A Vikings Fan’s Viewing Guide to CFB: Boston College’s Last Shot
Josh Frey
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Just like the NFL season is fast approaching, we are nearing the day where college football teams will arrive on campus and begin their own preseason work. As a self-proclaimed NFL Draft nerd, I get almost as excited for the college football season as I do for the NFL season. Because of that, I am putting together guides for many of the notable college football programs ahead of the 2022 season. Whether you’re a seasoned college football viewer, or just getting into it for the first time, there is something here for everyone. We’ve already gone through many of the major contenders in the AAC, and now we are in the thick of it with the ACC. Next up as we head into the weekend, we talk about one of my favorite teams to keep an eye on: the Boston College Golden Eagles.
Overview
2021 seemed like Boston College’s best chance at competing for an ACC title after Trevor Lawrence left the Clemson Tigers for the NFL. QB Phil Jurkovec seemed to be en route to the NFL following the season, and star receiver Zay Flowers was likely to follow.
Then, Jurkovec fractured a bone in his throwing hand during their Week 2 contest against U-Mass. At the time it seemed like a season-ending injury, but he made a somewhat miraculous comeback to play in the final four games. Boston College went 2-2 in those games, qualifying them for the Military Bowl. However, the game was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Now for 2022, the Golden Eagles return both Jurkovec and Flowers for one more ride. Can the duo help them finally compete for a conference championship?
2022 NFL Draft Prospects
- G Zion Johnson, Round 1, Pick 21, Los Angeles Chargers
Notable Transfers In
- TE George Takacs (Notre Dame)
- DL Regan Terry (Arizona)
Notable Transfers Out
- WR Jehlani Galloway (Western Michigan)
- DB Shawn Asbury II (Old Dominion)
- S Deon Jones (James Madison)
Keys to 2022
Phil Jurkovec’s Health
Jurkovec’s talent is through the roof. He has the potential to be a first-round pick next April, but it all comes down to whether or not he can stay on the field.
The biggest factor in this may end up being how Boston College’s offensive line holds up. All five starters from 2021 are gone. Star guard Zion Johnson was drafted in the first round by the Los Angeles Chargers, center Alec Lindstrom signed with the Dallas Cowboys after going undrafted, and right guard Christian Mahogany will miss the season with a torn ACL. They’ll need to find solutions to these positions very quickly.
Continued Growth on Defense
In each of the last three seasons, Boston College’s defense has gotten progressively stronger. It culminated in allowing just 22 points per game in 2021, ranking 31st in the nation. They kept the coaching staff intact on this side of the field, so they are hoping to continue getting better on this side of the field.
The personnel on the field remains largely the same as well, anchored by a terrific secondary including CB Josh DeBerry and safety Jaiden Woodbey. They’ll also hope to continue generating pressure up front with fifth-year player Marcus Valdez at defensive end. Over the course of his career, he’s recorded 19.5 tackles for loss.
My “Purple Player to Watch”
I’ve mentioned this prospect before with the Vikings, but I can’t stop thinking about Phil Jurkovec as the eventual replacement for Kirk Cousins at quarterback. Like I mentioned earlier, it absolutely depends on his ability to stay healthy in 2022, but he could emerge as one of the top-5 prospects of this QB class.
Jurkovec displays incredible awareness in the pocket and is mobile enough to escape sacks and scramble for yards. His arm strength won’t blow anyone away, but he has all the tools to succeed in the NFL. With Cousins’ contract expiring once again after the 2023 season, and so many unknowns surrounding Kellen Mond, next April might be the perfect time to snag up his replacement.