Boston College Football Post Spring Practices: Examining The WR Depth Chart

Boston College football is in their summer mode, fresh off their spring practices and Jay McGillis Spring Game. As the team sets itself for next season, let’s take a look at some of my position projections moving forward. Again these are not set in stone, they are just projections, and the coaching staff may think differently then what I am writing here. But here we go, today we are going to start with the wide receivers, and over the next few weeks I will post on every other position on the team. These posts are going to include nuggets/stats from the Spring Game, but will be in lieu of a full game recap.

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Wide Receivers

Losses: Jeff Smith and Michael Walker (graduation)

Additions: Ethon Williams (Fr.) , Bryce Sebastian (Fr.),

Projected Starters: Kobay White (Jr.), Ben Glines (Sr.), CJ Lewis (Jr.)

Projected Backup: Ethon Williams (Fr.), Noah Jordan Williams (So.), Christian McStravick (Jr.)

Additional Depth: Travis Levy (?), Aidan Hegarty (Jr.), Elijah Robinson (Gr.), Jehlani Galloway (R-Fr.), Bryce Sebastian (Fr.)

Notes: The Boston College Eagles took at hit in the depth department with the loss of Walker and Smith, who combined last year for 37 catches while Smith also ran the ball 19 times on sweeps. While neither of these receivers are irreplaceable, it is going to be interesting to see who Head Coach Steve Addazio finds to fill their role. In terms of the sweeping receiver who can do the end around, razzle dazzle type plays, there are a few names to watch for. Addazio has said that Ben Glines and Travis Levy both could be seeing more time as wide receivers and running backs this year, and I could envision either filling the Jeff Smith role nicely for the Eagles this season. Both showed last year that they deserve to be on the field, so hopefully Addazio has figured out a way to keep them involved in the wide receiving group instead of being buried on the depth chart at running back behind AJ Dillon.

Kobay White should be the top receiver on the depth chart, as he has shown that he can be the type of wide out who can stretch the field and does a great job of going up and getting tough passes. Last season White led the team with 32 catches and 552 yards, and he is setting himself up to really become a dangerous weapon if Addazio and Anthony Brown target him more this season. He has every tool to be an elite wide receiver, but he needs to be utilized more, and become more of central point of the game plan. While the receptions were there in 2018, he only had one touchdown after the UMass game. This spring White was banged up and missed numerous practices and the spring game, but should be ready to roll come this summer.

C.J. Lewis is an intriguing wide receiver given his huge frame (6’4, 220), and should see the field more this fall. He saw action last fall, with 12 catches and 143 yards, but struggled with some drops. If BC is serious about stretching the field, using Lewis along with White should give the Eagles some big time targets, but like every year I want to see these wide outs improve on separating themselves against good ACC corners. This has been a challenge for BC wide receivers for years.

Steve Addazio has been very high on some of his younger wide receivers as well including Noah Jordan Williams and true freshman Ethon Williams. “ I mean, our mindset is how are we going to have two really talented guys on -- get them all out on the field. Put the best players on the field. Noah Jordan-Williams will have a great year, CJ Lewis will have a great year, Jehlani Galloway we’re really, really excited about.” Ethon Williams led the team in receptions in the spring game with 3 for 30 yards (small sample I know), while NJW did not make any receptions. Williams strikes me as a player that really has caught Addazio’s attention, and getting on campus early certainly can’t hurt, so I would expect him to crack that two deep sooner rather than later.

In terms of the other depth pieces, there is Jehlani Galloway a redshirt freshman from Rhode Island, and Elijah Robinson is still on the roster. Both of these wide receivers could see playing time during the season as well.