National Signing Day 2018: The Offensive Line

The first batch of commitments are in for Boston College and we are going to break down the commits and how it effects the depth chart for the Eagles. Last week we looked at the quarterbacks and running backs/wide receivers/tight ends. Today let’s take a look at the offensive line

Finn Dirstine 6-5, 320

Acton, Mass./Lawrence Academy

No. 1 player in Massachusetts and the 12^th-best offensive guard nationally by 247Sports … rated as the No. 278 player nationally by 247Sports … No. 2 player in Massachusetts and the nation’s No. 24 offensive guard according to Rivals.com … No. 2 player in Massachusetts and the country’s No. 32 offensive guard in the ESPN recruiting rankings … played for former Boston College All-American Paul Zukauskas at Lawrence Academy … one of three Lawrence Academy signees in the 2018 recruiting class … Independent School League All-Star … two-way standout who also recorded three sacks on defense … .

Thomas Shelmire 6-3, 285

Dallas, Texas/Highland Park

Rated the No. 63 offensive guard nationally according to 247Sports … listed by Rivals.com as the No. 54 offensive tackle in the country and a top-100 recruit in the state of Texas (97^th overall) … ESPN Recruiting tabbed Shelmire as the No. 38 offensive guard in the country and the No. 100 overall recruit in Texas … Texas Class 5A All-State first team selection as a junior … rated by SportsDay as the No. 40 overall recruit in the Dallas area prior to the season … all-district performer as a sophomore and junior … played for head coach Randy Allen at Highland Park High School … team captain

Tyler Vrabel 6-5, 285

Bellaire, Texas/Saint Pius X

Rated as the No. 237 player in Texas and the nation’s No. 152 offensive tackle according to 247Sports … the No. 171 player in Texas and the country’s No. 103 offensive tackle according to ESPN Recruiting … all-state first-team selection and first-team all-district … finalist for the offensive lineman of the year in Texas … team captain … played for head coach Stephen Hill at Saint Pius X High School … son of Mike and Jen Vrabel … his father Mike is the Houston Texans defensive coordinator and won three Super Bowls as a player with the New England Patriots.

Projected 2018 Returning Depth: Wyatt Knopfke (Jr.), Eddy Fish (So.), Shane Leonard (So.), Ben Petrula (So.), Ryan Conte (Sr.), Anthony Palazzolo (Jr.), Aaron Monteiro (Sr.), Austin Stevens (Sr.), John Phillips (Jr.), Alec Lindstrom (So.), Sam Schmal (Sr.), Chris Lindstrom (Sr.), Elijah Johnson (So.), Jon Baker (Gr.), Sean Ragan (So.)

Projected Two Deep:

LT: Aaron Monteiro, Austin Stevens
LG: Sam Schmal, John Phillips
C: Jon Baker or Ben Petrula
RG: John Phillips, Anthony Palazzolo
RT: Chris Lindstrom, Elijah Johnson

Analysis: There is an exciting amount of depth up front, which is great given that Boston College is going to want to get physical with A.J. Dillon getting a glut of carries. Five starters return, seven if you count Elijah Johnson and Jon Baker both returning from an injury, that doesn’t even include Phillips and Stevens both of whom have seen solid playing time this past season. Addazio is going to have the depth to go tempo or physical whenever he wants and he will be able to cycle in talented offensive linemen to keep legs fresh.

With all this veteran depth, Addazio can let guys like Vrabel and Shelmire get used to the college game, Dirstine on the other hand is already massive, if they need added depth they could use immediately like they did with Petrula this past season.