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Graduation of Tyler Murphy could shift Boston College offense

By Danny Jaillet

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How will the loss of quarterback Tyler Murphy change the Boston College offense in 2015?

To say Tyler Murphy was a key piece in the Boston College Eagle offense would be an understatement. The fifth-year transfer from the University of Florida was a dual-threat signal-caller in every sense of the word, passing for 1,623 yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for 1,184 yards and seven touchdowns.

His rushing mark put him third in the Atlantic Coast Conference behind Miami junior running back Duke Johnson and Pittsburgh sophomore running back James Conner.

With last season being Murphy’s final campaign and due to the fact that he was the “engine” to Boston College’s offensive “train”, the question heading into the spring for the Eagles becomes , “How do you replace Tyler Murphy?” Thankfully for the Eagles, they have a slew of backs ready to take charge including a trio who are ready to prove that they belong with the elite in the ACC.

Jon Hilliman (Freshman)– Hilliman carried the rock 210 times for 860 yards and 13 touchdowns in the 2013 campaign, which led all Eagle running backs. At first glance, he may not seem like an intimidating back given his 6-foot, 215-pound frame.

However, he has a running style that bears resemblance to Marshawn Lynch or Eddie Lacy in the sense that he is a physical runner, and he makes up for his lack of speed by using his force to keep his legs moving and quite literally run over defenders.

Hilliman’s best game yardage-wise came in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl on December 28, as he ran the ball 25 times for 148 yards and a touchdown. The 148 yards he amassed was his highest total of the season and his 5.9 yards per carry also set a season-high.

Due to his production last season, it should not be an unreasonable expectation that he will have a stellar sophomore campaign. He will have to carry a bulk of the rushing attack in order for it to be successful.

Myles Willis (Sophomore)–  Willis filled the role of complementary back nicely last season for the Eagles. Rushing the ball 88 times for 459 yards and two touchdowns, he provided a spark plug, and could provide that extra boost when Hilliman needed a rest.

Willis’ best performance came in Boston College’s 37-31 upset win over USC September 14 when he carried the ball nine times for 89 yards, including a 52-yard run that proved to be a key moment in ensuring an Eagle victory. For the number-crunchers out there, his 89 yards broke down to 9.9 yards per carry.

Willis will need to carry the positives over from the 2014 campaign to this season and may see an expanded role in the offense.

Marcus Outlow (Freshman)-– As with any freshman football player, many were interested to see what Outlow could do. While he did not play in every contest, he did show flashes of his skill set.

In the Eagles’ 40-10 win over the Maine Black Bears, he rushed the ball 14 times for 107 yards, including a 52-yard burst that was his longest of the day. In total, he rushed the ball 59 times for 243 yards.

It will be interesting to see how he fits into the offense not just this season but in the future, and not only how he fits into the offense, but how high his ceiling is in terms of growth and potential.

As Eagle fans saw last season, the ground game proved to be very effective for Boston College and filled out the offense. However, filling out the offense will be a tougher task without Murphy and the trio will have to do their best to fill in the holes he leaves behind.

Next: Top 10 ACC Running Backs Entering 2015 Spring Practice

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