The Heights Football Preview 2015

The Heights Football Preview 2015

righting the WRONGS WHO IS DARIUS WADE? RETTIG COULD THROW. MURPHY COULD RUN. WADE DOES IT ALL.

See C4-5

PRESSING QUESTIONS

THE ALL-NEW OLU

See C3

See C2

BELIEVING IN JUSTIN SIMMONS See C6

ALEX HOWELL: OUT FOR REDEMPTION See C7

rs?

2 THE HEIGHTS SEPT. 3, 2015

FOOTBALL PREVIEW ANALYSIS

pressing questions the heights sports editors answer the most popular questions about the upcoming season

Who are the starting wide receivers?

Darius Wade may have the talent to throw, but that means nothing if he has no one to throw to. The Eagles lost their three leading receivers from 2014—Josh Bordner, Dan Crimmins, and Shakim Phillips—to the inevitability of commencement. Injuries have also hampered the wideout crew, as freshmen Ben Glines and Chris Garrison, and junior Harrison Jackson have all been slowed by various ailments.

Look for Thadd Smith to be Wade’s favorite target this season.

The two connected throughout a 7-on-7 football tournament at IMG Academy, and have reportedly developed excellent chemistry.

The sophomore receiver from Yeadon, Penn. did not have a catch as a freshman, but has a good chance to be the Eagles’ leading receiver in 2015.

In the slot, the team will feature the speedy Sherman Alston, who will again look to electrify the Eagles as a versatile option for short-yardage catches and jet sweep packages. On the edge, BC will trot out senior David Dudeck, but expect BC’s tallest receiver—6-foot-4 sophomore Charlie Callinan—to work his way into the starting lineup. -M.S.

Will the offensive line stick together the whole year?

No. As it stands, almost the entire lineup is for grabs, aside from Harris Williams at right guard, with seven guys listed by Addazio as fighting for a start. Even if the Eagles can find a clear starting five for game one, expect a lot of change this year from this line.

Most of the line has played in multiple positions throughout the spring and fall camps, so the flexibility is there. If Frank Taylor fails at center, for example, Jon Baker can step in and the whole line will shuffle.

Most importantly, BC’s top two recruits this year are Wyatt Knopfke and Anthony Palazzolo, and although they have not featured in first team reps this preseason, they are not far behind. With the loss of all five starters from last year, Addazio brought in these two, plus Aaron Monteiro and Chris Lindstrom, for a reason. It would not be surprising to see one of these freshmen break into the starting lineup. Given the current state of the O-Line, they most likely won’t have to wait until an injury to get a chance. -J.S.

will BC have an improved special teams?

Will BC have a top-5 defense?

The Eagles were as stingy as anyone with giving up yards on the ground in 2014, allowing the second fewest yards per game in the country. With BC returning five of its front seven, the Eagles should have another good go at minimizing holes.

The real inconsistency last season was in the secondary, where BC had to shuffle its depth charts. Even while not placing in the top-50 in yards allowed through the air, BC still finished 11th overall. Other than senior FS Justin Simmons, who led the team in tackles last season, and junior CB John Johnson, the secondary will be filled with second-year players taking on expanded roles.

Addazio seemed pleased with their progress in preseason, and if the guys can get comfortable in the first two games against Maine and Howard, they could shape up in time to quiet a Winston-less Florida State. It would be challenging to break the top five even with an improved secondary, but BC certainly has room to go up overall. -A.G.

Can they win on the road?

Home field advantage is a highly touted phenomenon, something that can tip an even game into a decisive victory. For whatever reason, besides the Friday night upset against USC, BC didn’t have a good time at home.

They went 3-4 at Alumni Stadium, the third smallest stadium in the ACC with a capacity of 44,500 seats. The only two other wins came against FCS opponent Maine and weak ACC opponent Syracuse (a game played while most students were home for Thanksgiving break).

Away from Alumni, the Eagles went 4-2. Besides the heartbreak of the Pinstripe Bowl, BC missed an upset of No. 3 Florida State by just three points, making BC one of the better road teams in the country.

This year, the Eagles have just five road games, including tough back-toback away games against Clemson and Louisville. With two other winnable games against Duke and Syracuse, and then a matchup with Notre Dame at Fenway, BC should have a decent shot at getting another winning record away from the Heights. -A.G.

Who will BC’s breakout stars be?

Wide receiver has been a position of weakness for the Eagles since the days of Matt Ryan. Alex Amidon has been the only BC receiver to achieve 1,000 yards receiving in a single season since 2004, and last season, no receiver finished with more than 350 yards. Interestingly, the biggest boost to the BC receiving corps this season will be a player who entered camp as a quarterback.

Elijah Robinson has the best chance to be this year’s breakout star. With no clear-cut No. 1 receiving option on the team, Darius Wade will likely target all of his options in the first few games in search of chemistry with a select few. Having spent all of his football career on the other end of the passing game, the former quarterback will need some time to adjust, but he comes into the season with unique knowledge about the offense.

Last year, Josh Bordner went from being a backup quarterback to the No. 1 receiving option in Tyler Murphy’s offense. Elijah Robinson might be on track to make a similar move of his own in the next few years. -T.D.

Put bluntly, BC’s special teams unit was abysmal last year. After getting a nearly perfect season from Nate Freese in 2013, Steve Addazio cycled through three different kickers in 2014 after none of them proved successful. Senior Alex Howell is the alpha male this season, and under the guidance of new special teams coordinator Coleman Hutzler, there seems to be nowhere to go but up.

Howell, Mike Knoll, and Joey Launceford missed a combined seven extra points last season, a feat that seems nearly impossible to replicate. Just as historically great seasons are unlikely to occur again, historically bad ones aren’t likely to be repeated, either. Howell will also benefit from (seemingly) having some job security, as the random cycling last season prevented any one player enough reps to gain confidence.

With one clear kicking option going into the season, the Eagles have to expect more consistency from the special teams. Added up, the missed extra points and field goals could make the difference between a 5-7 season and an 8-4 finish. -T.D.

Does Hilliman account for more than 50 percent of the running back carries?

Right off the bat, this question is a difficult one given the fact that Addazio has been cautious with Hilliman in preseason and has allowed Myles Willis to carry first team duties. That alone makes you point toward more involvement from Willis.

However, Hilliman accounted for 51.7 percent of the running back carries in his breakout season last year, and things should continue more or less the same.

A more balanced offense with Wade’s passing ability should decrease the heavy load on the run game. Last year, the running side of the offense was crowded. Tyler Murphy ate up almost as many carries as Hilliman, and Sherman Alston and Marcus Outlow were also contributors. Eliminate Outlow, who we haven’t seen much of, decrease the number of QB carries, move Sherm into more of a receiving role, and the backfield belongs solely to Hilliman and Willis.

With slightly less burden on his shoulders, Hilliman should pick up where he left off last year, despite a push by Willis behind him.

No sophomore slump here, Hilliman continues to be the man. -J.S.

How many games will BC win?

It’s hard to imagine a lot of disappointment in each of the last two seasons from both the BC coaching staff and fans. The Eagles had two very different teams in each of Steve Addazio’s first two years, and still reached a bowl game in successive years with 7-6 records.

Hopefully they’ll be content with that result again this year.

BC won three of its four ACC road games, against two inexplicably overrated teams (Virginia Tech and North Carolina State) and the perennially disastrous Wake Forest. The loss was to Florida State—BC only fell by three points, and that team had far more strengths than the one Jimbo Fisher will trot out this season.

They’ll now play each of those games in the friendly confines of Alumni Stadium.

Though the Eagles had a tougher time at home than on the road in 2014, that may have to do with its level of competition in Chestnut Hill. And their road slate continues to look tough—Duke, Clemson, Louisville, and Notre Dame all had winning records last season. That being said, if the Eagles can pull the upset in one of those games—and with a strong defense and dynamic running game, they can—there’s a good chance BC will return to that seven game mark.

Pretty good for a rebuilding year. -M.S.

3 THE HEIGHTS SEPT. 3, 2015

FOOTBALL PREVIEW FEATURE

O-Line U, Class of 2015 THE MEN PROVIDING HOLES FOR HILLIMAN AND A WALL FOR WADE

JACK STEDMAN

ASSOC. SPORTS EDITOR

DREW HOO / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Aspiring NFL offensive linemen don’t dig for pure gold. Instead, they look towards the maroon and gold standard of Boston College. It’s the first school on the college search checklist, the highest of collegiate peaks with the toughest requirements.

Newcomers enter into a place of tradition and legacy. Esteemed alumni include Damien Woody ’99, Dan Koppen ’03, and Chris Snee ’04, all of whom went on to long and illustrious Pro Bowl careers in the NFL. Recent graduates and first round draft picks Anthony Castonzo and Gosder Cherilus currently ply their trade in the league. Last year’s class alone includes Andy Gallik , Bobby Vardaro, and Ian Silberman, who are all on NFL rosters to start the year.

The dean of this prestigious university is head coach Steve Addazio, who has had “offensive line” in his official title all of the 27 years of his career until becoming head coach of Temple University.

Combine his skills as an OLine coach with his ability to recruit the best of the best to come to BC, and you have a potent mix.

Not so fast, though. These inexperienced men have a lot to live up to at such a well-respected institution for offensive linemen.

This semester, however, class started just a few short hours ago for BC’s O-Line. The Eagles graduated all five starters last year, and this year’s corps of lineman showed up a little late.

Welcome to O-Line U, Class of 2015. *** “There’s still quite a bit of this going on,” Addazio says, his

finger rotating about in the air in a circular, endless motion.

A solid preseason scrimmage has put Addazio in a good mood, but he’s still not sugarcoating anything about the state of his offensive line. Nothing is set in stone, and there is still a lot of work to do before this group settles.

Throughout spring practices, fall camp, and even into the first game week, the O-Line has been put through an endless stream of rotations by Addazio and offensive line coach Justin Frye.

One guy in, another out. Slide one spot over, or maybe start snapping the ball. It doesn’t matter for these players. If they want to see snaps with the first team, they have to shift constantly.

Most guys are playing two positions, some three.

Positions no longer matter.

All the coaches want are the five best guys out there for week one.

Junior Jim Cashman has been rotating between guard and, well, everywhere, according to Addazio. Fellow junior Frank Taylor, listed as the backup center last year, has taken the majority of snaps under center, but sophomore Jon Baker, a true guard, isn’t far behind.

Young players like redshirted freshman James Hendren and true freshman Chris Lindstrom have been pushed into the first team at times, with no college experience under their belts, while another redshirted freshman Sam Schmal hasn’t played much in preseason but expects to compete.

While the offensive line is Addazio’s specialty, he is gambling with weak cards. The five positions are separated for a reason: guard is different than

tackle, and both are different than center. Tackles are usually taller and quicker, as they have to go up against the speed of the edge rush.

BC is running some risky business by constantly re-positioning guys who can’t put all their energy into one spot, and may not even be the right fit based on body size and skills.

If anyone can do it, though, it’s Addazio.

The constant change of positions and lack of cohesion causes major problems for the offense. The offensive line is the biggest factor on the team.

Without a strong group of five, what’s left is a quarterback who can’t survey the field and a running back who can’t run. That’s critical for a team with a strong crew of running backs and a new quarterback.

Running backs Jonathan Hilliman and Myles Willis need holes to open up for them before they showcase their thunder and lightning in the open field. Block a few defenders first, the field opens up, and then the skill of the hard-nosed duo will do the rest.

Hilliman especially can make a defender miss, but he can’t break through tackles without protection first.

Few teams have ever managed to dominate without a strong line, as it requires a special type of ankle-breaking backfield to do much.

While it’s obvious that the running backs need a solid line, the situation becomes far more dire when looking at BC’s specific quarterback situation. Darius Wade is supposed to keep defenses more in check with an improved arm over Tyler Murphy. If there is one thing that BC needs immediately, it’s a bal-

anced attack. He can still run, but we learned last year you can only go so far on the ground.

He will need pass protection to be able to sit in the pocket and read the defense, or else he won’t improve greatly as a passer.

If he can’t improve as a passer, BC’s offense does not balance out, defenses can stuff the box, and the Eagles are right back to desperately relying on one man’s magic to bail them out over and over again.

While Wade can say it’s all about timing and getting used to the tendencies of his teammates protecting him, it’s not that easy.

“We are in a footrace to get to where we need to be,” Addazio said.

For every rotation of linemen that Frye and Addazio go through, the hour hand goes through its own rotation around the clock, counting down to the first judgment day for this group of men. Maine comes to town in just a few short days.

As of now, there is only one certainty for that first game: Harris Williams, the one they all call Grandpa. Dave Bowen and crew started the nickname based on the fact that the senior has been around the block with the Eagles a few times.

Returning from a season-ending injury last year, Williams will be in the lineup on Saturday at right guard.

A starter two years ago— blocking for Andre Williams— Harris went down with an injury in the first game against UMass last fall that kept him out for the entirety of 2014.

Even then, Williams only accounts for the corner piece of the puzzle—that one you find right away and arbitrarily place

in the top right, unattached to the rest.

He’s a guarantee—you instinctively find the piece with two flat sides when starting the puzzle—but nothing is around him yet because he hasn’t been taking snaps in preseason.

With Harris on the sidelines, the process of finding chemistry becomes even more complex.

“Cohesion is a hard question because the guys working are getting cohesive, but it’s an illusion without Harris,” Addazio said.

Missing a key cog such as Williams in preseason leaves the team a step behind going into game week. Not only will Harris have to play himself into game shape, but the linemen around him will still be finding chemistry well into the season. Even if one certain group of five gel, it won’t be the starting lineup if Williams isn’t there.

It takes time to fully learn the tendencies of the guys to your left and right, but starting off at home against soft opponents likeMaine and Howard will certainly help ease this group into ACC play, starting with Florida State in week three.

What the team has missed out on playing without Harris, they have made up for in his knowledge and experience.

On the sidelines of one preseason scrimmage, he looked more like a coach than a player, roaming the sidelines in full pads, following the actions, and stepping onto the field to offer his grandfatherly wisdom to the youngsters. Despite not getting that hands-on action, he is never far away.

“I’m excited to see him back out there, rolling around with all the knowledge he’s built up over

the past year,” Frye said.

With no hesitation from either Fr ye or Addazio on the starting status of Williams, the number of spots shrinks and the rotations approach mach speed as seven linemen vie for the remaining four spots.

Those seven would be Dave Bowen, Jon Baker, Frank Taylor, Jim Cashman, James Hendren, Sam Schmal. A quick recap: Seven guys, two redshirt freshmen, only one start last year between them all, and only four spots for them in the starting lineup.

The situation gets murkier on the second team, which features two players, Austin Stevens and Joel Rich, who only just moved to the offensive line in the spring.

Expect Cashman and Bowen at tackle, Taylor at center, and Williams and Baker at guard.

Aside from Williams, though, anything goes for this group.

Addazio will have them on the tightest leash possible, as touted recruits Wyatt Knopfke, Anthony Palazzolo, and Aaron Monteiro loom not-so-far behind.

This is make or break time for O-Line U, and optimism is not at an all-time high.

“Good shape? No. We’re getting there,” Addazio said after practice.

Until they get to that point, they will continue to be put through final exam after final exam by professors Addazio and Frye.

Emerging from the dismal and dreary depths of preseason orientation is this group of freshmen, led by one elder statesmen, rushing through campus. Who knows where they will end up by the end of the semester, but class started two hours ago, and oh, they are all a bit late. 

MEET THE BLOCKERS

DAVE BOWEN

JON BAKER

FRANK TAYLOR

SENIOR HT: 6-7 WT: 289

SOPHOMORE HT: 6-3 WT: 293

JUNIOR HT: 6-3 WT: 289

HARRIS WILLIAMS

SENIOR HT: 6-3 WT: 296

JIM CASHMAN

JUNIOR HT: 6-7 WT: 302

4 THE HEIGHTS Sept. 3, 2015

Sept. 3, 2015 THE HEIGHTS 5

football preview feature

AN

ARM

BC’s 2015 season hinges on one important question: Who is Darius Wade? drew hoo / heights editor

(AND A LEG) B

oston College’s offensive coordinator Todd Fitch thinks this whole Darius Wade conversation is ridiculous.

For weeks, we’ve clamored about the guy—both the media and fans who have been anxiously waiting since that extra point went wide right in the 2014 Pinstripe Bowl.

“How tenacious is he?”

“Has he stepped up in the locker room?”

“Is he the answer?”

Fitch doesn’t buy into the hype. He refuses to think about his new quarterback’s future career.

Come September, a coach’s mind only operates one Saturday at a time. He won’t dare analyze players with that word. You know, the P-word that graces all young and talented QBs. He doesn’t know what kind of leader Wade’s going to be or how he’ll handle himself in adverse situations. For goodness sake, this kid hasn’t even started a single game yet.

“It’s hard for a guy who hasn’t played to step up and say ‘follow me’ when nobody’s seen him play,” Fitch said.

That may be true. But that won’t stop everyone from wondering the same thing ...

Who exactly is Darius Wade?

A

large part of the anxiety over this mysterious new quarterback stems from the love affair BC had with its last one.

On a wet and emotional night in Chestnut Hill, BC found itself in a typical spot. The Eagles had fought hard with No. 9 University of Southern California for more than three quarters and held a slim 30-24 lead.

With a little over three minutes left in the game, the momentum was shifting in a dangerous direction.

Though the program has produced its decent share of upsets, the list of disappointing outcomes always feels far longer.

Yet this year felt different, because the Eagles had a “miracle man” behind center: quarterback Tyler Murphy. The transfer showed early flashes of his incredible ability to dance around opposing defenses with his legs in games against UMass and Pittsburgh. It looked like a golden opportunity for him to join the upper echelon of the legends of the maroon and gold.

Sure enough, he was off. Murphy faked a handoff, edged to his left, and found a hole through three USC defenders. The 40,000 fans in the Alumni Stadium bleachers jumped and screamed as Murphy dashed down the field for a 66-yard touchdown. After reaching the end zone, Murphy immediately aimed for the lower levels of the student section to receive pats on the back from his now adoring admirers.

You can count Wade among those who idolize him.

Moments like that make people forget about the bad. But fond memories don’t make the bad outcomes disappear.

BC had the chance to pull off another upset a month later. Down 17-13 to Clemson in the frigid rain, again at Alumni Stadium, the Eagles marched down the field with several of their patented long runs, most of which came from Murphy.

But with about a minute left and the ball at

Clemson’s 26-yard line, the Tigers forced Murphy to expose his biggest weakness—his lack of a strong and accurate arm. He failed to connect with his receivers on four consecutive plays, solidifying the loss. He wasn’t solely to blame for the defeat—missed extra points, timeouts left on the board, and a dropped pass also played a role—but it’s fair to wonder what the result would have been if BC had a quarterback with a quarterback’s arm.

Last year, the Eagles’ production on the ground made that question a minor issue. BC’s offense with Murphy at the helm operated in a run-heavy, zone read scheme. The Eagles had more rushing attempts than all but nine of the 128 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision. As a result, BC gained 3,307 yards on the ground—No. 16 in the FBS—with 31 touchdowns.

Murphy, to his credit, darted around defensive linemen for 1,184 yards, shattering BC’s single-season and career records for rushing yards by a quarterback.

This, however, created a lack of balance in the offense. BC attempted a mere 243 passes—the seventh-fewest in college football—for only 1,681 yards.

Given the absence of a coherent passing game, it’s understandable why the Eagles lost down the stretch to Clemson. Head coach Steve Addazio’s scheme for Murphy couldn’t have a lot of effective passing plays, even in crunch time, because of his lack of talent in the aerial attack.

That doesn’t make it a viable excuse. Not every offense can achieve a perfect 50-50 split between

Darius Wade 6-Feet-0 204 Pounds Middletown, Delaware

running and passing, but a team must have multiple effective options in a way that BC didn’t in 2014. Only that will keep a defense constantly guessing, especially ones as elite as the ones BC will face this year.

What if it doesn’t have to be like that anymore?

B

efore you dream of that scenario, we have to solve the question of who he is.

To do that, Wade will need to check out on the Makings of a Good Quarterback List. Can he throw the ball, yet also be a dynamic dual-threat scorer? What will he do against highlevel competition, especially in the face of adversity?

Will he assume his natural quarterbacking role as a leader?

Let’s start with Wade on the field, first. Like Fitch said, we can’t really know for sure how Wade will fit into this offense. What we do know is that he is not built for that run-heavy system.

There are a few things Wade believes. The southpaw prides himself on his strong throws with tight spirals. He believes moving the ball through the air is where big plays happen. He stays patient in the pocket, running through every single read before taking off with his legs. And with all due respect to Andre Williams’ thighs and Sherman Alston’s sweeps, he believes that nothing hypes up a team quite like a few beautiful completions.

Wade practices his beliefs, and you don’t have to just take his word for it. Mark DelPercio, his head

coach at Middletown High School in Delaware, praises Wade for the great zip and spin he can put on the ball. The numbers don’t lie, either. In his senior season, Wade passed for 2,662 yards at a 64 completion percentage, with 35 touchdowns and only three interceptions, running away with the 2013 Delaware Gatorade Football Player of the Year Award.

So, BC has found a QB who can throw the ball. But you should know that he’s still a two-pronged offensive weapon. Wade is a vertical runner with not nearly the running back-like speed of Murphy. Given his long strides, he looks slower than he actually is. Unlike Murphy, Wade’s second and third moves from the pocket don’t involve dancing with defensive linemen.

If he wanted to run so badly, well hey, he would’ve just chosen to become a running back.

No, he won’t take off the second he sees an opening. Wade possesses a unique and difficult quality to find in young quarterbacks—patience. He realizes that staying healthy and on the field is just as important as making the play itself.

Still, he’ll take off when the moment looks right.

He’ll calculate the situation—how late is it in the game, is it a do or die fourth down—before making the decision to run. And he makes up for his lack of quickness with a special kind of toughness. When there’s a linebacker jamming his lane, Wade has no fear in putting down his right shoulder and trying to truck him into the ground.

“If I need to get the first down, I couldn’t care

less, I’m going to do whatever’s in my power to get the first down,” Wade said. “I can try and dish a little punch myself.”

So we know this. He’s fearless in the running game, yet realistic about his abilities. He’s smart and careful in the pocket, too. Take that off the list as well. ut what happens when he’s facing the tough competition in the ACC? Wade will be the first to tell you that BC defensive coordinator Don Brown is throwing a hell storm of defensive schemes with plenty of seven- and eight-man rushes at him throughout training camp.

Given the strength of BC’s defensive front, it has made Wade and the offense look foolish.

“He is literally a mad genius,” Wade said. “We’re struggling, it doesn’t look good, but we’re happy we have that.”

Fortunately, he’ll have a reprieve in the first two weeks against weak FCS opponents Maine and Howard.

But the week afterward, two-time defending ACC champion Florida State invades Chestnut Hill. There’s no way we can know how he’ll handle that kind of pressure.

History says he might be all right, though. Look at Wade’s sophomore year of high school, when the second-year starter led his team back to the Delaware state championship. He was looking to redeem himself after his Cavaliers lost 3725 the previous year. His challenger was Newark High School, a team that had gone undefeated leading up to the championship while scoring 27 points or more in each game.

Looking to get out to a hot start, Wade dropped back and forced a pass that allowed a defensive back to undercut his receiver’s route and return the pass for a touchdown. In the subsequent offensive series, DelPercio called for a fake punt on a fourth down.

A lineman tipped Wade’s pass, bouncing it into the hands of another corner for a second consecutive pick six.

As Wade walked off the field, all of his teammates surrounded him, telling him to shake off the misread. That only fired him up more, as he tried to put the

B

Drew hoo / heights editor

miscues out of his mind. Shortly after, down 16-0 in the first, DelPercio called a timeout to try to settle down a 15-year-old kid he believed needed some coaching up.

It took only a couple of steps out onto the field before he realized his mistake.

“What’d you waste a timeout for, Coach?” Wade said.

“

MICHAEL SULLIVAN SPORTS EDITOR

49 career games. During that time, Middletown went 42-7, with trips to the state championship in all four years, including two victories.

But the real Darius swears he has a happy-go-lucky personality. He showed that growing up in Middletown.

DelPercio recalls walking into a local pizzeria and hearing parents talk about what a great role model Wade is, how he drops everything to play catch with any 10-year-old that knocks on his door. Wade feels they relate to him because he’s a “big little kid.”

He still acts like that “big little kid” around the team. In practice, with Troy Flutie behind center, Harrison Jackson made a circus catch over his back shoulder while falling out of bounds. Wade led the cheering for his junior wide receiver, rambunctiously screaming his name. His infectious personality and smile—arguably the widest in college football—have lifted this young and embattered receiving core.

Combine a true lockdown mentality in games with an ability to connect on a personable level with his teammates away from the heat of battle—that equals a true leader. Whew. The most important one checked off.

I’M GOING To do whatever is in my power to get the first down. I can try and dish a little punch myself.

”

“He wasn’t shaken, he wasn’t rattled,” DelPercio remembers now. “It didn’t even phase him.”

With his arm causing trouble, Wade suggested a fake handoff design run to the edge for the next play.

That resulted in a 60-yard touchdown, sparking a rally that led to a 27-23 Middletown victory, the first of Wade’s two high school state titles.

Ability to handle adversity? Wade’s past shows us the answer to that, too. Check.

B

ut there is still the biggest issue of all: his leadership skills. He may have led his high school teammates as a freshman, but that doesn’t mean that success will translate perfectly to an older group of players in the college atmosphere. Naturally, the quarterback position calls for a leader. Like Fitch says, how can we know if this guy is a leader before he starts a game for this team?

DelPercio thinks that might be the easiest transition of all for Wade. “Early on his career,” DelPercio claims, “he realized all eyes are on me.” He does that, his coach believes, through a combination of staying serious while knowing how to have a fun side.

When game time comes, you’ll see the serious side of Wade, which he has shown so far during BC’s three scrimmages. Following an interception last Wednesday, Wade immediately went by the fan on the far end of the sidelines, carefully studying every move that backup quarterback Troy Flutie made on the subsequent series.

He didn’t talk to anyone else, preferring to stare out at the field, deep in thought, continuing to study the offense in action while miming the occasional pass to regain the muscle memory he’ll need this Saturday.

This stems from an unstoppable desire to win, something he had done a lot of in high school and wants to bring to BC. As a four-year starting quarterback, the resilient Wade never missed a first-team snap in

N

ow the last question on the list that Wade must answer is, what happens when Addazio finally unleashes him for the first time? Without daring to use the P-word—potential—the answer should be a positive one … if his offensive coordinator has prepared properly. Wade’s rare skill set necessitates a thorough upheaval of the game plan that Fitch used last season.

The perfect system should include pieces of the runheavy read option used under Murphy along with the traditional style of Chase Rettig the year before to create a unique offense with a greater emphasis on the aerial attack. So far, Wade says the two have molded this complex offensive playbook to perfectly fit his strengths.

We’ve rarely seen this new plan in action, though.

With many of BC’s wide receivers currently nursing injuries, the full offense has yet to be unleashed in practices—at least, from what the media gets to see. And so the mystery goes on.

For many, that mystery continues even after Wade has left them behind in a fiery inferno of on-field defeat.

Bill DiNardo, head coach at Middletown’s biggest rival, Salesianum High School in Wilmington, Del., is still trying to figure it out. When asked how he solved Wade as a quarterback, DiNardo let out a long sigh before retorting: “When he graduated.”

The only person who might give us a hint is DelPercio, the man who has seen Wade play since he was in fifth grade, has coached him one-on-one, and carefully watches him to this day.

When asked that elusive question—just who is Darius Wade?—his coach had a simple response:

“He’s not going to be anybody but Darius.” n

THE TARGETS

THADD SMITH, No. 18 SOPHOMORE, 5-9

SHERMAN ALSTON, No. 6 SOPHOMORE, 5-6

DAVID DUDECK, No. 26 SENIOR, 5-11

CHARLIE CALLINAN, No. 83 SOPHOMORE, 6-4

Two-Time Delaware State Champion

100 carerr td passes 7,778 career passing yds

2013 Delaware State Gatorade Player of the Year

ELIJAH ROBINSON, No. 15 FRESHMAN, 6-2

6 THE HEIGHTS SEPT. 3, 2015

FOOTBALL PREVIEW FEATURE

SECONDARY COMMITMENT DREW HOO/ HEIGHTS EDITOR

Engaged and inspired, justin simmons will lead BC’s Budding Defense

ALEC GREANEY HEIGHTS EDITOR Taryn Richard didn’t know it was coming. She had been dating her boyfriend for the past three and a half years, so a nice dinner and a trip to the beach just seemed like a good way to spend an early summer night. He didn’t even need to suggest they head to the beach—she brought it up first, and the couple agreed to go to Stuart Beach, a short stretch of coastline in their small Floridian city.

The two had met as freshmen in high school, but didn’t become good friends until junior year. They began dating the following December, which also happened to be the last time they could spend an entire winter together. Taryn played Division I basketball for two years at Presbyterian before calling it quits and transferring to Florida State last year. Justin Simmons is now entering his fourth year as a starting defensive back for Boston College football.

Justin had planned for a photographer to meet them at the beach, but it INSTAGRAM: JSIMMS1119 wasn’t until he asked her to stand up that Taryn had an idea of what might be going on.

He then pulled out the ring, set his right knee down in the sand, and asked her to marry him.

“I was in shock for at least—probably a week before it set in,” Taryn said, laughing. “It was like, ‘Is this real?’”

It was—and she said yes.

Simmons has no doubt heard it already: “Aren’t you a little young to be getting engaged?” At 22, he’s certainly younger than most people to propose in this generation, but Simmons has never been one to back away from commitment. *** As good as Tyler Murphy and Jonathan Hilliman were for the Eagles last season, BC’s run defense was better. BC finished ranked second in yards yielded on the ground, the only Football Bowl Subdivision school besides top-ranked Michigan State to keep opponents under 100 yards per game.

But when BC’s opponents threw the ball, the Eagles didn’t have the same level of success. The team finished 66th in yards allowed through the air and 86th in passing efficiency defense.

These weren’t hideous numbers, but they were low enough to keep the Eagles’ total defense out of the top 10. It didn’t help that BC lost starting cornerback Bryce Jones midway through October for violating team rules. With injuries also hitting the secondary a couple weeks later, Simmons made a move from free safety—the main position he had played at BC—to corner.

These positions are based around the same general idea:

don’t allow receivers to catch the ball. But they require vastly different styles of play. Simmons had to cram in several hours of film and work after practices with the coaches and another corner Manuel Asprilla to learn the different techniques and checks at cornerback.

This transition also came just after Simmons dropped two potential interceptions in a 17-13 loss to Clemson. In Simmons’ first game at corner a week later, BC’s defense held Wake Forest scoreless for the first 38 minutes of the game, and the Eagles took a 17-0 lead into the half. A fourth quarter touchdown put BC up 23-3 and seemingly put the game out of reach, until the Demon Deacons blocked the extra point attempt. Wake then put up two touchdowns in the next seven minutes, and had the ball down six with two minutes to go. As quarterback John Wolford looked to his left for wide receiver Jared Crump, he expected Crump to cut back in toward the ball. Instead, Simmons was there to snag it, allowing the Eagles to hold on for the win.

“My hat’s tipped to the coaching staff for helping me out, and Manny,” Simmons said, reflecting back on the game last week. “I just got put in the right position at the right time to thankfully end the game with a win.”

This year, BC defensive coordinator Don Brown will have Simmons return to start at free safety, at least to begin the year.

After half a season at corner, Simmons would be prepared to move back if the need arose again.

“If you asked me last year [what I was most comfortable with], I would have said safety for sure,” Simmons said. “Now that I’ve played both and I’ve got used to playing corner at the tail end of the season, they’re both kind of natural.”

While their seasoned veteran is set either way, the Eagles will have to replace Asprilla and their two strong safeties, Dominique Williams and Sean Silvia. All the guys most likely to see time at those positions—corners Isaac Yiadom, Kamrin Moore, Atem Ntantang, and Gabe McClary, and safeties Cameron Steward and Christian Lezzer—are sophomores or redshirt freshmen. As the most experienced man in coverage (junior starting cornerback John Johnson would be the next closest), Simmons has already begun the task of getting his guys on the same page, getting them to spend time together as a unit to build their chemistry. Their head coach has noticed. “[They’re] much more athletic, faster, talented,” Steve Addazio said about his secondary in a press conference on Monday. “I like where we are on the back end a lot. We got some guys who can run, I’m very encouraged.”

Addazio also singled out Simmons, saying he could have his best year yet. There’s nothing to suggest that he can’t. *** Founded in 2010, Ask.fm is a site where users can perform basic Q&As with other people. Simmons has publically answered 366 questions on the site, most are simple queries you expect athletes to hear, like “How’s your offense looking?” and “How many pick 6s are you going to get this year?” Yet Simmons also addresses a couple far more serious questions

on the site, such as, “My boyfriend cheated on me by having sex with someone … should I take him back or just forgive and walk away?”

That’s a question you would expect to be directed to a friend, or maybe a priest, not a 6-foot-3, 200-pound football player.

But this jock’s response is thoughtful and genuine. When he tells her to forgive him and pray to God for advice, he isn’t just taking spitting out something his Baptist pastor preached on Sunday—he really believes in what he says.

It’s not exactly rare to see football players be religious. Many athletes will wear their St. Christopher medals and publically express thanks to God when it’s convenient, but Simmons’ displays of his faith aren’t for show. He paints a cross beneath his left eye every game and writes his favorite bible verses on his gloves to stay true to himself.

“You know, in the heat of the moment, whatever I’m doing, I always try to remember to the best of my ability what I’m representing,” Simmons said. “You can’t go out there and act the fool if you have that stuff all over you.”

Then again, anyone can say they’re religious—trouble comes when they have to follow through. But not for Simmons. He leads a Bible study group called Athletes in Action with teammates Alex Howell and Mike Knoll. He gave the opening prayer in front of hundreds at the end of year athletes’ banquet last spring. This summer, Simmons was put on the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy, an award given out to the FBS player “who best exhibits exemplary community service.”

Simmons’ use and knowledge of bible quotes goes beyond John 3:16—a verse referenced on large signs at sporting events long before Tim Tebow came along. He has his favorite biblical verse ready to go: Colossians 3:17. “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ thanking God the Father through him.”

The two have had to be patient over the years. Long distance is hard, everyone knows it. They have had an easier time recently, since Taryn no longer has to deal with a Division I schedule. She will be up to Chestnut Hill EMILY FAHEY / HEIGHTS SENIOR STAFF next week for the game against Howard and will head to BC’s away game against Clemson. And although she won’t be coming up for the Florida State game, there’s no question she’ll be cheering from home, sporting her No. 27 BC jersey and watching Justin lead his new secondary. 

7 THE HEIGHTS Sept. 3, 2015

football preview feature

HAPPY FEET drew hoo / heights editor

ALEX HOWELL AIMS TO PROVE HIS SKEPTICS WRONG The whipping w inds and falling rain at Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va. should not have made for great football conditions, but last fall’s early afternoon game between the Hokies and the visiting Boston College Eagles had its fair share of offense.

Despite holding the upper hand for most of the contest, the Eagles found themselves trailing late as the Hokies’ sputtering offense suddenly jolted to life. Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Brewer constructed two consecutive 11-play drives to carve through BC’s defense and give the Hokies a one-point lead with just over four minutes to play.

With b owl elig ibility on the line for BC, quarterback Tyler Murphy drove the Eagles down the field with precision and p oise. Mur phy brought the offense inside the Hokies’ 30-yard line, but on third down and short, a wall of Virginia Tech defenders denied running back Marcus Outlow a first down at the line of scrimmage.

Facing a fourth down with two yards to go, BC head coach Steve Addazio had a decision to make. He could have turned to his special teams, which had been dreadfully unreliable, and attempted a 44-yard field goal.

He also could have tried to pick up the first down with his running back corps—a three-headed monster that wore the opposition down with hard-nosed, smash-mouth football.

Addazio took a moment to think. His decision could ultimately decide the game. He looked along the sideline and made the signal—field goal.

Junior kicker Alex Howell—

physically imposing at 6-foot-5, but personable and articulate away from the game—trotted onto the field.

B C fans e ver y where held their collective breath. Howell was a proven punter for sure, and his ability to pin the opposition deep in their own zone was unquestioned. His track record as a kicker, however, was far from comforting.

The fate of his team likely rested squarely on his right foot.

Despite showing some signs of life in 2014, B C ’s special teams floundered throughout the season.

Howell’s coffin-corner punting kept the Eagles in the game against Clemson, but BC was ultimately undone by a missed extra point by Mike Knoll. Howell’s missed 43-yarder late in the game against Florida State came back to bite the Eagles, as FSU marched down the field for a game-winning chip shot on its ensuing drive. Additionally, Howell’s missed field goal at the end of the first half against Colorado State was the difference in a 24-21 loss.

While last year Addazio employed the trio of Howell, shortrange specialist Joey Launceford, and then-freshman Mike Knoll to tackle kicking duties, this year belongs to Howell. Listed as the top kicker, punter, and kickoff specialist on the roster, Howell will be handling all three special teams duties for the first time since Nate Freese did it two years ago.

Also like Freese, Howell struggled in his first extended collegiate action last season.

The kicker from West Florence,

SC connected on five of his 11 field goal attempts, including only three of nine from beyond 40 yards out. Incredibly, the Eagles missed seven extra points in 2014, although Howell was only responsible for one of those misses in the game against Wake Forest.

Freese bounced back with strong play after a rough inaugural campaign, and Howell hopes to do the same. As far as Howell is concerned, last year’s results are just that—a thing of the past.

“I think last year was out of the ordinary for me,” Howell said following practice leading up to the first against the University of Maine. “We got it fixed and we’re ready for this season.”

To prepare for this season, Howell has relied on two extremely important figures in his life. The first figure that Howell constantly looks to for guidance is God. A co-leader of a Bible study g roup calle d Athletes in Action, along with teammate Justin Simmons, Howell is deeply religious—he can often be seen pointing to the heavens after making a kick.

The Bible study primarily consists of athletes—Howell named members from the baseball, swimming, basketball, and soccer teams—but the group is open to everyone.

The s e cond f ig ure i s hi s brother, Jimmy, a former fouryear punter at the University of Virginia. The elder Howell sibling has been Alex’s most influential adviser when it comes to football. Alex consults his older brother frequently, picking his mind about pregame preparations, postgame practices, and everything in between.

Howell recalls one piece of advice from his brother that he thinks about frequently while he is on the field.

“Just turn the ball over,” Howell said, recalling the conversation about punting with his brother. “You don’t need to worry about hitting a bomb every time. Just turn the ball over and let your technique take over from there.”

Special teams coordinator Coleman Hutzler said Howell has been doing just that during camp this preseason. Hutzler, in his first year on the Heights, came to BC after his second stint at the University of Florida, where he held the same position.

The first-year coach at BC ha s worke d w ith str uggling kickers before—last season, he improved Florida kicker Austin Hardin’s field goal percentage by 16 percentage points in his only year with him—and he was excited to begin working with Howell since he was hired in January. Since then, Howell has been nothing but eager to improve.

“Alex is a tremendous person and leader for our special teams group,” Hutzler said. “He’s a guy with an unbelievably strong leg, and he is going to be a great weapon for us going forward. I’m excited for his season.”

Hutzler added that he had full confidence in Howell’s ability to not only handle jobs with all three special teams for the Eagles, but also to mentor Knoll and incoming freshman Colton Lichtenberg as they navigate the year. Howell learned the ways of college football under the guidance of Freese for two seasons, and he hopes to offer the same

5-11 field goals punt average 42.5yd 44yds longest field goal

TOM DEVOTO kind of leadership to the two younger kickers.

“Between spring ball and our fall camp, he has really taken it upon himself to be a leader for Mike and Colton,” Hutzler said.

“He has both of them under his wing, and he’s done a great job with them so far.”

Lining up his shot at the 44-yarder against Virginia Tech, Howell sto o d tall ab ove the kneeling holder Murphy. Howell looked up, envisioning the ball soaring dead center through the posts, and breathed deeply, shifting his gaze back toward the beaten green turf.

One, two, three steps backward. He returned his glare to the goal posts and extended his right arm straight out, setting himself up meticulously.

He sidestepped to the left, and then replicated the motion once more. Howell breathed deeply again—he understood the importance of the moment.

He shook his shoulders a few times, shedding his nerves and focusing completely on Murphy’s waiting hands. At Murphy’s call, the ball rocketed from the line and into his palms with a thud, overshadowed only by the sudden crunching of helmets and pads just a few yards ahead.

Murphy placed the ball slightly

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

tilted backward, laces out—just the way any kicker likes it.

Howell took two strides toward Murphy and swung his right leg back, planting his left just beside the ball. His cleat snapped back toward the ball as if his leg were made of elastic, and the pigskin was sent flying away just as the outstretched arms of Virginia Tech defenders swarmed him from all sides.

The ball didn’t have the traditional end-over-end movement that kickers aim for, and the ball wobbled a bit as it cut through the Virginia air. It was a hard, low kick, not especially pretty—the type of kick that makes you question whether it might have been tipped at the line.

But sure enough, the ball kept going, and going, and going, even when it looked like it had no life left. As is landed softly in the netting behind the goalposts, Howell embraced his celebrating teammates and trotted back off the field, his job completed for now. Before he reached the sideline, with a lifted head and outstretched arms, Howell praised God for guiding him in his work.

There will be more field goals to kick—more successes, for sure, and perhaps some failures.

Alex Howell returned to the sideline, knowing his job was far from over. n

8 THE HEIGHTS SEPT. 3, 2015

FOOTBALL PREVIEW SCHEDULE

SEPT. 5

MAINE

The Eagles’ Flight to the Bowl PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST 5-6

16.4

21.3

SEPT. 18

FLORIDA STATE

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST 13-1

33.7

23.0

OCT. 3

@ DUKE

9-4

32.4

20.6

OCT. 17

30.8

17.6

VIRGINIA TECH OCT. 31

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST 7-6

24.1

20.4

NOV. 21

NOTRE @ DAME

8-5

32.8

29.6

23.6

The Blue Devils have been a program on the rise since head coach David Cutcliffe took over in 2008, but the Blue Devils have failed to win in any of the past three consecutive bowl games they have reached. While the team may be coming to a plateau, the Eagles will still be faced in an arduous task when they visit Durham. -J.S.

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST 3-9

14.8

26.4

Clemson’s days of playing the bridesmaid to Florida State are over. The Tigers are ready to reclaim their place atop the ACC, led by the best offensive player in the conference: sophomore quarterback DeShaun Watson. The Tigers took BC down at Alumni Stadium. It won’t get easier in Death Valley. -M.S.

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST 9-4

31.2

20.5

The Hokies were the only team to defeat the eventual National Champion Ohio State, but they also lost to Wake Forest in double overtime by a score of 6-3. Two very distinct versions of this team showed up at different points last season, and it was awfully tough to predict which would come to play each Saturday. - T.D.

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST 8-5

30.2

27.0

The Holy War returns as storied rivalry turns a new chapter in the hallowed grounds of Fenway Park. Notre Dame are a preseason top-15 team and potential contender for the national championship. Despite the game being held in Boston, Notre Dame is the home team and the crowd will be largely green and gold, but the Eagles should be up for the task in such a big matchup. -J.S.

3-9

17.1

24.3

@ CUSE

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST

NOV. 28

Despite a hot start with wins against Villanova and Central Michigan, the Orange struggled from there on out, losing nine of their next 10. Quarterback Terrel Hunt is healthy going into the season, but if he runs into injury trouble again, Syracuse could challenge Wake Forest and Virginia for worst team in the ACC. -T.D.

31.5

NC STATE

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST

11-3

NOV. 7

Everyone loves the Wolfpack because of their hot starts each year, but NC State pads its record with weak non-conference and FCS opponents. The only reason BC should watch out is because of Tyler Murphy’s former teammate, Jacoby Brissett. This dual-threat quarterback will give any defense fits. -M.S.

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST

OCT. 24

After suffering their most embarrassing defeat last year to Louisville, BC will be looking for revenge when they travel south. The Cardinals, however, are the third strongest team in the ACC behind Clemson and Florida State. And despite losing Teddy Bridgewater in a high turnover year, they are still stacked with talent to compete nationally. -J.S

No team in the ACC is turning over its roster more than Florida State. Led by Jameis Winston, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, FSU lost 11 players to the Draft. The No. 10 Seminoles enter the season with a bit of uncertainty for the first time in a while. - T.D.

@LOUISVILLE

@CLEMSON

10-3

30.3

WAKE

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST

25.4

OCT. 10

Three things in life are certain—death, taxes, and Wake Forest having a terrible football team. In 108 years of existence, the Demon Deacons have had 12 seven-win seasons. Sophomore quarterback John Wolford returns to lead the offense, but Wake will undoubtedly struggle against ACC competition in 2015. - T.D.

5-7

NIU

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST

PTS. RECORD PTS. FOR AGAINST

SEPT. 26

Get ready for some MACtion. The Huskies have won three out of the last four Mid-American Conference Championships with a dangerously explosive offense. Some may write this off as a BC victory, but after the Colorado State meltdown in 2014, Addazio’s squad should beware NIU as this season’s trap game. -M.S.

What better way to kick off the season than against BC’s perennial punching bag? Steve Addazio may not admit it, but the Black Bears have no reason to strike fear into the Eagles’ hearts.

A pitiful offense, inability to make explosive plays, and lack of a running defense makes Maine an easy opponent. -M.S.

HOWARD SEPT. 12

As far as Division 1-AA opponents go, Howard is just about as weak as it gets. The Bison could not manage to get above .500 in the mediocre MEAC. This should undoubtedly be a walk in the park for the Eagles in the first ever meeting between the two teams. -J.S.

THE SPORTS EDITORS