ACC: Boston College recruiting with Michigan State and UVA
By Rich Lynch
Boston College football has a tradition of winning exciting games, losing important games, and developing its players into NFL level talent. Over the past few years the success that Tom O’Brien created at The Heights has decayed on account of improper recruiting by Jeff Jagodinski and the inexperienced head coaching of Frank Spaziani.
After letting assistant coaches Kevin Rodgers, Dave Brock, and Ryan Day leave for Rutgers and Temple, Spaziani infused the team with new leaders. Doug Martin the former Kent State head coach and Al Washington the former Boston College defensive lineman have stepped in and seem to have infused the program with some stability and excitement. I say this because recruiting has been more active so far this year than in past years. There have been some good signings and some players lost to comparable programs. Here is a breakdown of the 2013 high profile players verbally committed to Boston College and players that spurned the Eagles.
Verbal Commitments
Tim Boyle –
Boyle is from St. Xavier High School and Middletown, Connecticut. He chose Boston College over Florida, Pittsburgh, and Syracuse. This was an important signing for the school in the long term. Rumors are that Spaziani is on the “Hot Seat” and may not be the coach very much longer. Boyle, a three star ranked player, is signing because of the University and the exposure it provides and was not scared off by the coaching rumors.
Note: Highly regarded, Class of 2011, linebacker Graham Stewart of St. Xavier who originally committed to Boston College then signed with Florida is now at University of Connecticut.
Andrew Isaacs-
Isaacs is from Manchester Connecticut. He chose Boston College over University of Connecticut, Maryland and Rutgers. Boston College has a tradition of tight ends going to the NFL including Mark Chmura, Pete Mitchell, and Ryan Purvis. The Eagles have several quality Tight Ends on the current roster including Chris Pantale and Massachusetts native Brian Miller. Playing time for the four star Andrew Isaacs will be well earned if received.
Micheal Geiger-
Keiger who will undoubtedly be nicknamed “Counter” — as in Geiger Counter. He is a Top 10 kicker according to the Kohl’s Professional Camps 2013 Kickers National Rankings. The kicking game is always a BIG factor in Alumni Stadium with the swrirling wind coming off the Reservoir in the fall and winter. His expertise with kickoffs will be important.
Missed Commitments
Trey Kilgore
Kilgore is a Wide Receiver from St. Xavier in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was recruited by the MAAC schools, Boston College, and Michigan State. Kilgore chose Michigan State. St. Xavier is the same program that fed Boston College with Linebackers Luke Keuchly and current Linebackers Sean Duggan and Steve Daniels. This would have been a nice player to pair with Tim Boyle.
Jack McDonald
McDonald is an Offensive lineman out of Boston College High School in Massachusetts. He was a three star player who was recruited by Boston College, Miami(FL), North Carolina, and University of Virginia. McDonald chose University of Virginia. This would have been a good commitment for the Eagles because he is out of the Jesuit High School in Boston that is associated with Boston College and because he is talented. Traditionally under Tom O’Brien Boston College got the good local lineman included Mark Columbo(Bridgewater High School) and Paul Zukauskas(Boston College High School).
Note: Boston College High School Offensive Lineman Jack Shields started at Center for UVA in 2008 and 2009.