2017 Football Recruiting Class Breakdown
By Anthony Iati
With National Signing Day 2017 in the books, let’s take a look at how the Boston College Football coaching staff did on the recruiting trail. First, a breakdown of the class of the 20 newest Eagles:
By projected position:
By type of high school attended:
By years of football captainship (a trait Addazio values) in high school:
Addazio had plenty to say about the class when he met the media this afternoon. Some highlights to help you get to know the student-athletes a bit:
On touted 4* recruit RB AJ Dillon:
“He’s a difference maker. AJ Dillon is a game changer. He’s one of the very best players in America, maybe one of the very best players to be recruited in the history of Boston College. He’s the No. 1 rated player in New England … I think AJ is one of those guys that has the ability to captivate Boston, which is an unbelievable sports city. His personality, his ability, his charisma I think gives him a tremendous platform for his future here at Boston College. Really couldn’t be happier about AJ and what he brings to the table with his ability and who he is as a person and his family.”
Addazio later said Dillon has “Andre Williams” potential at BC.
On fellow RB recruit Travis Levy:
“A mid-year enrollee, running back, fantastic player, great work ethic, great attitude here right now working.”
On the class’s pure quarterback, E.J. Perry:
“Also mid-year, quarterback from Andover, comes from a football family, a sports family. Uncles are coaching with the Texans, one was with Princeton, now a head coach here locally. Dad is the head coach. Football is in their blood. He’s an unbelievable competitor. You talk about it; you saw it all over him. He throws the ball extremely well. He’s a real gym rat, football guy.”
On Tate Haynes, a QB/DB:
“An elite athlete. Tate Haynes was the starting quarterback, okay, of their team that won the state championship. Tate Haynes is a freak athlete. He’s a guy that we are bringing in here to look at the quarterback, okay, because he’s got it. And we are also bringing him in here as an athlete.”
On CJ Lewis (athlete), Noah Jordan-Williams and Caleb Stoneburner (WR):
“CJ Lewis, wide receiver, athlete from Cheshire Academy … just great athleticism. You’re talking about a big, tall, long, fast, great ball skills, great athlete, 6’4″ guy, reminds me a lot of Mike Williams from Clemson. I mean, that kind of potential … Size at that position, I think is a critical, critical deal.”
“Noah is a big, physical wide receiver, extremely athletic. He has those real big strong hands. That guy is going to catch the football. Really, really tremendous athlete, teammate of John Phillips who is on our team right now.”
“Caleb Stoneburner, wide receiver from Dublin, Ohio. He’s another big receiver. He’s a 6’4″ guy that’s a 4-4 guy. Vertical threat. Great athlete. Great hands. Go up and catch the ball in a crowd. So we’re talking about big, physical, tall receivers, and we felt we need to add that to our team.”
On the three new tight ends:
“Patrick Brown, tight end from Cathedral Catholic … a guy who was on a state champion high school football team. He’s a great athlete. Tremendous ball skills, great blocker. Interesting thing about him is he’s also a scratch golfer. Talks a little bit about his eye-hand coordination … this guy has got that, as well as being a dominant blocker on film as well as being a ball catcher on a great program.”
“Hunter Long from Deerfield Academy … Tremendous vertical leap, great 40 speed, just really good route runner, really developed physically over the course of the last year, and we think we’ve got a real great player here that is a very athletic tight end.”
“Drew McQuarrie from John Stark High School in New Hampshire was a high school quarterback … Big, another big, physical guy and is a really good basketball player. Those are real athletes. He’s going to be playing tight end. He had great ball skills in camp. He’s going to grow into being just a big man, and we really liked his athleticism and his mind-set.”
On the two new offensive linemen:
“Alec Lindstrom is here mid-year … he is going to play center for us. Just like [his brother] Chris, going to come out of high school undersized, not going to be on a Division I radar because of that and is going to end up being a great player … He was dominant in camp on both sides of the ball, dominant. So he’s going to gain in weight … but his tenacity, his aggressiveness and his physicalness is remarkable.”
“Ben Petrula, offensive line from St. Peter’s Prep … A highly-regarded, rated player, who is big and physical … He’s a four-year starter at St. Peter’s and has played against elite competition. This guy is a mountain of a guy and he’s a heck of a player. He’s an elite guy coming in here … we have very, very high expectations on him.”
On the defensive line additions:
“Nate Emer, defensive tackle from Iroquois, New York. He’s a 6’5″, 260-pound guy who you can just see is a raw-bone guy who is going to fill out and become a big man … a little bit under the radar that he’s got a great motor and a great toughness to him.”
“TJ Rayam, defensive tackle and nose guard … He’s a wrestler, and he can move and he’s powerful. He uses his hands well and it helps us interiorly inside, which is one of the things we were really looking for.“
“Marcus Valdez from Don Bosco Prep … He got injured during the season. He would have blown up. He’s a heck of a player. Great motor, great leverage guy, great power, real good jump off the ball. As he gets healthy again will become a hell of a player for us.”
On the linebacking duo added:
“Isaiah McDuffie, the linebacker from Bennett, New York … He’s a sam backer, excellent speed, excellent agility. Was a great running back in high school. Rushed for over 1,600 yards. He is a big, fast, physical athlete, and he’s a hell of a player.”
“Paul Theobald, linebacker from Seton Hall Prep … Very instinctive guy. Physical guy. Anthony Campanile’s brother, Vito, coached him. Just a really good football player. He’s going to come up here and can move well, tough, gets to the ball, great vision. Love him.”
On the defensive backfield:
“Brandon Sebastian, defensive back from Cheshire Academy, one of the best athletes in the country. And that’s a fact. That’s not just some statement I’m making right now. We had him in camp. His measurables in camp were completely off the chart. Speed, movement, vertical ability, off the chart. Okay, we’re talking about a 4-3 guy, talking about a 38-vertical guy. This guy can go now, okay. Really, really athletic guy.”
“Ben Stewart … He’s a multi-sport performer, All-State football player, a guy who might be as tough as anybody I’ve seen ever coming out of high school. He’s a wrestler and going to compete for the state title. I’ve watched some of his videos and wrestling, and you would not want your son competing against him on the wrestling mats, I’m telling you. He’s unbelievable … His maturity, his mind-set is different than your average high school player, okay. Fantastic.”
“Jahmin Muse, what an athlete. I mean, I love this kid, guys. I mean, I want you to know that. I love him. He is a two-time high school captain, played every position in high school, kickoff, punt. He can play for us right away … I love the kid. I love his family. I love his support system around him.”
Photo courtesy of NESN