Boston College’s first fall scrimmage gave the coaching staff a few encouraging signs on a bright summer day inside Alumni Stadium, and the biggest ones came from the trenches and the backfield.
Nolan Ray was the clearest offensive standout. The play of the day was a run of 65 yards or more from the running back, and it fit with what has been building in recent practices.
Ray turned in several other strong carries as well, showing the kind of physical running that stood out throughout the session. Afterward, O’Brien pointed to Ray’s size and noted that he is one of the bigger backs in the room.
He also praised his physical style, while adding that Mekhi Dodd, Evan Dickens and Bo MacCormack bring that same kind of trait to the rotation.
The defensive line made its presence felt all afternoon. KJ Sampson was especially noticeable, using agility and power to work up the middle.
Micah Amedee piled up several impactful plays, with his best moments coming against the run. Christian Hudson added a big stuff later in practice, and Kris Jones kept drawing extra attention from blockers but still managed a strong pass rush against Mason McKenzie during the scrimmage.
O’Brien said the team leaned heavily on the running game in this scrimmage, and that showed. Even so, the line held up well for most of the day.
One more name to keep in mind: Cameron McGee. O’Brien singled him out as a player to watch during the season, though he did not practice on Saturday.
In Other News...
Evan Dickens Gives Boston College A True Offensive Centerpiece
Boston College has spent the summer looking for more certainty on offense, and Evan Dickens is starting to look like the kind of player who can supply it. The former Liberty running back landed on the Doak Walker Award 2026 Preseason Watch List, a nod that reflects the impact he brought with him after transferring in and the kind of workload-he can handle at a position where consistency matters as much as burst.
For the Eagles, the timing of that recognition matters because it does more than just highlight a good individual season. It puts Dickens in a national conversation reserved for the sports top backs and gives Boston College a backfield centerpiece to build around as the season unfolds, with the awards winner not coming until December 2026. [Read more 🡒]