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Boston College Football: 5 reasons AJ Dillon can win 2018 Heisman Trophy

By Luke Feliciano

CHESTNUT HILL, MA - NOVEMBER 11: AJ Dillon #2 of the Boston College Eagles celebrates with Thadd Smith #18 after scoring a 66-yard touchdown during the second quarter against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Alumni Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
CHESTNUT HILL, MA - NOVEMBER 11: AJ Dillon #2 of the Boston College Eagles celebrates with Thadd Smith #18 after scoring a 66-yard touchdown during the second quarter against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Alumni Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /
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CHESTNUT HILL, MA – NOVEMBER 11: AJ Dillon #2 of the Boston College Eagles celebrates with Thadd Smith #18 after scoring a 66-yard touchdown during the second quarter against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Alumni Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
CHESTNUT HILL, MA – NOVEMBER 11: AJ Dillon #2 of the Boston College Eagles celebrates with Thadd Smith #18 after scoring a 66-yard touchdown during the second quarter against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Alumni Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /

5. Coming off a strong finish from a year ago

Looking more closely into Dillon’s freshman year, it is evident that his season was a tale of two halves. In the first half of the season, he endeavored to be a playmaker for the Eagles.

Through the first six games of 2017, Dillon put up pedestrian numbers for a running back. He punched in just two rushing touchdowns and in each of those games, failed to reach the 20-carry threshold.

In the first stretch of the season, Boston College faced some quality opponents such as Notre Dame, Clemson and Virginia Tech.

One game in particular — the matchup with intradivision foe Louisville — provided both a turning point and a launching pad for Dillon’s season.

The Eagles won the shootout in a tight 45-42 victory but better yet, Dillon dominated. He set season-highs in multiple categories including rushing attempts (39), yards (272) and touchdowns (4). The game also featured a 75-yard run that Dillon took to the house.

After that game, Dillon went on to have an incredible second half of the season. After the Louisville game, he tore up the gridiron rushing for nearly 150-plus yards each game and recording at least one rushing touchdown in all but one of the games in that span.

Dillon turned on the afterburners in the latter part of the season last year and if he can build off the momentum he carried in the tail end of 2017, he can be a force to be reckoned with this season.

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