Preseason Notebook: The O-Line - Boston College Athletics (2024)

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Saturday was about the offensive line. Looking at the members of the front line of Boston College's offense, the Eagles carry on a longstanding legacy of premiere play in the trenches. Dubbed "O-Line U", Boston College will once again be a force to be reckoned with between the hash marks.

DAY THIRTEEN DETAILS
Date: August 17
Location: Chamberlin Field
Weather: 78 and sunny

In 2023, the Eagles' offensive line unit paved the way for 198.8 rushing yards per game, which ranked 13th in the FBS and second in the ACC.

"It starts with great people," said offensive line coach Matt Applebaum. "Great guys that come from good homes, and they're all about the right stuff. They really care about each other, they care about being good players, they care about Boston College, and the legacy of the offensive line room at Boston College, and they work extremely hard to live up to those expectations."

Last season, the Eagles surrendered the fourth-fewest sacks in the ACC, ranking at No. 31 in FBS.

"Coach O'Brien is instilling a culture of discipline, physicality, and physical and mental toughness," said Applebaum. "And that's how we're ramping up. It's about the work they're putting in."

Drew Kendall returns as the Eagles' starting center after playing and starting in all 13 games as a redshirt sophom*ore in 2023, logging 881 total offensive snaps. Kendall garnered College Football News Freshman All-America honors in 2022, making 11 starts at center. To Kendall's right, fellow Norwell, Mass. product Ozzy Trapilo will return at right tackle after receiving All-ACC Second Team honors as a redshirt junior in 2023. Trapilo earned an 81.7 pass blocking grade from PFF in 2023, the second-highest grade among all returners. Logan Taylor started all 13 games at left tackle in 2023 and is back with the Eagles after picking up All-ACC honorable mention honors to close last season.

"When it comes to a guy like Logan, he's a ballplayer," said fellow lineman Jack Conley. "He punishes people. [He has] a high level of physicality. [He is] a smart player, great teammate, great leader."

Conley also returns after playing in all 13 games with five starts as an eligible lineman lined up in the tight end position in 2023. "It's been great, merging the whole group together," said Conley. "We got a lot of guys who have played a lot of ball. We're lucky that we have a wealth of talent in our room. The communication's been great, just over communicating, being all on the same page, it's been really good for us."

The Eagles also return Kevin Cline, with Cline's 85.0 pass blocking grade from PFF the highest among all returners. Cline was a starter at the beginning of the 2022 season before going down with a season-ending injury in week two. Jude Bowry, who played significantly as a true freshman two years ago, will play a major factor after spending the 2023 season on a redshirt with three games played.

#52 – Judah Pruitt – Freshman – Orange, N.J.
Two-way product on the offensive and defensive lines at Malcolm X Shabazz High School.

#53 – Dwayne Allick – Graduate – Laurel, Md.
Played o-line and d-line early in his career before making the permanent switch to offense in 2022… has totaled 24 games and 11 starts on the interior the last two seasons.

#56 – Eryx Daugherty – Redshirt Freshman – Troy, Mich.
Redshirted his freshman season as a defensive lineman last year.

#58 – Ryan Mickow – Redshirt Freshman – Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Two-time state champion at St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.), redshirted the 2023 season.

#62 – Otto Hess – Redshirt Junior – Oswego, Ill.
Versatile lineman has totaled 17 games, primarily on special teams, the last two seasons.

#65 – Logan Taylor – Redshirt Junior – Bridgewater, N.S.
Former Virginia Cavalier started all 13 games at left tackle a year ago… earned All-ACC Honorable Mention his first year on the Heights.

#66 – Drew Kendall – Redshirt Junior – Norwell, Mass.
A College Football News Freshman All-American as a redshirt-freshman in 2022, Kendall started all 13 games at center in 2023… took the field for every offensive snap in 10 games last season.

#67 – Jack Conley – Graduate – New Canaan, Conn.
Entering his sixth season at BC, Conley has missed just one game over the last four seasons with 47 games played and 19 starts… started all 12 games in 2022 at four different positions.

#69 – Jadon Lafontant – Freshman – Stratford, Conn.
A late commitment to the BC recruiting class of 2024, he played scholastically at The Brunswick School (Conn.).

#70 – Ozzy Trapilo – Graduate – Norwell, Mass.
Second Team All-ACC pick a season ago… started 12 games at right tackle and graded out at 78.4 as a pass blocker according to PFF.

#71 – Jude Bowry – Redshirt Sophom*ore – Germantown, Md.
Played in seven games with two starts as a true freshman in 2022 before redshirting the 2023 season.

#72 – Jack Funke – Redshirt Sophom*ore – Needham, Mass.
A special teams contributor in 2023 with 12 games played.

#75 – Pape Abdoulaye Sy – Freshman – Dakar, Senegal
A product of Senegal, played football at the NFL Academy in England.

#76 – Tanner Chlupsa – Freshman – Westport, Conn.
First Team All-State and Walter Camp Al-State at Staples High School.

#77 – Michael Crounse – Redshirt Freshman – Schnecksville, Pa.
Redshirted the 2023 season after entering BC as a two-time first team all-conference pick at DeMatha Catholic.

#78 – Souleye Diawara – Freshman – Lanham, Md.
Six-foot-8 product of Lanham, Md. finished his prep career at Mt. Zion Prep Academy.

#79 – Kevin Cline – Graduate – Boca Raton, Fla.
Brings 21 games of experience with two starts early in the 2022 season… played significantly in the Eagles' Fenway Bowl win over SMU.