Tons of Questions for BC Entering ’25

Clemson Opponents Previews

CLEMSON – At the midway point of the 2025 college football season, the Clemson Tigers head north to face the Boston College Eagles in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

The Tigers haven’t faced the Eagles since a 31-3 victory in 2022. A lot time has passed since then, and it should be a whole new game this time around.

With the departure of former starting quarterback Tommy Castellanos, the Eagles’ offense will look a little different, and the defense has multiple standout positions that will look scary for Boston College’s opponents.

OFFENSE

Castellanos is off to Florida State, so it is up to senior Grayson James to take the lead on offense. James threw for 1,202 yards and six touchdowns with two interceptions after Castellanos quit the team late last season. The Eagles also grabbed Dylan Lonergan from Alabama to potentially play alongside him.

Turbo Richard and Jordan McDonald combined for over 600 yards last year, but now with the reins of the ground game in their hands, their talents can make those numbers much bigger. At receiver, the Eagles have a stud in Lewis Bond, while Reed Lewis averaged 28.6 yards per catch in 2024. Jeremiah Franklin starts at tight end, being joined by Florida Atlantic transfer Zeke Moore.

The offensive line will have a different starting five from last year, but the holes are looking to be filled. Merrimack transfer Amir Johnson is expected to start at a guard spot, while Princeton transfer Tommy Matheson will take center. Graduate tackle Kevin Cline should hold down right tackle, while senior Logan Taylor can finish at left guard and Jude Bowry at left tackle. There is still time, however, for things to change during pre-season camp.

DEFENSE

KP Price and Carter Davis are both talented safeties who will hold down the secondary in a good way. Surrounding them at the cornerback position is expected to be senior Amari Jackson and junior Max Tucker, who combined for seven pass deflections last year in limited roles.

Senior linebackers Daveon Crouch and Owen McGowan will lead the middle after combining for 106 tackles last year. The ends are expected to be Quintayvious Hutchins and Edwin Kolenge, with the addition of senior transfer Onyi Nowsisi from Valparaiso College. On the interior defensive line, seniors Owen Stoudmire and Sedarius McConnell will have to produce.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Graduate transfer Shamus Florio from Yale comes to take hold of the punter position. At kicker, Liam Conner returns for his senior year after hitting only 2 of 4 field goals with 32 of 33 extra points made.

OVERVIEW

Head coach Bill O’Brien enters his second year at BC after leading the Eagles to a 7-6 season and a bowl win in 2024.

The Eagles have a couple of games they might be able to win earlier on in Fordham, Stanford and Cal. There is a winnable home game vs. Connecticut on Oct. 18, other than that, the rest of the season consist of matchups against Pitt, Clemson, Louisville, Notre Dame, SMU, Georgia Tech and Syracuse.

The Tigers travel to face BC at Alumni Stadium on Oct. 11.

photo by Vincent Carchietta / Imagn Images