Another 7-6 season is in the books. It was a season of multiple ups and downs as the Eagles came together and it was beautiful...well sort of. Now with the season completed, we the fans and writers can perform an autopsy on the team. Over the next few weeks Eric and AJ will be breaking down the position groups to find out what exceeded our expectations and what wasn’t up to snuff.
Today’s let us look at tight ends, a position that had its highest statistical output in 10 years!
Expectations were high for Tommy Sweeney entering the 2017 season. Some pundits predicted Sweeney would be in the running to make All-ACC team. The junior tight end didn’t quite reach those levels but he did put up 36 receptions for 512 yards and 4 touchdowns. It was the highest production that BC received from the tight end position since Ryan Purvis had 54 receptions for 553 yards and 4 TD’s in 2007! If it feels to you like Sweeney had a bigger year than his final statistics show it’s because he had a knack for coming up big in huge spots. The best example of that was in the Pinstripe Bowl where Sweeney had 137 yards receiving on 7 receptions and also caught a touchdown. The tight end was also huge in BC’s upset wins over Louisville and Virginia where he combines for 8 receptions for 102 yards and 2 touchdowns. Those three games alone combined for over 40% of Sweeney’s receiving yards on the season and 3 of his 4 touchdowns. As a senior Sweeney will be a prime candidate for 1st or 2nd Team All-ACC.
It will be important to develop some younger players at that position for the future and to give the BC coaching staff more options with personnel groupings. The next likely candidate is Ray Marten, who was the only other tight end to catch a touchdown pass.
Tommy Sweeney 36 receptions for 512 yards and 4 TD’s
Ray Marten 5 receptions for 42 yards and 1 TD
Korab Idrizi 4 receptions for 32 yards
Jake Burt 1 reception for 5 yards
Final Grade: A-