Boston College heads into ACC Media Days with no shortage of questions hanging over the program, and Bill O’Brien will have plenty to answer when he takes the podium Thursday at the Hilton Uptown in Charlotte.
The Eagles are trying to bounce back from a 2-10 season in 2025, and the issues run deep. There are real concerns on both sides of the ball, plus a few bigger-picture unknowns that make this week worth watching closely.
Up front, the offensive line is one of the biggest swing factors. Boston College struggled badly in both the passing game and the run game last season, and even with limited turnover in the portal, the staff knew reinforcements were necessary.
The Eagles added guard Kristian Phillips from Michigan State and tackles Reggie Jackson from Jacksonville State and North Carolina Central’s Trevon Humphrey. Phillips and Jackson are expected to be starters, which means this group is going to have to come together fast if the offense is going to function.
Quarterback is another major storyline, and Mason McKenzie appears to be the guy. The transfer from Saginaw Valley State committed in January and emerged as the favorite over Grayson Willson despite not having Division I experience.
McKenzie brings a strong arm and the ability to run, and at 6-foot-1 he’ll need to be able to move in the pocket. That part of his game lines up with what Bill O’Brien wants.
The real question is whether that skill set holds up at the Division I level right away.
The run game also needs to show up. Boston College finished 15th in the ACC last season with 103.9 rushing yards per game, and the offensive line issues were a big reason why.
The staff responded by adding Liberty standout Evan Dickens, who rushed for 1,339 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. He gives the Eagles a proven back, and Nolan Ray, who transferred in from Maryland, adds another layer.
With McKenzie in the mix, the offense has the chance to lean on multiple runners and keep defenses guessing.
On the other side, Ted Roof inherits a defense that has a lot to fix. Boston College ranked 128th nationally in total defense last season, and the turnover numbers were ugly: just six interceptions and six fumbles recovered.
The Eagles forced 13 fewer turnovers than they did in 2024. Roof has an experienced secondary to work with, led by KP Price and Carter Davis, but the pass rush has to improve and the defense has to start taking the ball away.
That leads to the final problem: sacks, or the lack of them. Boston College finished last in the ACC with 17 sacks last season, and Sedarius McConnell led the team with just 2.5.
No Eagle reached three sacks in 12 games. The defensive line got portal help too, with Georgia transfer Kris Jones, Harvard transfer Alex DeGrieck and Buffalo transfer Demetrius Ballard all arriving with a chance to make an impact.
For Boston College, media days are less about polish and more about proof. The roster has been reshaped, but the questions are still loud.
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The bigger picture, though, is still taking shape around the Eagles pitching staff. An incoming freshman is expected to add another arm to the mix, and there is also some outside chatter about assistant coach Ryan Forrest being in the mix for a head coaching job at Princeton. Nothing has been confirmed there, but it is the kind of offseason ripple that can change the feel of a staff quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Why Nolan Ray Could Matter More Than BC Fans Realize
Nolan Ray arrives at Boston College with the kind of rsum that makes him easy to overlook at first glance, but not by the people building the Eagles backfield. The Maryland transfer has already played in a meaningful number of games, and BC is bringing him in as part of a rotation that needs more size and toughness between the tackles heading into 2026. In a room that will be watched closely all offseason, Ray stands out as the bigger back who can change the feel of a drive when the offense needs a few extra yards.
What makes him especially interesting is that the fit seems obvious before the full role is even settled. Boston College is looking for backs who can handle more than just carries, and Ray has shown enough as a receiver and blocker to hint at a more complete package. The question now is whether those flashes become something the Eagles can count on every week, because if they do, his place in the offense could grow quickly. [Read more 🡒]