The Tailgate: Jay McGillis Memorial Spring Game

Spring Game Graphic Image ft. unidentified BC player in white jersey leaping, while surrounded by identical unidentified BC players in maroon jerseys.

The Tailgate: Jay McGillis Memorial Spring Game

April 13, 2023 | Football

Watch: ACCNX Springfest 2023 BC Football

The 2023 Jay McGillis Memorial Spring Game kicks off Boston College's second annual Springfest Saturday at 11 a.m.

By: Athletic Communications

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Boston College football annual Jay McGillis Memorial Spring Game marks the culmination of the Eagles' spring season. Divided into two units for an intra-squad scrimmage featuring Offense vs. Defense, head coach Jeff Hafley's team takes to the field on Saturday, April 15 for an 11 a.m. "kickoff" inside Alumni Stadium. Admission is free with gates opening at 9 a.m. for a youth clinic. The game will be streamed live on ACCNX with ESPN's Kevin Connors and former BC linebacker Mark Herzlich on the call.

ON THE HEADSET

The Boston College sidelines features several new faces and personnel in new roles. Rob Chudzinski was elevated to a full-time coaching role as the Associate Head Coach for Offense and Offensive Development, while quarterbacks coach Steve Shimko ascends to the role of Offensive Coordinator. Wide receivers coach Darrell Wyatt also gained the title of Passing Game Coordinator. Operating in a familiar scheme installed by Hafley upon his arrival to BC, assistant coaches Aazaar Abdul-Rahim (defensive backs) and Sean Duggan (linebackers) take over the defense as Co-Defensive Coordinators. Hafley rounded out hsi staff by bringing in former head coach Paul Rhoads as his outside linebackers coach.

THE QUARTERBACKS

Emmett Morehead emerged as Boston College's starting quarterback late in his redshirt-freshman season. Morehead went over 300 yards in three of four starts and was one of the just freshman (redshirt or true) signal callers with multiple games of 325-plus yards and two or more touchdowns as he reached the mark on three occasions. In competition for the back-up QB spot is fourth-year player Matthew Rueve, who has seen action in practice with the twos since the fall. Highlighting a group of six early enrollees from the 2023 signing class is quarterback Jacobe Robinson of Henderson, Texas, who will immediately compete for a spot on the two-deep.

NEW EAGLES

The Eagles also added 14 new players for the spring semester, including eight players through the transfer portal and six early enrollees from BC's latest signing class. Boston College bulked up its secondary and offensive line depth in a big way by adding three and two players, respectively. The defensive backs group added Khari Johnson (Arkansas), Victor Nelson (Long Island) and Alex Washington (Harvard), while the o-line picked up Kyle Hergel (Texas State) and Logan Taylor (Virginia). An exciting addition for the offense is wide receiver Ryan O'Keefe (UCF), who accounted for over 1,000 all-purpose yards in each of the last two seasons

O-LINE NEW

With the addition of Hergel on the interior and Taylor at tackle plus the return of All-ACC guard Christian Mahogany, the Boston College o-line has gained significant depth as its looks to reclaim its spot as O-Line U in the national landscape. The Eagles, who were without Mahogany for all of last season and lost 21 starts from linemen that were in the week one lineup, also return center Drew Kendall to anchor the line from the middle. Kendall was a Freshman All-American last season. BC also brings back starting left tackle Ozzy Trapilo plus the versatile Jack Conley and young Jude Bowry in a loaded position group.

SPRINGFEST

BC's Springfest continues across campus on Saturday with softball and No. 11 BC baseball in action on the Brighton campus at 1 and 2 p.m., respectively. Both teams will be wearing yellow and blue, Boston Marathon-inspired uniforms to honor One Boston Day and the 10th anniversary of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. First responders will be honored at the games and a fanfest event, featuring a touch-a-truck, will be in the parking lot outside the Harrington Athletics Village. Following the conclusion of the Jay McGillis Memorial Spring Game, the No. 7 BC women's lacrosse team takes the field at Alumni Stadium for its Senior Day.