Boston College Faces Key Roster Turnover as Transfer Portal Activity Picks Up
The transfer portal doesn’t officially open until January 2, but Boston College is already seeing movement-and plenty of it. A dozen players have announced their intention to transfer, and while not every departure will shake the foundation of the roster, a few names certainly raise eyebrows. Let’s break down who’s leaving, what it means for the program, and where the Eagles may need to recalibrate heading into 2025.
Minimal Impact Departures
**WR Cedric Lott Jr. **
Lott Jr. was always seen as a developmental piece. A late convert to football after focusing on basketball in high school, he played just five snaps this season-coming in the finale against Syracuse.
With Bill O’Brien leaning heavily on a tight rotation of receivers, Lott was unlikely to crack the rotation in 2026. His exit isn’t a surprise and shouldn’t alter the offensive outlook.
OL Jack Funke
Funke’s name might be familiar to fans thanks to his special teams contributions-over 50 snaps on field goal protection this year-but he was buried on the offensive line depth chart.
The Massachusetts native's departure is a small surprise considering his brother, Dominic, is set to join the team. Still, from a competitive standpoint, it’s hard to see a path to playing time that would’ve kept him in Chestnut Hill.
DB Nate Johnson
Johnson’s BC career never found traction under O’Brien.
Originally used as a gadget wide receiver under Jeff Hafley, he was moved to defensive back and didn’t log a single snap this season. His departure is more of a formality than a loss in terms of on-field impact.
RB/WR Datrell Jones
Jones saw limited action in 2024 and none in 2025.
Originally brought in as a running back and return specialist, he was later converted to wide receiver. With no clear role and little playing time, a fresh start could be what he needs to get back on track.
From BC’s perspective, this is a clean break that doesn’t affect the depth chart.
OL Jadon Lafontant
Lafontant, a redshirt freshman, played just three snaps this season-coming in the opener against Fordham.
He hadn’t cracked the two-deep and was likely still a year or more away from serious competition. His departure opens a spot but doesn’t create an immediate hole.
Moderate Impact Departures
DB Ashton McShane
McShane showed real promise as a freshman, logging over 400 snaps and stepping up after Amari Jackson’s injury.
But this season was a different story. After appearing early in the year, injuries once again slowed him down.
He managed to return late in the season but never regained a consistent role. If healthy, McShane had the tools to contribute, especially in a secondary that dealt with its share of injuries.
DT Sterling Sanders
Sanders had buzz around him when he flipped from Georgia Southern and turned heads at the Under Armour All-American camp.
But injuries derailed his freshman year, and he never got the chance to show what he could do in live action. While the production wasn’t there, the potential certainly was-especially at defensive tackle, a spot where BC doesn’t have the luxury of depth.
LB Jason Hewlett
Hewlett’s journey at BC was a case of opportunity not quite meeting readiness.
With the linebacker room thinned out during spring ball, Hewlett-who transferred in from Michigan-looked like a key addition. He earned a starting opportunity midseason but struggled, particularly against Pitt.
He finished the year on special teams, even as the team continued to battle injuries at linebacker. That speaks volumes.
Still, the need at the position remains, and his departure adds to the urgency.
DT Ty Clemons
Clemons was a veteran presence who had carved out a rotational role when healthy.
Unfortunately, health was the issue-again. He played in just six games this season and managed a sack, but injuries once again limited his impact.
BC’s defensive front has been riddled with injuries, and while Clemons wasn’t a full-time starter, his experience and depth will be missed.
Significant Impact Departures
LB Daveon “Bam” Crouch
This one stings.
Crouch was the heart of the defense, a captain coming off a strong 2024 campaign, and a player expected to anchor the linebacker unit. But injuries cut his 2025 season short after just a few games.
He returned briefly against Notre Dame, then disappeared again-eventually entering the portal. His absence left a glaring hole in the middle of the defense, one the Eagles never truly filled.
With the linebacker group already thin, his departure elevates this from a concern to a must-fix situation. BC now has no choice but to aggressively pursue reinforcements at the position.
QB Dylan Lonergan
This is the headline.
Lonergan was the starting quarterback for most of 2025, and his connection to Bill O’Brien-who recruited him at Alabama-was a big reason he ended up in Chestnut Hill. He had a strong spring, won the job in camp, and looked sharp early in the season.
But as defenses adjusted and the offensive line struggled, so did Lonergan. A hand injury against Syracuse ended his season prematurely, but he was still viewed as the likely starter heading into 2026.
His decision to transfer leaves BC with a major void at the most important position on the field. The Eagles now need to find a new signal-caller-and fast.
What It All Means for Boston College
While not every name on this list will cause sleepless nights for the coaching staff, the departures of Lonergan and Crouch are major blows. Both were projected starters in 2026 and played premium positions-quarterback and linebacker-that don’t have immediate replacements waiting in the wings.
The transfer portal giveth and taketh away, and now it’s on Bill O’Brien and his staff to navigate the other side of this equation. BC will need to be aggressive in adding proven talent, especially at quarterback and linebacker.
The good news? There’s still time.
The portal officially opens in January, and the Eagles will have their shot to reload.
But make no mistake-this offseason just got a lot more interesting in Chestnut Hill.