Focus: Running Backs
August 16, 2019 | Football
Preseason All-ACC selection heads a deep group of backs charging toward BC's 2019 season opener.
Returners: David Bailey (So.), Javian Dayne (RFr.), AJ Dillon (Jr.), Ben Glines (Gr.), Travis Levy (Jr.), Peter Stehr (RFr.), Andrew Strader (RJr.)
Newcomers: Patrick Garwo (Fr.), Quin Stott (Fr.)
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Dillon enters his junior season on the All-ACC Preseason Team plus spots on the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award watch lists. After a breakout freshman campaign, in which he rushed for 1,589 yards and 14 touchdowns, he finished with 1,108 yards and 10 scores in just 10 games as he was slowed by an ankle injury in the Eagles' fifth game of 2018. Dillon looked to be at full strength in the brief SERVPRO First Responder game; scoring a 17-yard touchdown at the Cotton Bowl before the game was cancelled. Through just two seasons, he ranks ninth all-time in BC with 2,697 rushing yards; 1,042 behind the Eagles' all-time leader Andre Williams.
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Glines was utilized as a running back and receiver in the BC offense last season and Levy is expected to take on a similar role in 2019. Glines provided 589 all-purpose yards a year ago, including 380 on the ground. He gained 120 yards on 23 carries against Temple; carrying the offense after Dillon's sustained injury. Levy has been a valuable third-down style back in the run game and in the pass game as both a receiver and pass blocker. He hauled in 19 catches for 160 yards, while adding 215 rushing yards on 49 carries with two touchdowns in a game at Virginia Tech after Dillon left the game due to a sideline collision.
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Bailey's style as a running back reflects Dillon's power run-game abilities. He was the primary back in the Eagles' 38-20 win over Louisville with 112 yards on 28 carries. Bailey finished the season with 57 attempts for 253 yards and two scores.
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"We have more than one home run hitter in the backfield. There are going to be games where [Dillon is] going to just -- you know, if he's healthy, he's going to carry a huge load. That's what great tailbacks do, but we will be conscious and pick and choose, and, of course, you need that depth, as you just documented.
"We've got David Bailey behind A.J., who's another 200-pound back. He's not a freshman anymore. He's a totally different guy right now. He's in phenomenal shape and understands exactly offensively, schematically what we're doing. So look for him to be another big back that has great ability.
"Then, of course, Travis Levy and Ben Glines have played tailback and won games for us. Travis Levy went on the road and was an integral part of beating Virginia Tech and really kind of took that game over. Both those guys are playing dual roles as receivers/tailbacks, and they're outstanding. I mean, they have great speed, great vision. So you have these two big bangers, one of which has got freak speed, and then you've got these other two guys that are extremely athletic with great ball skills coming out of the backfield."
Newcomers: Patrick Garwo (Fr.), Quin Stott (Fr.)
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Dillon enters his junior season on the All-ACC Preseason Team plus spots on the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award watch lists. After a breakout freshman campaign, in which he rushed for 1,589 yards and 14 touchdowns, he finished with 1,108 yards and 10 scores in just 10 games as he was slowed by an ankle injury in the Eagles' fifth game of 2018. Dillon looked to be at full strength in the brief SERVPRO First Responder game; scoring a 17-yard touchdown at the Cotton Bowl before the game was cancelled. Through just two seasons, he ranks ninth all-time in BC with 2,697 rushing yards; 1,042 behind the Eagles' all-time leader Andre Williams.
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Glines was utilized as a running back and receiver in the BC offense last season and Levy is expected to take on a similar role in 2019. Glines provided 589 all-purpose yards a year ago, including 380 on the ground. He gained 120 yards on 23 carries against Temple; carrying the offense after Dillon's sustained injury. Levy has been a valuable third-down style back in the run game and in the pass game as both a receiver and pass blocker. He hauled in 19 catches for 160 yards, while adding 215 rushing yards on 49 carries with two touchdowns in a game at Virginia Tech after Dillon left the game due to a sideline collision.
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Bailey's style as a running back reflects Dillon's power run-game abilities. He was the primary back in the Eagles' 38-20 win over Louisville with 112 yards on 28 carries. Bailey finished the season with 57 attempts for 253 yards and two scores.
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THE STATS
#2 Dillon, AJ- 2018: 227 attempts, 1,108 yards, 10 touchdowns, 8 receptions; Career: 527 attempts, 2,697 yards, 24 touchdowns
- Rushing: 68 attempts, 380 yards, 3 touchdowns; Receiving: 12 receptions, 170 yards, 4 touchdowns
- 2018: 49 attempts, 215 yards, 2 touchdowns, 19 receptions, 160 yards; Career: 70 attempts, 269 yards, 2 touchdowns, 34 receptions, 313 yards
- 57 attempts, 253 yards, 2 touchdowns
THE RUNNING BACK ROOM
Strader is another versatile back that can contribute in both the pass and return games after seeing action in two games last season with two kick returns for 36 yards against UMass… Stehr saw a strong year of development, while redshirting a season ago, put him in a position to provide depth in the back field… After redshirting in 2018, Dayne will sit out 2019 due to injury… Garwo comes to the Heights as the top-rated running back in Pennsylvania and the No. 30 RB prospect in the nation by 247Sports… Stott, originally from Newburyport, posted 1,476 all-purpose yards at The Governor's Academy last season as the New England Prep School Class B Player of the Year.WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Steve Addazio, Head Coach"We have more than one home run hitter in the backfield. There are going to be games where [Dillon is] going to just -- you know, if he's healthy, he's going to carry a huge load. That's what great tailbacks do, but we will be conscious and pick and choose, and, of course, you need that depth, as you just documented.
"We've got David Bailey behind A.J., who's another 200-pound back. He's not a freshman anymore. He's a totally different guy right now. He's in phenomenal shape and understands exactly offensively, schematically what we're doing. So look for him to be another big back that has great ability.
"Then, of course, Travis Levy and Ben Glines have played tailback and won games for us. Travis Levy went on the road and was an integral part of beating Virginia Tech and really kind of took that game over. Both those guys are playing dual roles as receivers/tailbacks, and they're outstanding. I mean, they have great speed, great vision. So you have these two big bangers, one of which has got freak speed, and then you've got these other two guys that are extremely athletic with great ball skills coming out of the backfield."
Players Mentioned
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