A Deep Dive on BC’s First Two-Deep of 2021
Andy Backstrom (@andybackstrom)Staff Writer
A bevy of names get tossed around fall camp pressers throughout the country. The same is true at BC with Jeff Hafley running the ship. It keeps things interesting.
Plus, the second-year head coach wants his team to be fueled by intrasquad competition. But, after Monday’s depth chart release, we are closer to knowing who exactly will be on the field for the Eagles this coming Saturday—even with several “OR”s listed across the two-deep.
You’ve all seen the depth chart. But what should you make of it? I’ve got you covered.
The offensive line is back in order: Last year, offensive line coach Matt Applebaum shook up BC’s front. Zion Johnson moved from left guard—where he was a three-time ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week in 2019—to left tackle. Tyler Vrabel went from the blind side to right tackle. Ben Petrula shifted from right tackle to right guard. And Christian Mahogany, the group’s lone newcomer, lined up at left guard. The change appeared to be a byproduct of the Eagles’ switch to a zone blocking scheme, which was implemented by offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. The experienced unit got off to a rough start to the season, allowing 17 sacks through the first four games—granted BC’s pro-style offense called for significantly more passing, but the Eagles gave up 13 sacks all of 2019. The Eagles averaged just 1.87 yards per rush in that span, too.
BC’s offensive line improved as the season progressed and even paved the way for 180-plus rushing yards in three of its last six contests while allowing zero sacks in each of those games. But Applebaum went back to the drawing board this offseason and rearranged the alignment. Now, Vrabel is back at left tackle, Johnson has returned to left guard, Mahogany shifted over to right guard and Petrula is once again at right tackle, where he started his sophomore and junior seasons. All-ACC first-team center Alec Lindstrom is staying put, of course. Johnson spoke earlier this summer about how it feels good to have guys in their old positions. It’s still the same system as last year, though, so time will tell how much the positional adjustment affects their performance in a zone blocking scheme.
Travis Levy has RB1 all to himself...for now at least: It’s no secret that Cignetti loves what Travis Levy brings to the table. There’s a reason why he was alternating carries with David Bailey in the back half of the 2020 season. Levy was underutilized during the Steve Addazio era. He was pigeonholed as a scatback/return man. It wasn’t until last year that the Olney, Maryland, native was given a respectable workload in the backfield, and he made the most of the opportunity.
Levy piled up 99 rushing attempts in 2020, more than he did his first three seasons at BC combined, not to mention his 35 receptions. Hafley and Cignetti believe Levy to be a capable three-down back, and it appears as if the veteran will finally get that chance. With Alec Sinkfield, Xavier Coleman and Pat Garwo III also on the depth chart, though, it’s more likely that BC adopts a committee approach. Still, Levy’s designation shows just how much faith this coaching staff has in him.
CJ Lewis beat out Kobay White for the X wideout spot: A lot can change in a year. Kobay White was BC’s top wide receiver from 2017-19, but a torn ACL cost him the 2020 season, during which CJ Lewis broke out. Lewis used to look up to White on the depth chart. Now, it’s the other way around. Lewis said goodbye to the drops in 2020 and caught nearly everything thrown his way, including the second-most contested catches (six) on the team, according to Pro Football Focus. White undoubtedly will still be used in the Eagles’ offense, especially on third down. In 2019, 13 of White’s team-leading 29 receptions came on third or fourth down—and all but one of those catches moved the chains.
There’s an “OR” dividing tight ends Joey Luchetti and Trae Barry: Buzz has been surrounding Jacksonville State transfer Trae Barry throughout the summer. After all, as Hafley noted, he’s a “giant.” Barry stands 6-foot-6 and, in four years with the FCS Gamecocks, he logged 100 receptions, 1,610 yards and six touchdowns. But the question is, “How good of a blocker can he be?” It’s something that Hafley values greatly, and that became apparent whenever he was asked about now-Miami Dolphin Hunter Long last season.
Hafley raved about Long’s ability as an inline tight end. He talks similarly about Joey Luchetti, who was recruited as a tight end from Lawrence Academy but converted to defensive end for the 2019 season. Luchetti missed last season with an injury yet is back in full force. BC could use Luchetti as a more traditional Y, or inline, tight end and Barry as another pass-catching weapon, as well as both of them in 12-personnel packages. That said, making Barry a better blocker seems to be a priority. He’s clearly got the other part of the job down.
The edges are experienced, but that only counts so much: Marcus Valdez and Brandon Barlow have spent the greater part of the past two seasons on the opposite sides of BC’s defensive line. That might not be the case in 2020. Shitta Sillah is ahead of Barlow on the Week 1 depth chart, and Valdez has a big “OR” next his name with true freshman Donovan Ezeiruaku right below him. Sillah started three games last season and was quite disruptive: He made 22 total tackles and recorded 2.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks, along with a pass break-up and a game-sealing interception against Louisville.
Ezeiruaku’s ascent is more surprising, though. The true freshman balled out in the spring game (four tackles, one sack) and has been turning heads in fall camp. He was a three-star recruit at Williamstown High School, where he tallied 47 tackles and two sacks in 2020. Hafley and defensive coordinator Tem Lukabu can get creative with Sillah and Ezeiruaku, who both played outside linebacker in high school. It wouldn’t be surprising to see those two sliding back to the second level if the Eagles want to ramp up the pass rush with Barlow and Valdez on the line.
BC’s interior went from old to young real fast: Last year, BC’s interior was mainly occupied by a pair of graduate transfers: Luc Bequette from Cal and Chibueze Onwuka from Buffalo. Bequette returned to Cal for a seventh and final year of college football, and Onwuka suffered a season-ending Achilles tear earlier in fall camp.
That leaves Izaiah Henderson manning the nose tackle position, and Cam Horsley stepping up at defensive tackle. Henderson missed last season with injury and redshirted 2019 after playing in the maximum four games as a freshman and making four total tackles, all of which came against Richmond. Henderson was a defensive stalwart on a division-title-winning Mater Dei Prep team in 2018. That season, he amassed 60 tackles and nine sacks, in addition to forcing a fumble and recovering two others. Horsley, on the other hand, got some run last year. He impressed as a true freshman, playing in all 11 games and notching three tackles in two of them (Syracuse and Virginia). He also recovered a fumble against Louisville.
