Tag: Boston College Eagles

Current Penn State coaches that could be a fit as Boston College’s next head coach

Could any of these Penn State assistants be a candidate for the Boston College vacancy?

The college football world received quite the surprise last night when Boston College Head Coach Jeff Hafley left his position to return to the NFL. He accepted the recently vacant defensive coordinator job of the Green Bay Packers, ending a four-year run with BC. It’s not often a Power Five school has a HC opening this far after the season, so finding a replacement is slightly trickier than usual.

Could this news affect Penn State? Head Coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] isn’t going anywhere of course, but two coaches on his staff have built strong resumes that could make them candidates for the BC job.

Let’s start with Penn State Associate Head Coach [autotag]Terry M. Smith[/autotag]. Smith has been instrumental to the Nittany Lions success in his nine years on the staff. He not only is their defensive recruiting coordinator but also the defensive backs coach. His ability to find and recruit elite defenders has turned Penn State into a consistent top-10 defense in the NCAA. He has also developed multiple defensive backs that made the jump to the NFL, with even more on the way this season.

Jeff Hafley himself is a defensive-minded coach with a specialty in defensive backs, so it may be too similar of a hire for BC to make. If they would be willing to overlook that, however, Smith could be due for a chance as the head man.

Another potential candidate is Penn State Assistant Head Coach and Co-Offensive Coordinator [autotag]Ja’Juan Seider[/autotag]. He has built a reputation as a strong recruiter and running backs coach, as well as helping with the offensive game planning the past two seasons. He would be a far departure from Hafley and could help breathe life into an offense that hasn’t been up to par the past few years.

It would be a big blow for Penn State to lose either Smith or Seider, but it would also be a testament to the staff that James Franklin has built. We should find out soon if either are in the running.

Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley is leaving for the NFL

In a strange turn of events, BC head coach Jeff Hafley is NFL-bound.

In a bit of a surprise, Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley is leaving college football to join the Green Bay Packers as their defensive coordinator. Hafley last coached in the NFL from 2016 to 2018 with the San Francisco 49ers as the defensive backs coach.

The newest Packers assistant has also made stops with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns, before returning to the collegiate game with the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2019.

Hafley becomes the latest member of the coaching carousel, in an offseason that has been full of twists and turns. According to the report by Pete Thamel of ESPN, Hafley wanted to focus on coaching football and not everything else that comes with being a coach at the FBS level.

“He wants to go coach football again in a league that is all about football,” a source told ESPN. “College coaching has become fundraising, NIL and recruiting your own team and transfers. There’s no time to coach football anymore.

“A lot of things that he went back to college for have disappeared.”

With Hafley now leaving to rejoin the NFL, the Boston College Eagles will need to find a new football coach just days before National Signing Day. Not an ideal situation but that is the hand dealt to BC.

The Eagles could look at a few different candidates but the top ones might include Notre Dame offensive coordinator Al Golden and Texas offensive coordinator Kyle Flood. Both have experience running programs but have remained as assistants in recent years.

Former Penn State head coach listed as candidate for sudden Boston College vacancy

The Athletic names former Penn State head coach Bill O’Brien a candidate for recent vacancy at Boston College.

Just when it seemed as though the college football coaching carousel was coming to a full and complete stop following late changes at Alabama and Michigan (and as a result, Washington), a new vacancy from a power conference program opened up on Wednesday. Boston College lost its head coach, Jeff Hafley, to become a defensive coordinator with the NFL’s Green Bay Packers. Given the timing of the head coaching change, Boston College is in a bit of a tough spot in finding a new leader for the program.

The dream scenario for Boston College would likely be to convince Bill Belichick to stay close to home and take over the program for a year after parting ways with the New England Patriots, but this is just a fun little scenario to play with (and now I’ve convinced myself the Eagles should totally try to make that work). But could there be another coach with ties to the New England area who could be a candidate for the job? And could that benefit Penn State as a result?

Ohio State recently named former Penn State head coach [autotag]Bill O’Brien[/autotag] as its new offensive coordinator. O’Brien became available with Alabama changing up its staff following the retirement of Nick Saban, and the move seemed to be a solid one for the Buckeyes, which of course would be bad news for Penn State. But The Athletic listed O’Brien as a potential candidate for the new Boston College job, and it may make some sense to consider.

“O’Brien is a Boston native who spent six years with the New England Patriots over two stints, including this past year as offensive coordinator,” notes The Athletic. Of course, O’Brien being on this type of list could be merely a formality. There are some other coaching candidates that would probably be more desirable for Boston College even at this late stage in the game.

But O’Brien leaving Ohio State wouldn’t be a bad thing for Penn State, depending on who Ohio State replaces him with, of course. If nothing else, it would remove the awkward moment when O’Brien returns to Beaver Stadium this fall in Ohio State attire.

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Quarterback Thomas Castellanos is the key to Boston College’s future success

If Boston College wants to join the 12-team playoff in 2024 it will be on the shoulders of the Eagles quarterback.

After a rollercoaster first year as a starter, marked by impressive stats but inconsistent play, Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos stands at a crucial point in his career.

Last season, he etched his name in BC lore as the first Eagles quarterback to pass for 2000 yards and rush for another 1000. This showcased a blend of arm strength and mobility. Alone, he made Boston College a fun-to-watch team in several games throughout the year.

Yet, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Castellanos was responsible for 24 turnover plays, a number that ranked him fourth among FBS quarterbacks who had a minimum of 150 dropbacks per Pro Football Focus.

His journey was peppered with highs and lows, reflecting a young athlete grappling with the complexities of Power Five football. With a year of experience and a winter of healing behind him, the spotlight will intensify.

The question on the lips of Eagle fans: Can Castellanos refine his raw talent into consistent excellence? As BC fans and coaches await with bated breath, this upcoming season promises to be a defining chapter in Castellanos’ burgeoning career and the Eagles’ football aspirations.

So, the burning question as Boston College gears up for the new season is, “What must Thomas Castellanos do to take the next step?”

Castellanos dazzled us with his arms and legs, but his 14 interceptions reveal a need for sharper decision-making. His first year starting was a patchwork of dazzling highs and frustrating lows. He often missed lurking defenders and telegraphed passes.

Solution? Enhanced film study and mental reps. With more experience and a deeper understanding of the offense, expect better anticipation and fewer risky throws. Also, focus on playing quarterback from the pocket, and not be so quick to tuck and run.

He will need to elevate his accuracy and ball placement if he wants to continue on the correct trajectory. With a 57.3% completion rate, Castellanos showed promise in short-range throws. However, his deep ball needs work, as indicated by a steep drop in accuracy beyond 10 yards. Focusing on consistent footwork and refining his throwing mechanics can boost his accuracy, particularly with longer throws.

Castellanos’ shift from an RPO-centric system to a more traditional setup at BC wasn’t seamless. The coaching staff must continue evolving the offense to play to his strengths. Maintaining a balance between pushing his development and leveraging his current skill set is key. Expect a mix of RPOs, quick throws, and designed runs, aiding his decision-making and playmaking abilities.

Castellanos has the raw talent to ascend as one of the ACC’s premier quarterbacks. He spent the second half of the season playing through injuries and it was noticeable. With focused offseason work, particularly on mental aspects and passing accuracy, he can lead the kind of offense that can sneak up on you and steal a game right from under your nose. 

SMU didn’t get the welcoming to the ACC they expected

The future members of the ACC received a rude welcoming on Thursday.

The 2023 college football season was the last for the SMU Mustangs as Group of Five members. Starting next season they will be playing in the ACC, much to the chagrin of the Florida State Seminoles.

One of those teams they would play against are the Boston College Eagles. As a matter of fact, the Ponies are set to host Boston College at Gerald J. Ford Stadium next season, the date is yet to be determined.

As far as this season, the Mustangs had an opportunity to prove their worth and earn the No. 12 win on the season. It looked good early on before it fell apart in the second half. Boston College ended up winning this future ACC battle, 23-14.

The big star of the day was Thomas Castellanos with his two touchdowns. Both of which came on the ground and in the fourth quarter. Overall, the dual-threat rushed for a game-high 156 yards and those two scoring runs of 14+ yards.

The SMU offense had no answer for Castellanos as they finished two drives with a punt, two drives ended via turnover on downs, and one missed field goal. Late in the game it was the Eagles offense that was able to put together consistent drives to put the game away.

Next time these two teams meet, perhaps it will go differently with Preston Stone under center. He missed the game after breaking his leg against Navy on Nov. 25 in the 59-14 win over the Midshipmen.

 

Ohio State safety Cam Martinez announces transfer destination

Former Ohio State safety is heading to the East Coast. #GoBucks

Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley has to be giddy with excitement. The former Ohio State defensive coordinator just landed his second former Buckeye from the transfer portal, Cameron Martinez. He is the second OSU defensive back to join the Eagles, joining Ryan Turner, who announced his commitment to Boston College last week.

Martinez appeared in three games for Ohio State this year after appearing in all 13 games last season. He was a four-star prospect in the 2020 class and was recruited to play in Columbus by Hafley before he left for the East Coast.

He redshirted his freshman year, meaning Martinez will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Martinez transfers to an Eagle team that finished 6-6 and will face SMU in the Fenway Bowl. The safety should be challenge for playing time right away.

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Former Ohio State cornerback Ryan Turner to transfer to ACC school

In case you missed it, a former OSU DB announced his transfer destination over the weekend. #GoBucks

The news of former Ohio State players that have entered the transfer portal choosing their new destinations continue. On Friday, cornerback Ryan Turner joined the fray by announcing his decision to transfer to Boston College.

It wasn’t much of a surprise to see Turner enter the transfer portal after falling behind several on the depth chart when it comes to the Buckeyes’ defensive back room. He committed to OSU as a three-star prospect in the 2022 class but redshirted as a freshman.

OSU then brought in several other recruits and transfers to add to a group that struggled in 2022, and as a result, he appeared in just five games with the Buckeyes last season in mostly mop up duty. Where the room goes from here remains to be seen, but with other high-profile high school prospects set to join the group, Turner no doubt felt the need to move on to another program.

As we do with all of the Ohio State players finding new homes in the portal, we wish him nothing but the best.

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ACC teams on the ‘bowl bubble’ through seven games

With all the focus on Florida State and North Carolina up top, which ACC teams are fighting for bowl eligibility over the next month?

There’s plenty of reason to be excited about the upcoming six weeks in the ACC. All signs seem to indicate that the conference champion won’t be Clemson for just the second time since 2014 after the Tigers took two early losses. Florida State and North Carolina are both still undefeated and seem to get more dominant each week, with both circling the conference championship game as a potential ticket to the playoffs.

But what about the middle of the conference pack? As the Seminoles and Tar Heels fight for a New Year’s Six bowl, who of their conference compatriots simply want to win a sixth game?

Here are four teams deep in the fight for eligibility over the next two months.

Official flattens Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos

A hard hit by an official knocked down Boston College QB Thomas Castellanos

Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos is 5-foot-10 and 196 pounds. He was no match for an official during the Eagles’ game with Georgia Tech on Saturday.

In the ACC contest, Castellanos broke into the clear and was off on what seemed destined to be a long run.

However, the umpire Mark Wilson got in his way and dropped Castellanos.

We mean flattened the QB.

Sooners knocking on the door of the top 15 in latest AP Poll

Oklahoma is now ranked No. 16 in the country after rising three spots in the latest AP Poll after their win over Tulsa.

Oklahoma is slowly building momentum as a team to watch out for. After dominating Tulsa, 66-17, the Sooners continue their ascent in the AP Poll. Oklahoma is No. 16 in the nation in the latest AP Top 25.

Oklahoma looked much better than some of their other counterparts; we saw multiple top-25 teams struggle on Saturday.

At the top, the Georgia Bulldogs remain the top team in the country after they avoided a scare from the South Carolina Gamecocks at home. Behind the Bulldogs, we have Michigan at No. 2 and Texas at No. 3, who slid up one spot. Florida State is No. 4, moving one spot down after struggling with a scrappy Boston College team on the road.

Rounding out the top five is Lincoln Riley’s USC Trojans, who were on a bye this week.

In the rest of the top 10, we have Ohio State at No. 6, followed by Penn State, Washington, Notre Dame, and Oregon at 10.

Notably absent from the top 10 is the Alabama Crimson Tide, who are 13th. They looked abysmal in a road game against the University of South Florida. The Crimson Tide pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 17-3 win, but they have big quarterback issues.

Kansas State bows out of the AP Poll after a last-second loss to Missouri. With its loss, Texas and Oklahoma are the lone Big 12 schools in the AP Top 25.

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