2025 Boston College Football Spring Practice Central
Spring Practice #13 - April 8
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- A resounding theme of the 2025 spring season at Fish Field House has been competition. With 13 practices in the books so far - beginning from the first day on March 11, straight through into the second week of April - each player has taken an individual mantra to improve each day, and that has carried over to position rooms, and the offensive and defensive units as a whole.
Whether it's BC's offensive line matching up against their defensive line stalwarts, or the wide outs and the D-backs, the competition is what has fueled the intensity and patterns of improvement.
"It's brotherly love, going at it and competing every day," said Isaiah Farris. "We're striving for greatness." Farris saw action in 2024 primarily on special teams. He returned 12 punts for 68 yards, while also logging a tackle. During the spring, he's been part of an impressive Eagles' defensive back field that has made the most of each team session.
Head coach Bill O'Brien has seen the back-and-forth of BC's positional groups for the last four weeks and has been impressed.
"If one side is dominating the other, you've got to go back to the drawing board," the second-year head coach joked during Tuesday's media availability. "I think there's been a good back-and-forth and there are guys who have improved in both positions."
Newcomer VJ Wilkins has also come away impressed, nearly through his first spring season at the Heights, and was quick to laud the BC defensive backs. "They are probably some of the best DB's I have ever gone up against. I'm grateful for them because they're making me better everyday," said Wilkins. "I'm just going out there and working hard. Trying to understand the system better every day."
Wilkins joined the Eagles at mid-year, transferring from Campbell after hauling in 38 passes for 510 yards and six touchdowns during the 2024 campaign. The speedy 5-9 wide out has made an impression on his teammates.
"(VJ is a) Good receiver, good speed, good hands, tough to cover. He's gonna be a good fit for this team," said Farris.
But for there to be true competition - especially between the receivers and defensive backs - there needs to be a high level of performance. O'Brien pointed to the quarterbacks - Grayson James, Dylan Lonergan, and Shaker Reisig - as being a huge component of that.
"There's been some really good throws - that's key," O'Brien explained. "You need to have some quarterbacks who can spin the ball so that you can evaluate the wide receivers and the DB's. I think both groups have worked very, very hard and have had their moments. It's great to see."
Spring Practice #12 - April 5
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - On the second-to-last Saturday of the Spring season - with a crowded house and a BC legend on hand - Boston College approached practice number 12 with a eye on continued growth and improvement.
Matt Ryan - former BC quarterback and NFL MVP - was on hand to watch practice with his family. And before practice began at Fish Field House, Ryan took some time to address his fellow Eagles on the importance of this time of year, and the need to raise their floor.
"There's a reputation that guys from here have in the NFL. Detailed, tough, dependable, hard-working guys," Ryan said. "And that's the reputation you need to live up to."
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the future Pro Football Hall of Fame spent 15 seasons in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Indianpolis Colts, compiling nearly 63,000 passing yards and 381 touchdowns in his career. Ryan was named the league's Most Valuable Player in 2016.
"This is where you lay the foundation for next season - it's this time of year," Ryan added in his address to the team. "You don't rise to the occasion in critical situations, you sink to the level of your preparation. And that's what this time of year is for - it's to build that floor. You have the ceiling that you hope to achieve, to but you need to build a floor to be consistent. A floor for your performance, so that when you go out there every time you play, you know the level of your floor and exactly how you're going to perform.
Defensive lineman Sedarius McConnell took that advice to heart. Now a veteran in the D-Line room, McConnell saw action in 12 games in 2024, logging 14 tackles. He pointed to his teammates on the other side of the line of scrimmage as a group that shares in the commitment to daily excellence.
"The O Line - they're very tight and all the same page," McConnell explained. "We have a pretty good relationship with them, before every practice we always talk to each other, 'we're gonna get after it today.' In the locker room, walking to practice, pre-practice stretching, or whenever we start a period, we get after it and look to get better. They play with an edge, we play with an edge - iron sharpens iron."
Wide receiver Luke McLaughlin was also quick to point out the daily competition that has helped him and the offense improve throughout the spring.
"Each practice, I feel like we're getting better every day," he said. "We have the defense which is giving us great competition."
McLaughlin added, "I think we're doing really well. We've got 12 practices down, three more to go, just focusing on each day and getting better with every rep."
Spring Practice #10 - April 1
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Tuesday's practice was number 10 of 15, marking the two-thirds mark of the 2025 spring season. And if you thought the Boston College Eagles would be hitting a bit of rut, you would be wrong.
In fact, the high-level performances and paths of improvement seen through the first three weeks of spring ball started well before that. When asked if those gains on the gridiron could be dated back toward the 15 practices prior to the Pinstripe Bowl in December, head coach Bill O'Brien was in accord.
"That's a great point, a lot of these guys had a chance to play in the Nebraska game and practiced a lot for that game," O'Brien agreed. "And those are the guys who have really improved the most."
O'Brien, who met with the media following Tuesday's session at Fish Field House, pointed to Spring practice as one of the most consistent aspects of college football.
"Spring ball is the one thing that hasn't really changed that much. Ever since I started at Georgia Tech, you've always been allowed 15 practices over a five-week span, so I don't see a lot of changes," O'Brien said. "Spring ball is all about bringing the team together - physically, mentally getting as good as you can possibly be. For us, it's about establishing a physical identity and being as physical as possible within the rules of being in shells or full pads.
Wide receiver Reed Harris was also on the same page with his head coach. The redshirt sophomore ranked second on BC in receiving yards (486) and tied for second-most touchdowns (4) during the 2024 season, but got his big break due in large part to his performances on the practice field a year ago during the spring. His main focus is on doing his part - each and every day - on the field with the Eagles.
"Right now, we've got five practices left in spring ball, so just getting the most out of those five practices," Harris said. "From there, it's just improving on every aspect of the game. Going through summer, having a great summer, and then hitting the ground running once the season comes."
Fellow redshirt sophomore Carter Davis pointed to his matchups with the Eagles' offensive corps during each spring practice as a way he and the members of BC's defensive backfield have made improvements.
"Every day, we always have different matchups - releases, 1-on-1's - each and every day, one of us is getting a new person to go against," Davis detailed. "They're pushing us to go against different body types, different agility, different speed and footwork, and different play styles within the receiver room. All of them are elite players and great people and pushing us is only going to make us better."
Earlier in the spring, O'Brien pointed to the spring as one of the major segments of BC's 12-month football calendar. From summer conditioning to training camp, through the regular season and bowl preparation, then to winter conditioning into the spring, the sum of all of the parts truly equal a whole. And the best segment is the one you're in. For O'Brien, that means the spring.
"I love spring ball," O'Brien said. "I think it's a great chance to be around your team. I get the chance to be around this team each and every day, I really enjoy coaching this team, and I really enjoy spring ball."
Spring Practice #9 - March 29
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- While the 2025 season opener against Fordham is 154 days away, redshirt senior defensive end Quintayvious Hutchins is counting five particular Saturdays through March and April in Fish Field House as game days.
"It's another game day, you treat it as a game day," Hutchins said after the third Saturday practice of Spring ball. "That's how I feel - it's not just a scrimmage, it's another game. And another opportunity to get better."
Hutchins enters the upcoming season as a leader among the defensive ends. Last year, the Bessemer, Ala. product saw action in all 13 games, registering 31 total tackles (14 solo), logging 5.5 for a loss and 3.5 sacks. He ranked second behind All-American Donovan Ezeiruaku in quarterback hurries, with eight.
"I feel like we've still got a lot to learn and get better," said Hutchins. "Every day you can get better, there's never a standpoint of where you're done or you're finished. I feel like you can always get better throughout the week, throughout the day. We're not there yet.
On the other side of the ball, redshirt sophomore Eryx Daugherty agreed that Saturday's definitely have a different feel for the Eagles.
"I like to say that we bring the same juice every day, but it definitely means more. It amps us up, for sure," said Daugherty. "They're very helpful. We get to get a look at everybody, get a feel for what it's like to get hit and make contact with each other, as well as compete. It's a lot of fun."
The Troy, Mich. began his BC career on the defensive line, but made the switch to O-Line midway through the 2024 season and saw action in three games - including earning a start at right guard for BC's matchup with Nebraska at the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl.
Daugherty credits the veterans in the O-Line room, as well as OL coach Matt Applebaum, for making that transition a seamless one.
"Older guys like Logan Taylor, Jude Bowry, Dwayne Allick have all really stepped up to lead the room and helping us navigate through the changes upfront. They've been really big leaders," said Daugherty. "And I love Coach Applebaum. Coming in here originally, I played defensive line. I got switched over to O-Line and he was really helpful with me, helping me transition and learning how to play a new position. He's instrumental in our success. He's very good at coaching, very articulate in the way he wants us to approach things. He's a really great coach."
Spring Practice #7 - March 24
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Entering the third full week of spring practice - and a day after Boston College's 2025 Pro Day, Owen Stoudmire was able to reflect on two of his former defensive line mates.
"I learned a lot from Cam Horsley. He was a really good player, a very dominant player," the redshirt senior said after practice on Tuesday. "I think after the years of learning from a lot of good players before me, it's now my time to go ahead and step into that role and maximize it to the best of my ability."
"Donovan Ezeiruaku, Cam - we looked up to them. They were leaders, they were really good players," Stoudmire continued. "But we have a lot of really good players now - Kwan Williams, George Rooks, Sed McConnell - guys that have been with us and we'll definitely be ready to go."
A year ago, the 6-1, 284-pound defensive tackle saw action in all 13 games, earning two starts. In BC's win over North Carolina, Stoudmire made a season-high five tackles - including 1.5 for a loss. A week later against Pittsburgh, he registered two sacks. After redshirting the 2021 season, the Creston, Ohio product is entering his fifth season at the Heights and knows what being an Eagle is all about.
"The role of the nose tackle is to set the tone. In terms of physicality, toughness, it's very important," he said. "Making sure I come out every day and I'm one of those individuals who keeps the standard the standard. I've seen what it takes and to hold others to that standard, doing the things that Coach O'Brien talks about, and making sure I'm doing it myself."
On the other side of the ball, tight end transfer Ty Lockwood is entering his second full month in Boston. But he has quickly made a new home at BC.
"It has been a very smooth transition. I'm happy to be here, excited for the opportunity," Lockwood said. "Guys like Spencer (Dickow) and Britney (Pearson), as well as the coaching staff, they have helped me out and helped me get fresh. They know it's a little different being up north. The team is great, we're all pretty tight. It's been a great transition."
A four-star recruit from Thompson's Station, Tenn., Lockwood originally committed to Alabama. But through his comprehensive studies of other schools and offensive schemes, the 6-4, 240-pound tight end found his way north.
"I was obviously at a great school but I felt like there were more opportunities out there, especially with one of my buddies - my quarterback and my roommate - coming up to Boston," Lockwood explained. I had previous connections to the coaching staff - Coach Lawing and Coach O'Brien - the first month there at 'Bama. I thought it was a great fit."
"When I went in the portal, that's what I studied a lot," he added. "There were a lot of schools reaching out and I always wanted to look at how they used the tight end and how the offense is catered to the tight end. Kamari and Jeremiah were outstanding last year."
His research partner through the process was his former teammate and roommate, quarterback Dylan Lonergan. Both had a connection with head coach Bill O'Brien during his time in Tuscaloosa. Both brought a pedigree and a work ethic to Boston College.
"They recruit good quarterbacks here, they recruit good players - you've seen that. I'm coming in here and Dylan (Lonergan) is coming in here," said Lockwood. "You're not guaranteed anything. You've got to come in and work for your spot. That's something we knew was going to happen. I'm so excited to be able to work with these guys. Coming in, as soon as I got here, they're so welcoming. We were throwing routes the second day I was here. It was a great connection, to get in here and immediately meet those guys."
Spring Practice #6 - March 22
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Much of the talk following Boston College spring football practice over the past two weeks has centered around veteran leadership. Whether it's head coach Bill O'Brien and his staff, or team leaders on the offensive and defensive side of the ball, the importance of having a veteran presence has been made loud and clear.
Senior tight end Jeremiah Franklin - who caught 27 passed for 311 yards and three touchdowns a season ago - sees his role as a veteran leader from two different perspectives.
"I can really count on those guys. Most people see freshmen and they kind of shoo them to the side. But our tight end room, just like last year, we're all super close," Franklin said following Saturday's practice. "We always go out to dinner, we are always checking up on each other and just hanging out with each other - it just connects us on and off the field."
But more than just serving as a mentor to his younger teammates, Franklin sees it as a true set of checks and balances.
"The freshmen make sure I'm on top of it, especially with all the questions that they ask. It helps me stay on top of the play book as much as I help them with their play book. It brings me back," he explained. "Everybody always talks about how much time flies and it really feels like yesterday that I was coming in for the first time. I'm just thinking about how much the tight end room has changed. People come and go and it brings me back to when I was just like them. But we all have the same job, whether you're a freshman or a senior, we all have to get better at football."
Defensive end Ty Clemons shares a similar view and value for the Eagle newcomers.
"I'm getting older - I graduate in May - but everybody has to step up, whether you're a senior or a freshman, we've all got to be better," said the senior from Decatur, Ala. "It's spring football, you have kids coming straight from high school. Of course they can't come into a Power 4 program and just know how everything is supposed to be. You have to help them along the way."
Clemons added, "I appreciate them. It takes all of us to be better. We know where we are trying to get to and it takes everybody. It can't just be seniors or juniors. We need the young guys and everyone stepping up to the plate."
Spring Practice #5 - March 20
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- At the one-third mark of the 2025 spring season, head coach Bill O'Brien thinks that that the Boston College football program is ahead of where the program was at this time last year.
"Right now, we're trying to take it one day at a time," O'Brien said. "I do feel like from an operational standpoint, we're ahead of where we were at this time last year."
One particular Eagle who is ahead of schedule, year-over-year, is redshirt junior Alex Broome. It was during the 2024 spring campaign that the Nashville, Tenn. running back suffered a knee injury that kept off the field during the 2024 campaign. But Broome is more than making up for lost time.
"It was a long 11 months. I remember at first, we're going out to do the walkthrough to play Florida State and it dawned on me that I wasn't going to be able to play. I'm very thankful to Mike (Vigneau) and his whole staff for getting me back," Broome said.
During the 2023 season, Broome appeared in 11 games, making one start. The 5-6 ball carrier rushed 60 times for nearly 300 yards and a touchdown as a sophomore. Throughout his rehabilitation process, returning to the field was the end goal. Broome said he had his welcome back moment this past Saturday.
"I think it was the first day in pads," Broome said. "It's always exciting. And that first hit is always like 'whoa, gotta keep going and speed it up a little.'"
Veteran defensive lineman George Rooks is also finding his groove, especially as a leader in the D-Line room. Rooks, who registered 26 tackles a season ago, is relishing his role as a veteran presence.
"Me, Q (Quintayvious Hutchins), Sed (Sedarius McConnell), Owen (McGowan), Ty (Clemons), Kwan (Williams) - we're all older guys and we're trying to figure out our voice," Rooks said. "Some people are non-vocal leaders that lead by example. If they see us run to the ball, the young guys will want to do that too. So it's up to us as the older guys to set the example for the younger guys, and for the young guys to see us and say 'hey, I need to do that.'"
Spring Practice #4 - March 18
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- As day one of week two of Boston College's spring football practice wrapped on Tuesday, head coach Bill O'Brien was asked to assess where the Eagles' are at this point, compared to a year ago. The second-year head coach was quick to credit the team's veteran leadership.
"I think that the guys who were here are doing a good job of leading and understanding - how to show the guys who just got here how to practice, how we move from drill to drill, how we meet, how we communicate," O'Brien said. "I think we are ahead when it comes to those types of things."
O'Brien singled out the work of Alex Broome, who is returning to the field after missing the 2024 campaign due to injury.
"I'm very proud of Alex Broome, he's just a shining example of what we're all about here at BC - good student, tough guy. I'm impressed with how he's playing," O'Brien said. "To come back from a knee injury almost a year ago, he did it at the end of last spring, he's done everything we've asked and he's having a good spring. We're very happy with where he's at."
The quarterback room is another high point early on in the spring. With a balance of veteran leadership showing the way and talented newcomers all rowing in the same direction, O'Brien said he was "very impressed with that group" following BC's fourth practice of the spring.
"That's a really good room. Grayson (James) and Dylan (Lonergan) are doing a really good job," O'Brien added. "Grayson knows the offense, he's been here for a year. He's a very smart guy, very competitive guy. Dylan basically just got here abd he's a very, very bright guy. They're both talented. Shaker Reisig, who's a freshman, he's also doing very well. Very impressed with that group, no doubt about it."
James - a redshirt senior - saw action in six games in 2024, earning the start in five - including the Eagles' bowl game against Nebraska. He finished 2024 - his first season in the Maroon & Gold - completing 106 passes for 1,202 yards and six touchdowns.
"I know my role has changed as an expected voice and an expected leader," James said. "I have an expectation every single day to show up and I look forward to living up to those expectations, whether that's from the coaches or players. We all have a standard here at BC and that's to be the best player you can be and help this team win games."
Lonergan arrives at the Heights after spending two seasons at Alabama, where he was recruited by O'Brien to Tuscaloosa.
"That definitely helped, him recruiting me all through high school," Lonergan said. "Having that relationship helped."
While the relationship with the head coach existed, the new bonds he is forging with his teammates - especially at his position - is growing exponentially by the day.
"It's been very good building those relationships, that's been the main goal since I got here - earn the respect of my teammates - and they've all been really good to me so far," Lonergan explained. "Getting to know the guys, they've all been really good. And getting to know the offense, just taking it day-by-day. We're all close, Shaker, Jacobe (Robinson), Grayson, we're competing every day - trying to learn the offense and competing. It's been great."
James agreed, pointing out the tight knit bond with the signal callers.
"I love being around those guys, I feel like we have a good camaraderie already and everybody in our room is talented from top to bottom. Shaker, Dylan, Jacobe I love all those guys, I love being around them," James said. "They're smart football minds and we're constantly pushing each other whether it's on the field or in the meeting room."
Spring Practice #3 - March 15
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- On a sunny Saturday at Fish Field House, practice no. 3 of the 2025 Boston College Football spring season saw the first practice in pads for the Eagles.
Following practice, defensive coordinator Tim Lewis met with the media, along with offensive lineman Jude Bowry and defensive back Cameron Martinez.
Martinez, entering his second full season with the Eagles, feels more comfortable in year two with the Eagles - and has been impressed with how locked in the team has been this early on in the spring.
"For me, this feels a lot different. In a good way," Martinez said. "I'm more comfortable, a year under my belt on the defense. But it's all about elevating the team."
Lewis, now in his second full season as the Eagles' defensive coordinator and his 38th season in coaching, spoke of how the unit is evolving - especially team's philosophy of replacing national sack leader and All-American Donovan Ezeirauku.
"It's hard to replace those great ones," Lewis detailed. "We're going to keep coaching and teaching and let the scheme play itself out. We've got some really talented players and the scheme is evolving. With some of the new coaches we've added, there are some new ideas, and things they bring to us that can help."
On the offensive line, there is a similar need for the BC depth to shine. Bowry spoke of that "next-man up" mentality as he takes on more of a leadership role in the O-Line room.
"I had Ozzy (Trapilo) on the other side - I still talk to him to this day. I'm trying to take that role as far as giving the younger guys advice - trying to be that leader this year," said Bowry. "The older guys, you pick their brain and try to learn how to be a leader and a great player, and how to prepare week-in and week-out. How to be a pro ultimately - they approached each day and attacked each day with a lot of effort."
Throughout the spring, the Eagles will hold three weekly practice sessions - on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday - from March 11-April 12. Practices are closed to the public.
Spring Practice #2 - March 13
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- The second practice of the 2025 Boston College Football spring season was held Thursday at Fish Field House, with the Eagles getting into the flow on both sides of the ball.
Following practice, offensive coordinator Will Lawing met with the media, along with offensive lineman Logan Taylor and defensive back Max Tucker. The Eagles' OC also praised the efforts of running back Alex Broome, who has returned to action this spring after missing the 2024 season due to injury.
"Alex is always going to know what to do. In pass protection, he knows exactly who he’s got, he understands the structure of the defense... he is a very smart football player. Everything we coach and teach, he does it exactly like we talk about. It’s really nice to have him back."
Lawing also lauded the versatility of the Eagles' offensive line throughout the day.
"Coach Applebaum does a great job of mixing those guys around. None of them are pencilled in in certain spots - they're always moving around throughout practice," Lawing said. It’s a different group of five constantly. We certainly have some veterans in there and a lot of players that are able to go from position to position and not miss a beat. Those guys are doing a great job."
Taylor agreed, citing the different O-Line combinations as a product of tight-knit room.
"We had the bowl game with a couple of younger guys able to step up, so we’ve been able to mould and kind of get closer as a group," said Taylor. "And then in the offseason, we were doing a great job of taking our own time out of the day to get to know each other, do reps, do different combinations. We’re really looking forward to getting these 15 practices in."
On the defensive side, Tucker spoke of the high compete level that has already been established early on in the spring.
"We’re playing a lot of good coverage on them and they’re giving us a lot of good routes. To play these good receivers is gonna prepare us for the season. The friendly competition - iron sharpening iron - it is going to help us and help them as well.”
Throughout the spring, the Eagles will hold three weekly practice sessions - on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday - from March 11-April 12. Practices are closed to the public.
Spring Practice #1 - March 11
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- The 2025 Boston College Football spring season is underway. The first of 15 practices over the next five weeks was held this morning at Fish Field House, as head coach Bill O'Brien held a two-hour practice with his Eagles' squad.
Following practice, Coach O'Brien met with the media, along with wide receiver Lewis Bond and defensive back KP Price. Heading into his second full spring campaign, O'Brien framed day one in 2025 as compared to a year ago.
"I think that these guys have a better idea of how we practice, this day today compared to this day a year ago," he said. "Definitely from a tempo standpoint for understanding how we do things, drills, all the different things that go into how we practice. I think it was better, but we've got a long way to go but we are definitely a little bit farther ahead than where we were at this point."
Confidence was the name of the game from the players, especially Price.
"We're all stepping on the field with confidence and experience, and I look forward to this year," the junior defensive back said.
The Eagles will hold three weekly practice sessions - on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday - from March 11-April 12. Practices are closed to the public.
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- A resounding theme of the 2025 spring season at Fish Field House has been competition. With 13 practices in the books so far - beginning from the first day on March 11, straight through into the second week of April - each player has taken an individual mantra to improve each day, and that has carried over to position rooms, and the offensive and defensive units as a whole.
Whether it's BC's offensive line matching up against their defensive line stalwarts, or the wide outs and the D-backs, the competition is what has fueled the intensity and patterns of improvement.
"It's brotherly love, going at it and competing every day," said Isaiah Farris. "We're striving for greatness." Farris saw action in 2024 primarily on special teams. He returned 12 punts for 68 yards, while also logging a tackle. During the spring, he's been part of an impressive Eagles' defensive back field that has made the most of each team session.
Head coach Bill O'Brien has seen the back-and-forth of BC's positional groups for the last four weeks and has been impressed.
"If one side is dominating the other, you've got to go back to the drawing board," the second-year head coach joked during Tuesday's media availability. "I think there's been a good back-and-forth and there are guys who have improved in both positions."
Newcomer VJ Wilkins has also come away impressed, nearly through his first spring season at the Heights, and was quick to laud the BC defensive backs. "They are probably some of the best DB's I have ever gone up against. I'm grateful for them because they're making me better everyday," said Wilkins. "I'm just going out there and working hard. Trying to understand the system better every day."
Wilkins joined the Eagles at mid-year, transferring from Campbell after hauling in 38 passes for 510 yards and six touchdowns during the 2024 campaign. The speedy 5-9 wide out has made an impression on his teammates.
"(VJ is a) Good receiver, good speed, good hands, tough to cover. He's gonna be a good fit for this team," said Farris.
But for there to be true competition - especially between the receivers and defensive backs - there needs to be a high level of performance. O'Brien pointed to the quarterbacks - Grayson James, Dylan Lonergan, and Shaker Reisig - as being a huge component of that.
"There's been some really good throws - that's key," O'Brien explained. "You need to have some quarterbacks who can spin the ball so that you can evaluate the wide receivers and the DB's. I think both groups have worked very, very hard and have had their moments. It's great to see."
Spring Practice #12 - April 5
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - On the second-to-last Saturday of the Spring season - with a crowded house and a BC legend on hand - Boston College approached practice number 12 with a eye on continued growth and improvement.
Matt Ryan - former BC quarterback and NFL MVP - was on hand to watch practice with his family. And before practice began at Fish Field House, Ryan took some time to address his fellow Eagles on the importance of this time of year, and the need to raise their floor.
"There's a reputation that guys from here have in the NFL. Detailed, tough, dependable, hard-working guys," Ryan said. "And that's the reputation you need to live up to."
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the future Pro Football Hall of Fame spent 15 seasons in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Indianpolis Colts, compiling nearly 63,000 passing yards and 381 touchdowns in his career. Ryan was named the league's Most Valuable Player in 2016.
"This is where you lay the foundation for next season - it's this time of year," Ryan added in his address to the team. "You don't rise to the occasion in critical situations, you sink to the level of your preparation. And that's what this time of year is for - it's to build that floor. You have the ceiling that you hope to achieve, to but you need to build a floor to be consistent. A floor for your performance, so that when you go out there every time you play, you know the level of your floor and exactly how you're going to perform.
Defensive lineman Sedarius McConnell took that advice to heart. Now a veteran in the D-Line room, McConnell saw action in 12 games in 2024, logging 14 tackles. He pointed to his teammates on the other side of the line of scrimmage as a group that shares in the commitment to daily excellence.
"The O Line - they're very tight and all the same page," McConnell explained. "We have a pretty good relationship with them, before every practice we always talk to each other, 'we're gonna get after it today.' In the locker room, walking to practice, pre-practice stretching, or whenever we start a period, we get after it and look to get better. They play with an edge, we play with an edge - iron sharpens iron."
Wide receiver Luke McLaughlin was also quick to point out the daily competition that has helped him and the offense improve throughout the spring.
"Each practice, I feel like we're getting better every day," he said. "We have the defense which is giving us great competition."
McLaughlin added, "I think we're doing really well. We've got 12 practices down, three more to go, just focusing on each day and getting better with every rep."
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Tuesday's practice was number 10 of 15, marking the two-thirds mark of the 2025 spring season. And if you thought the Boston College Eagles would be hitting a bit of rut, you would be wrong.
In fact, the high-level performances and paths of improvement seen through the first three weeks of spring ball started well before that. When asked if those gains on the gridiron could be dated back toward the 15 practices prior to the Pinstripe Bowl in December, head coach Bill O'Brien was in accord.
"That's a great point, a lot of these guys had a chance to play in the Nebraska game and practiced a lot for that game," O'Brien agreed. "And those are the guys who have really improved the most."
O'Brien, who met with the media following Tuesday's session at Fish Field House, pointed to Spring practice as one of the most consistent aspects of college football.
"Spring ball is the one thing that hasn't really changed that much. Ever since I started at Georgia Tech, you've always been allowed 15 practices over a five-week span, so I don't see a lot of changes," O'Brien said. "Spring ball is all about bringing the team together - physically, mentally getting as good as you can possibly be. For us, it's about establishing a physical identity and being as physical as possible within the rules of being in shells or full pads.
Wide receiver Reed Harris was also on the same page with his head coach. The redshirt sophomore ranked second on BC in receiving yards (486) and tied for second-most touchdowns (4) during the 2024 season, but got his big break due in large part to his performances on the practice field a year ago during the spring. His main focus is on doing his part - each and every day - on the field with the Eagles.
"Right now, we've got five practices left in spring ball, so just getting the most out of those five practices," Harris said. "From there, it's just improving on every aspect of the game. Going through summer, having a great summer, and then hitting the ground running once the season comes."
Fellow redshirt sophomore Carter Davis pointed to his matchups with the Eagles' offensive corps during each spring practice as a way he and the members of BC's defensive backfield have made improvements.
"Every day, we always have different matchups - releases, 1-on-1's - each and every day, one of us is getting a new person to go against," Davis detailed. "They're pushing us to go against different body types, different agility, different speed and footwork, and different play styles within the receiver room. All of them are elite players and great people and pushing us is only going to make us better."
Earlier in the spring, O'Brien pointed to the spring as one of the major segments of BC's 12-month football calendar. From summer conditioning to training camp, through the regular season and bowl preparation, then to winter conditioning into the spring, the sum of all of the parts truly equal a whole. And the best segment is the one you're in. For O'Brien, that means the spring.
"I love spring ball," O'Brien said. "I think it's a great chance to be around your team. I get the chance to be around this team each and every day, I really enjoy coaching this team, and I really enjoy spring ball."
Spring Practice #9 - March 29
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- While the 2025 season opener against Fordham is 154 days away, redshirt senior defensive end Quintayvious Hutchins is counting five particular Saturdays through March and April in Fish Field House as game days.
"It's another game day, you treat it as a game day," Hutchins said after the third Saturday practice of Spring ball. "That's how I feel - it's not just a scrimmage, it's another game. And another opportunity to get better."
Hutchins enters the upcoming season as a leader among the defensive ends. Last year, the Bessemer, Ala. product saw action in all 13 games, registering 31 total tackles (14 solo), logging 5.5 for a loss and 3.5 sacks. He ranked second behind All-American Donovan Ezeiruaku in quarterback hurries, with eight.
"I feel like we've still got a lot to learn and get better," said Hutchins. "Every day you can get better, there's never a standpoint of where you're done or you're finished. I feel like you can always get better throughout the week, throughout the day. We're not there yet.
On the other side of the ball, redshirt sophomore Eryx Daugherty agreed that Saturday's definitely have a different feel for the Eagles.
"I like to say that we bring the same juice every day, but it definitely means more. It amps us up, for sure," said Daugherty. "They're very helpful. We get to get a look at everybody, get a feel for what it's like to get hit and make contact with each other, as well as compete. It's a lot of fun."
The Troy, Mich. began his BC career on the defensive line, but made the switch to O-Line midway through the 2024 season and saw action in three games - including earning a start at right guard for BC's matchup with Nebraska at the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl.
Daugherty credits the veterans in the O-Line room, as well as OL coach Matt Applebaum, for making that transition a seamless one.
"Older guys like Logan Taylor, Jude Bowry, Dwayne Allick have all really stepped up to lead the room and helping us navigate through the changes upfront. They've been really big leaders," said Daugherty. "And I love Coach Applebaum. Coming in here originally, I played defensive line. I got switched over to O-Line and he was really helpful with me, helping me transition and learning how to play a new position. He's instrumental in our success. He's very good at coaching, very articulate in the way he wants us to approach things. He's a really great coach."
Spring Practice #7 - March 24
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Entering the third full week of spring practice - and a day after Boston College's 2025 Pro Day, Owen Stoudmire was able to reflect on two of his former defensive line mates.
"I learned a lot from Cam Horsley. He was a really good player, a very dominant player," the redshirt senior said after practice on Tuesday. "I think after the years of learning from a lot of good players before me, it's now my time to go ahead and step into that role and maximize it to the best of my ability."
"Donovan Ezeiruaku, Cam - we looked up to them. They were leaders, they were really good players," Stoudmire continued. "But we have a lot of really good players now - Kwan Williams, George Rooks, Sed McConnell - guys that have been with us and we'll definitely be ready to go."
A year ago, the 6-1, 284-pound defensive tackle saw action in all 13 games, earning two starts. In BC's win over North Carolina, Stoudmire made a season-high five tackles - including 1.5 for a loss. A week later against Pittsburgh, he registered two sacks. After redshirting the 2021 season, the Creston, Ohio product is entering his fifth season at the Heights and knows what being an Eagle is all about.
"The role of the nose tackle is to set the tone. In terms of physicality, toughness, it's very important," he said. "Making sure I come out every day and I'm one of those individuals who keeps the standard the standard. I've seen what it takes and to hold others to that standard, doing the things that Coach O'Brien talks about, and making sure I'm doing it myself."
On the other side of the ball, tight end transfer Ty Lockwood is entering his second full month in Boston. But he has quickly made a new home at BC.
"It has been a very smooth transition. I'm happy to be here, excited for the opportunity," Lockwood said. "Guys like Spencer (Dickow) and Britney (Pearson), as well as the coaching staff, they have helped me out and helped me get fresh. They know it's a little different being up north. The team is great, we're all pretty tight. It's been a great transition."
A four-star recruit from Thompson's Station, Tenn., Lockwood originally committed to Alabama. But through his comprehensive studies of other schools and offensive schemes, the 6-4, 240-pound tight end found his way north.
"I was obviously at a great school but I felt like there were more opportunities out there, especially with one of my buddies - my quarterback and my roommate - coming up to Boston," Lockwood explained. I had previous connections to the coaching staff - Coach Lawing and Coach O'Brien - the first month there at 'Bama. I thought it was a great fit."
"When I went in the portal, that's what I studied a lot," he added. "There were a lot of schools reaching out and I always wanted to look at how they used the tight end and how the offense is catered to the tight end. Kamari and Jeremiah were outstanding last year."
His research partner through the process was his former teammate and roommate, quarterback Dylan Lonergan. Both had a connection with head coach Bill O'Brien during his time in Tuscaloosa. Both brought a pedigree and a work ethic to Boston College.
"They recruit good quarterbacks here, they recruit good players - you've seen that. I'm coming in here and Dylan (Lonergan) is coming in here," said Lockwood. "You're not guaranteed anything. You've got to come in and work for your spot. That's something we knew was going to happen. I'm so excited to be able to work with these guys. Coming in, as soon as I got here, they're so welcoming. We were throwing routes the second day I was here. It was a great connection, to get in here and immediately meet those guys."
Spring Practice #6 - March 22
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Much of the talk following Boston College spring football practice over the past two weeks has centered around veteran leadership. Whether it's head coach Bill O'Brien and his staff, or team leaders on the offensive and defensive side of the ball, the importance of having a veteran presence has been made loud and clear.
Senior tight end Jeremiah Franklin - who caught 27 passed for 311 yards and three touchdowns a season ago - sees his role as a veteran leader from two different perspectives.
"I can really count on those guys. Most people see freshmen and they kind of shoo them to the side. But our tight end room, just like last year, we're all super close," Franklin said following Saturday's practice. "We always go out to dinner, we are always checking up on each other and just hanging out with each other - it just connects us on and off the field."
But more than just serving as a mentor to his younger teammates, Franklin sees it as a true set of checks and balances.
"The freshmen make sure I'm on top of it, especially with all the questions that they ask. It helps me stay on top of the play book as much as I help them with their play book. It brings me back," he explained. "Everybody always talks about how much time flies and it really feels like yesterday that I was coming in for the first time. I'm just thinking about how much the tight end room has changed. People come and go and it brings me back to when I was just like them. But we all have the same job, whether you're a freshman or a senior, we all have to get better at football."
Defensive end Ty Clemons shares a similar view and value for the Eagle newcomers.
"I'm getting older - I graduate in May - but everybody has to step up, whether you're a senior or a freshman, we've all got to be better," said the senior from Decatur, Ala. "It's spring football, you have kids coming straight from high school. Of course they can't come into a Power 4 program and just know how everything is supposed to be. You have to help them along the way."
Clemons added, "I appreciate them. It takes all of us to be better. We know where we are trying to get to and it takes everybody. It can't just be seniors or juniors. We need the young guys and everyone stepping up to the plate."
Spring Practice #5 - March 20
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- At the one-third mark of the 2025 spring season, head coach Bill O'Brien thinks that that the Boston College football program is ahead of where the program was at this time last year.
"Right now, we're trying to take it one day at a time," O'Brien said. "I do feel like from an operational standpoint, we're ahead of where we were at this time last year."
One particular Eagle who is ahead of schedule, year-over-year, is redshirt junior Alex Broome. It was during the 2024 spring campaign that the Nashville, Tenn. running back suffered a knee injury that kept off the field during the 2024 campaign. But Broome is more than making up for lost time.
"It was a long 11 months. I remember at first, we're going out to do the walkthrough to play Florida State and it dawned on me that I wasn't going to be able to play. I'm very thankful to Mike (Vigneau) and his whole staff for getting me back," Broome said.
During the 2023 season, Broome appeared in 11 games, making one start. The 5-6 ball carrier rushed 60 times for nearly 300 yards and a touchdown as a sophomore. Throughout his rehabilitation process, returning to the field was the end goal. Broome said he had his welcome back moment this past Saturday.
"I think it was the first day in pads," Broome said. "It's always exciting. And that first hit is always like 'whoa, gotta keep going and speed it up a little.'"
Veteran defensive lineman George Rooks is also finding his groove, especially as a leader in the D-Line room. Rooks, who registered 26 tackles a season ago, is relishing his role as a veteran presence.
"Me, Q (Quintayvious Hutchins), Sed (Sedarius McConnell), Owen (McGowan), Ty (Clemons), Kwan (Williams) - we're all older guys and we're trying to figure out our voice," Rooks said. "Some people are non-vocal leaders that lead by example. If they see us run to the ball, the young guys will want to do that too. So it's up to us as the older guys to set the example for the younger guys, and for the young guys to see us and say 'hey, I need to do that.'"
Spring Practice #4 - March 18
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- As day one of week two of Boston College's spring football practice wrapped on Tuesday, head coach Bill O'Brien was asked to assess where the Eagles' are at this point, compared to a year ago. The second-year head coach was quick to credit the team's veteran leadership.
"I think that the guys who were here are doing a good job of leading and understanding - how to show the guys who just got here how to practice, how we move from drill to drill, how we meet, how we communicate," O'Brien said. "I think we are ahead when it comes to those types of things."
O'Brien singled out the work of Alex Broome, who is returning to the field after missing the 2024 campaign due to injury.
"I'm very proud of Alex Broome, he's just a shining example of what we're all about here at BC - good student, tough guy. I'm impressed with how he's playing," O'Brien said. "To come back from a knee injury almost a year ago, he did it at the end of last spring, he's done everything we've asked and he's having a good spring. We're very happy with where he's at."
The quarterback room is another high point early on in the spring. With a balance of veteran leadership showing the way and talented newcomers all rowing in the same direction, O'Brien said he was "very impressed with that group" following BC's fourth practice of the spring.
"That's a really good room. Grayson (James) and Dylan (Lonergan) are doing a really good job," O'Brien added. "Grayson knows the offense, he's been here for a year. He's a very smart guy, very competitive guy. Dylan basically just got here abd he's a very, very bright guy. They're both talented. Shaker Reisig, who's a freshman, he's also doing very well. Very impressed with that group, no doubt about it."
James - a redshirt senior - saw action in six games in 2024, earning the start in five - including the Eagles' bowl game against Nebraska. He finished 2024 - his first season in the Maroon & Gold - completing 106 passes for 1,202 yards and six touchdowns.
"I know my role has changed as an expected voice and an expected leader," James said. "I have an expectation every single day to show up and I look forward to living up to those expectations, whether that's from the coaches or players. We all have a standard here at BC and that's to be the best player you can be and help this team win games."
Lonergan arrives at the Heights after spending two seasons at Alabama, where he was recruited by O'Brien to Tuscaloosa.
"That definitely helped, him recruiting me all through high school," Lonergan said. "Having that relationship helped."
While the relationship with the head coach existed, the new bonds he is forging with his teammates - especially at his position - is growing exponentially by the day.
"It's been very good building those relationships, that's been the main goal since I got here - earn the respect of my teammates - and they've all been really good to me so far," Lonergan explained. "Getting to know the guys, they've all been really good. And getting to know the offense, just taking it day-by-day. We're all close, Shaker, Jacobe (Robinson), Grayson, we're competing every day - trying to learn the offense and competing. It's been great."
James agreed, pointing out the tight knit bond with the signal callers.
"I love being around those guys, I feel like we have a good camaraderie already and everybody in our room is talented from top to bottom. Shaker, Dylan, Jacobe I love all those guys, I love being around them," James said. "They're smart football minds and we're constantly pushing each other whether it's on the field or in the meeting room."
Spring Practice #3 - March 15
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- On a sunny Saturday at Fish Field House, practice no. 3 of the 2025 Boston College Football spring season saw the first practice in pads for the Eagles.
Following practice, defensive coordinator Tim Lewis met with the media, along with offensive lineman Jude Bowry and defensive back Cameron Martinez.
Martinez, entering his second full season with the Eagles, feels more comfortable in year two with the Eagles - and has been impressed with how locked in the team has been this early on in the spring.
"For me, this feels a lot different. In a good way," Martinez said. "I'm more comfortable, a year under my belt on the defense. But it's all about elevating the team."
Lewis, now in his second full season as the Eagles' defensive coordinator and his 38th season in coaching, spoke of how the unit is evolving - especially team's philosophy of replacing national sack leader and All-American Donovan Ezeirauku.
"It's hard to replace those great ones," Lewis detailed. "We're going to keep coaching and teaching and let the scheme play itself out. We've got some really talented players and the scheme is evolving. With some of the new coaches we've added, there are some new ideas, and things they bring to us that can help."
On the offensive line, there is a similar need for the BC depth to shine. Bowry spoke of that "next-man up" mentality as he takes on more of a leadership role in the O-Line room.
"I had Ozzy (Trapilo) on the other side - I still talk to him to this day. I'm trying to take that role as far as giving the younger guys advice - trying to be that leader this year," said Bowry. "The older guys, you pick their brain and try to learn how to be a leader and a great player, and how to prepare week-in and week-out. How to be a pro ultimately - they approached each day and attacked each day with a lot of effort."
Throughout the spring, the Eagles will hold three weekly practice sessions - on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday - from March 11-April 12. Practices are closed to the public.
Spring Practice #2 - March 13
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- The second practice of the 2025 Boston College Football spring season was held Thursday at Fish Field House, with the Eagles getting into the flow on both sides of the ball.
Following practice, offensive coordinator Will Lawing met with the media, along with offensive lineman Logan Taylor and defensive back Max Tucker. The Eagles' OC also praised the efforts of running back Alex Broome, who has returned to action this spring after missing the 2024 season due to injury.
"Alex is always going to know what to do. In pass protection, he knows exactly who he’s got, he understands the structure of the defense... he is a very smart football player. Everything we coach and teach, he does it exactly like we talk about. It’s really nice to have him back."
Lawing also lauded the versatility of the Eagles' offensive line throughout the day.
"Coach Applebaum does a great job of mixing those guys around. None of them are pencilled in in certain spots - they're always moving around throughout practice," Lawing said. It’s a different group of five constantly. We certainly have some veterans in there and a lot of players that are able to go from position to position and not miss a beat. Those guys are doing a great job."
Taylor agreed, citing the different O-Line combinations as a product of tight-knit room.
"We had the bowl game with a couple of younger guys able to step up, so we’ve been able to mould and kind of get closer as a group," said Taylor. "And then in the offseason, we were doing a great job of taking our own time out of the day to get to know each other, do reps, do different combinations. We’re really looking forward to getting these 15 practices in."
On the defensive side, Tucker spoke of the high compete level that has already been established early on in the spring.
"We’re playing a lot of good coverage on them and they’re giving us a lot of good routes. To play these good receivers is gonna prepare us for the season. The friendly competition - iron sharpening iron - it is going to help us and help them as well.”
Throughout the spring, the Eagles will hold three weekly practice sessions - on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday - from March 11-April 12. Practices are closed to the public.
Spring Practice #1 - March 11
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- The 2025 Boston College Football spring season is underway. The first of 15 practices over the next five weeks was held this morning at Fish Field House, as head coach Bill O'Brien held a two-hour practice with his Eagles' squad.
Following practice, Coach O'Brien met with the media, along with wide receiver Lewis Bond and defensive back KP Price. Heading into his second full spring campaign, O'Brien framed day one in 2025 as compared to a year ago.
"I think that these guys have a better idea of how we practice, this day today compared to this day a year ago," he said. "Definitely from a tempo standpoint for understanding how we do things, drills, all the different things that go into how we practice. I think it was better, but we've got a long way to go but we are definitely a little bit farther ahead than where we were at this point."
Confidence was the name of the game from the players, especially Price.
"We're all stepping on the field with confidence and experience, and I look forward to this year," the junior defensive back said.
The Eagles will hold three weekly practice sessions - on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday - from March 11-April 12. Practices are closed to the public.
