Boston College’s fall camp is barely underway, but Chris Marable Jr. is already looking like one of the more important pieces in the middle of the Eagles’ defense.
That’s the case for a player who lands at No. 10 in the program’s 2026 top 20 rankings and enters his second season at the Heights after transferring in from Wake Forest. Marable was part of Bill O’Brien’s first transfer class, technically, and arrived in the summer before the 2025 season after spending two years with the Demon Deacons.
His time at Wake Forest was limited to six total games across two seasons, with just one tackle to his name. Boston College got a much bigger return last fall.
Marable played in every game and made seven starts, finishing with 22 tackles, half a sack, one quarterback hit and one pass break-up. He had four-tackle outings against Notre Dame and Syracuse.
At 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, he has the kind of frame that fits the defensive tackle spot. But what separates him is how he processes the game.
Marable’s understanding shows up in the way he works through traffic, whether he’s shutting down the run, closing in on the quarterback or getting his hands up to knock a pass away. Even early in camp, that efficiency has stood out.
He also brings a voice to the room. Coaches like that. Marable is more vocal than some of the other linemen around him, and that leadership piece is part of why he matters.
"This team is working hard to get to where we want to get to, and that brings a certain excitement to practice every day," Marable told Jon Meterparel, the voice of BC football, after the second day of fall camp on Aug. 6.
Boston College has other interior defensive linemen in the mix, including E’LIa Boykin, Micah Amedee and Christian Hudson, but Marable sits in a group that also includes Onye Nwosisi at No. 18 and KJ Sampson at No. 17 on this list.
Before college, Marable was a team captain at Hilton Head High School and played in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. He also earned First-Team All-Region 7 AAAA honors and was named the 4A Lower Defensive Player of the Week after posting 15 total tackles, including six for loss.
This is the 11th story in Boston College Eagles On SI's summer preview series on the Eagles’ top 20 players and honorable mentions heading into Bill O’Brien’s third year. The series continues before BC opens the season on Sept. 5.
- R-Jr.
DT Chris Marable Jr.
11.
So. OG Rob Smith IV
- So.
RB Bo MacCormack III
13.
R-So. LB Bodie Kahoun
- R-So.
CB Syair Torrence
15.
R-So. DE Demetrius Ballard
- Sr.
CB Max Tucker
17.
R-Jr. DT KJ Sampson
- R-Sr.
DT Onye Nwosisi
19.
R-Jr. WR Reed Swanson
- R-Jr.
C Michael Crounse
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