BC Football: Defensive Roster Preview
By Luke Ballard & Grady Daniels
With one of the worst defenses in all of NCAA FBS in 2025, the only way is up for the Eagles as they approach week one against a high-powered Bearcat offense. Ranking 123rd out of 136 nationally, the Eagles allowed 32.8 points per game en route to their 2–10 season. The Eagles also ranked 17 out of 17 in the ACC, allowing 34.8 points per game to conference opponents, while only keeping two ACC opponents (California (28) & Syracuse(12)) from scoring 30 or more points.
Through 12 games last year, the Eagles allowed 433.3 yards per game and 6.52 yards per play, ranking 128th nationally. Between the 433.3 yards per game, 255.7 came through the air while 177.6 came on the ground, ranking 123rd and 106th nationally, while opposing passers averaged a passer rating of 150.17, ranking BC 121st nationally.
Despite the discouraging stats presented, the 2026 Eagles defense shows promising signs of improvement, as they return a loaded secondary set on shutting down opponents’ deep ball. The Eagles are returning key defensive starters in KP Price, Carter Davis, Isaiah Farris, and Chris Marabel Jr., with Price being named to the All-ACC Preseason Team last week.
The anchor of this defense will start in the secondary, with players like Max Tucker, TJ Green, Syair Torrence, and Charlie Comella also returning with notable reps and a few starts from last season’s injury-ridden skid. The rest of the defense and front seven will be rounded out with new transfer acquisitions such as former Florida State defensive tackle KJ Sampson, Georgia transfer Kris Jones on the edge, and former Notre Dame linebacker Bodie Kahoun.
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SAFETYS
Without a doubt, the most formidable piece of the Eagles defense this season will be the veteran, seasoned safety group led by none other than BC’s best player, KP Price. A recipient of many awards, Price’s most notable include a 2025 All-ACC Second-Team Honors inclusion, as well as most recently being named to the 2026 All-ACC Preseason Team in July. Price totaled 94 tackles in his junior campaign along with two interceptions and three TFLs, a slight improvement from his sophomore year given the unfortunate circumstances. The strong side safety has mid-round NFL draft potential if he can keep trending in the right direction.
Backing up Price on the strong side is redshirt junior Alabama transfer Kameron Howard. Howard, who played a combined six games in two years for the Crimson Tide, will look to start fresh in Chestnut Hill, as there seems to be valuable playing time in his future. Being versatile enough to play both free and strong safety, Howard will be a key rotation piece for the Eagles. Starring at free safety for the Eagles will be redshirt junior Carter Davis. Davis has played in every game for the Eagles during his two-year tenure, totaling 59 tackles and two pass deflections in 2025, adding to his 2024 totals of 52 tackles, three interceptions, and three pass deflections. Standing at 6’1”, Davis is incredibly light on his feet, allowing him to cover large amounts of ground while the ball is in the air. Paired with Price, this safety duo will certainly put the ACC on watch come September. Backing up Davis will likely be sophomore Marcus Upton. Playing in only nine games in 2025, Upton totaled one TFL, 17 total tackles, and 13 solo.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
The defensive back room will be led by sophomore duo Syair Torrence and TJ Green, and fourth-year senior Max Tucker. Torrence appeared in eight games his freshman year, recording one tackle, and while posing for a breakout sophomore year in 2025, Torrence played only three games before suffering a season-ending injury. Now, as a likely first option for Ted Roof’s secondary, you can expect Torrence to be hungry and ready, as he gets his first real shot for the Eagles outside of special teams. At the nickel, TJ Green, the sophomore from San Diego, will look to build upon his strong freshman year campaign. In 2025, Green totaled 25 tackles, two pass deflections, and one forced fumble despite only appearing in nine games. Catapulting himself from eighth on the depth chart to starting at the nickel, Green has developed into the ideal ball-hawking defensive back that Roof loves to utilize. Green, alongside running back Bo McCormack III, will be returning kicks for the Eagles as his raw athleticism is hard to ignore.
On the left for the Eagles will be fourth-year senior and Massachusetts native Max Tucker. Appearing in 34 games through his first three years in Chestnut Hill, Tucker saw his production take a slight dip in his junior campaign, as he appeared in all 12 games, yet started only five. Despite his reduced role last year, Tucker still managed to record 24 tackles and an interception vs. Clemson. Tucker is expected to be the much-needed veteran presence in the Eagles’ defensive back room. Backing up for the Eagles will be Ashton Cunningham, Isaiah Farris, and Cameron Martinez. You can also expect to see Farris take on a larger role on special teams, as he is expected to be the Eagles’ first-choice punt returner.
DEFENSIVE LINE & EDGE
While the secondary was badly injured last season for the Eagles, former defensive coordinator Tim Lewis also dealt with another issue. After Donovan Ezeraiku departed for the NFL, the defensive line simply could not generate enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks to protect the next level. To help mitigate the issue, Ben Albert has returned to the Heights after spending time with UMass.
Someone who has been particularly exciting to watch on the edge for the Eagles has been Georgia transfer Kris Jones, who at times in spring training looked unstoppable, getting at the quarterbacks multiple times in a sequence. Jones stands at 6’2 245, and appeared in 14 games with the Bulldogs. While he won’t be able to match Ezeraiku’s production, Jones will give the Eagles a significant boost in the rushing department. Onye Nwosisi has also looked very good through practices, and the Eagles returned 2 key contributors last season on the edges in Josiah Griffin and Favor Bate. Both should be well established in the rotation this season in Ted Roof’s defense, as will Buffalo transfer Demetrius Ballard, who also did well in the spring with the Eagles.
Inside, Chris Marable Jr anchors a largely new group and has been someone who appears to have taken a good leap following last season. The former Demon Deacon has been relentless in training and is the clear standout at tackle. Marable’s 6’3, 305 frame combined with his hand and feet skill make him the most dangerous force in the bunch. Outside of Marable, there will be a bit of a question mark in terms of production, but the Eagles did add some transfers with power conference experience in KJ Sampson (Florida State) and Christian Hudson (Colorado). Sampson is the more polished and will be higher in the depth chart after logging 26 games with the Seminoles, and Hudson should supplement him well. The Eagles also return Chuck Nnaeto and Micah Amedee, who will both be firmly in the rotation. Finishing up the defensive line are Caden Bowling, Bryce Lewis (if not deployed at tight end), Jackson Carlisle, Cameron McGee, Makai Byerson, Jayzen Flint, and Israel Oladipupo.
LINEBACKERS
The Eagles linebacker core will almost entirely be made up of transfer portal additions that O’Brien and his staff made in January; a trend that has begun to overtake the college football world, especially amongst the Power Four conferences. Leading the way for the weak-side linebackers will be redshirt sophomore transfer Anthony Palano, who joins the Eagles after seasons with Washington State and South Dakota State in 2025 and 2024, respectively. Palano started seven of the 12 games for the Cougars in 2025, totaling 65 tackles, four quarterback hurries, and two pass breakups. Standing at 6’1” and 230 lbs., Palano will be a presence on the weak side for Boston College as he looks to continue his promising career. Backing up Palano will be Justin Medlock, a redshirt senior transfer from SMU; Medlock previously played the last two seasons in Dallas and his freshman year at Utah. Totaling 25 tackles, one sack, and a 96-yard pick-six against Stanford in 2025, Medlock will be a great rotation player, complementing Palano’s play style to round out the weak side.
Pairing with the weakside linebackers, the Eagles’ middle linebacking core is again highlighted by a redshirt sophomore transfer. Bodie Kahoun, the former four-star high school recruit from Roanoke, Virginia, recorded a pair of tackles during his 12-game stint at Notre Dame in 2025. Now, arriving in Chestnut Hill, Kahoun is set to be one of the Eagles’ biggest defensive pieces as he takes on his first major role at middle linebacker. If Kahoun can step up to the plate, the Eagles will finally have a centerpiece in the middle of the field that they have lacked in recent years. Standing at 6’2” with a lengthy wingspan, Kahoun will look to be a disruptor for opposing quarterbacks and slot receivers. Backing up Kahoun is the Eagles’ only non-transfer at linebacker, and Longmeadow, Massachusetts, native Griffin Collins. Recording a career-best six tackles in the Georgia Tech contest last season, Collins will continue to be a focal point of the linebacking core.
SPECIAL TEAMS
As for special teams, the Eagles retain one of the few bright spots from last season at kicker. Redshirt senior Luca Lombardo was perhaps one of the most accurate kickers in the nation last season. Lombardo went 35-of-35 taking extra points, while hitting 16-of-17 field goal attempts. Sporting a 94.1 field goal percentage, Lombardo’s one miss came in the last contest of the season vs. Syracuse. Although having a great kicker is not equal to having a great quarterback, special teams will win you games, and the Eagles are bound to be in some dogfights this season, barring their harsh in-conference schedule. Lombardo was responsible for 83 of Boston College’s 283 total points scored on the season, an impressive 29.3 percent. As for the Eagles’ punter, the position will be assumed by the graduate transfer from Towson, Bryce LaFollette.