BC Announces Six True Freshmen Mid-Year Enrollees
Andy Backstrom (
@andybackstrom)
Publisher
Boston College has started up its second semester of classes, and that means that the football team has some early newcomers.
Six of them, in fact.
The program announced the Class of 2022’s mid-year enrollees Wednesday: offensive linemen Jude Bowry and Noah Kahapea, punter Sam Candotti, tight end Jeremiah Franklin, cornerback Amari Jackson and linebacker Edwin Kolenge.
The six freshmen will be part of spring practice when it gets going Feb. 26.
OT Jude Bowry
Bowry is a three-star offensive lineman from St. Frances Academy in Germantown, Maryland. He was rated as the No. 1 tackle in the state this cycle. At 6-foot-5, 285 pounds,
Bowry has the appropriate frame for his position. He showed the tendency to occasionally block high in pass protection, but he generally uses his hands well and isn’t afraid to add some extra oomph, even past the whistle.
OL Noah Kahapea (Clifford)
He’s listed by BC here as Noah Kahapea (previously as Noah Clifford when signed in December). The Brentwood, Tennessee, native transferred to St. Thomas More in Connecticut to finish out his career. At 6-foot-5, 280 pounds, he can play both ways on the line yet was brought into BC as an O-Lineman.
Kahapea has been clocked at 4.67 in the 40-yard dash. Despite being somewhat new to the game of football, he’s got an athletic stance and good footwork because of his basketball chops. Still, there will be a bit of a learning curve for him, in regard to blocking technique and leverage.
P Sam Candotti
Candotti is coming over from Australia to punt for BC. He trained as a punter with Prokick Australia. While the Eagles’ staff didn’t make the trip down under, they communicated with Candotti over FaceTime and reviewed his tape. BC head coach Jeff Hafley quipped on signing day: “He’s got the accent. I’m excited to see how he kicks.” Candotti will have the chance to compete for first-team reps since graduate punter Grant Carlson is graduating.
TE Jeremiah Franklin
You can’t get much more versatile than Franklin. He was rated as the No. 1 tight end in Maryland this cycle, but he also played some quarterback for Walkersville in the state playoffs. The three-star prospect piled up 24 catches and four touchdowns as a senior, in addition to rushing for 459 yards and 12 scores. He stands 6-foot-4 and comes in at 225 pounds. Without Trae Barry, BC will have an open spot at tight end, assuming the Eagles play as much 12-personnel football next year with a new offensive coordinator.
CB Amari Jackson
Jackson was one of
BC’s best gets in the 2022 class. The 6-foot, 180-pound corner committed to BC in June over schools such as Northwestern and Virginia. But Josh Heupel and Tennessee came into the picture in November, and Jackson took an unofficial visit to Knoxville. Both BC and Tennessee made in-home visits, and the Volunteers wanted Jackson to take an official visit the weekend before National Signing Day. He didn’t and instead honored his commitment by signing with BC. Jackson played both ways this year, coupling 24 receptions to go with 47 total tackles. He was the No. 8 cornerback in Georgia this cycle but, because of his ball skills, could see some time on offense at some point, Hafley said.
LB Edwin Kolenge
Kolenge is another three-star prospect. He’s a Montreal, Canada, native who began playing football at Clearwater International in Florida before transferring to Loomis Chaffee in Connecticut. In 10 games this year, he posted 29 TFLs, nine sacks, four interceptions and five forced fumbles.
Kolenge gives BC some depth at the second level and could provide a boost in the pass rushing department, an area where the Eagles have lagged the last few years.
