shore Conference Coaches' All-Division linebacker … No. 26 recruit in New Jersey according to NJ.com … Asbury Park Press All-Shore first-team selection on defense … 89 tackles, had 11 tackles for a loss, three sacks, four quarterback hurries, forced two fumbles and batted down two passes as a senior … helped Red Bank Catholic win the Non-Public, Group 3 title in 2018 … NJ.com all-state first-team selection on defense … NJ.com Non-Public first-team selection on defense … son of Karl and Patty Gordinier.

Andre Hines
Running Back
6-2, 215
Staten Island, N.Y./Erasmus Hall

Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals … projected as the No. 10 player in the state of New York and No. 66 running back in the country by 247Sports … No. 4 player in the state by Rivals and No. 41 running back in the nation … rated as the No. 13 player in the Empire State by ESPN … helped guide Erasmus Hall to the PSAL City Championship in New York as a senior … MVP of the 2018 PSAL City Championship game at Yankee Stadium with two touchdowns to lead the Dutchmen to the title as a junior …rushed for 1,118 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior … averaged 9.2 yards per carry as a senior … son of Andre Hines Sr. and Viola Jeffrey.

Cam Horsley
Defensive Tackle
6-2, 275
Riverton, N.J./Cinnaminson

Rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports and ESPN … the No. 37 prospect in New Jersey by 247Sports, No. 40 by Rivals and No. 34 by ESPN … West Jersey Football League first team … Burlington County Times All-County selection … played for head coach Mario Patrizi at Cinnaminson … two-way standout at offensive tackle and defensive tackle … NJ.com Top 50 recruit in the state of New Jersey … also a standout pitcher and first baseman on the baseball diamond … son of Craig and Kim Horsley.

Taji Johnson
Wide Receiver
6-4, 200
Powder Springs, Ga./Marietta

A three-star prospect by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN… ranked as the No. 114 recruit from the state of Georgia by 247Sports and No. 117 by ESPN … hauled in 51 passes for 661 yards and three touchdowns as a junior … key performer in the 17-9 win against Lowndes in the Class AAAAAAA high school football state championship game as a senior … Marietta finished the year ranked No. 13 nationally by USA Today … key play for the Blue Devils in the state semifinals … hauled in a 69-yard touchdown pass with 1:41 remaining to clinch the win … fought off two defenders over the final 10 yards to reach the end zone … son of Eugene Johnson and Adair White-Johnson.

Hans Lillis
Tight End
6-4, 235
Gwynedd Valley, Pa./Germantown Academy

A three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN… the No. 18 player in Pennsylvania and No. 67 tight end in the country by 247Sports… ranked as the No. 17 recruit in the state by Rivals… No. 17 ranked prospect from the Keystone State and No. 35 tight end by ESPN… Reporter/Times Herald All-Area first-team … first-team all-Inter-Academic League selection. ... 2019 All-Intelligencer Football Offense selection … three-year starter on both offense and defense (defensive end) for the Patriots ... helped Patriots go 8-2 as a senior, including a huge win over Penn Charter … son of Scott and Sandra Lillis.

Jason Scott
Defensive Back
6-0, 170
Laurel, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel

A three-star prospect by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN … rated as the No. 36 player in the state of Maryland by 247Sports and No. 32 by Rivals … the No. 37 recruit in the state and No. 84 safety in the country by ESPN … Washington Post All-Met honorable mention selection … played in seven games before an injury ended his season … 39 tackles, two sacks, one TFL, two interceptions and three pass breakups as a senior … son of Jason and Andrea Scott.

Korey Smith
Linebacker
6-1, 240
Brightwood, Va./The Peddie School

Four-star recruit by Rivals and three-star prospect by 247Sports and ESPN … the top inside linebacker in New Jersey according to 247Sports … ranked as the No. 11 player in the state of New Jersey by 247Sports and Rivals and the No. 12 player in the state by ESPN … the No. 9 inside linebacker in the country by ESPN, No. 17 by 247Sports and No. 19 by Rivals … No. 2 inside linebacker prospect in New Jersey according to Rivals … 92 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 12 tackles behind the line of scrimmage his senior season … son of Kenyon Smith and Barbara Ariaya-Smith.

Ozzy Trapilo
Offensive Line
6-8, 275
Norwell, Mass./Boston College High School

A four-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals and a three-star by ESPN … ranked as the No. 2 prospect from the state of Massachusetts by 247Sports, No. 4 by Rivals and No. 6 by ESPN … the No. 19 offensive tackle in the country by 247Sports and No. 25 by Rivals as well as No. 65 from ESPN … 2019 MIAA All-State first team … son of Kim Trapilo and the late Steve Trapilo, who passed away in 2004 … his father was an All-American offensive lineman at BC and later played in the NFL.

BC Football Announces Early Signing Recruiting Class

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