Previewing BC’s Potential Offensive Line Combinations for 2022
Andy Backstrom (@andybackstrom)
Publisher
Boston College is losing four starting offensive linemen to this year’s NFL Draft: center Alec Lindstrom, left tackle Tyler Vrabel, right tackle Ben Petrula and left guard Zion Johnson.
Johnson and Lindstrom rank 39th and 224th overall, respectively, in ESPN’s 2022 draft player rankings. Vrabel and Petrula aren’t listed there but have surfaced on some Day Three mocks.
Regardless of its draft prospects, the group was a mainstay at BC. Together, the four O-Linemen started three consecutive seasons up front for BC.
The only one who’s left from that unit is offensive guard Christian Mahogany, who registered the second-best Pro Football Focus pass blocking grade (83.7) and fourth-best run blocking grade (82.4) on the team at right guard this season. Ahead of the 2020 campaign, Mahogany beat out veteran Nate Emer for the left guard spot. Of course, that year Vrabel was dealing with a shoulder injury that forced him to move to the right tackle spot. In turn, the whole line got jumbled up.
Mahogany can play either guard position. Aside from that, BC is filling in a lot of holes up front.
Let’s play around with a couple O-Line combinations we might see in 2022.
COMBO A
LT Jack ConleyLG Christian Mahogany
C Drew Kendall
RG Finn Dirstine
RT Ozzy Trapilo
Outlook: The gut reaction here might be, “Why Jack Conley at left tackle?” And it’s a fair question. After all, Conley struggled mightily protecting the blind side this season. He allowed 22 pressures and seven sacks in 226 snaps, according to PFF. But Conley was clearly viewed as the sixth-best Eagles O-Lineman by the coaching staff. He was seeing time at both tackle spots during spring ball and head coach Jeff Hafley noted “that it wouldn’t surprise me if he played this year” last April.
Conley got a good bit of run at right tackle the first four games of the season and fared well. The redshirt sophomore allowed just one pressure and hurry in a combined 59 snaps, per PFF. And then he lined up as a tight end in jumbo packages during the first half of the Clemson game.
“We’ve been sneaking him in, moving him around,” Hafley said, leading up to the North Carolina State game. “He’s a really good player. He’s gonna have a really good future. Now, whether or not that comes this week, we’ll find out.”
Things went south from there for Conley, who continued to fill in for a banged up Vrabel after the Clemson loss. Still, there’s no doubt that O-Line coach Matt Applebaum saw promise in Conley. He was even competing with Mahogany for the open guard position in 2020. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him get another shot at left tackle next year, perhaps with a short leash.
This offensive line combo would give BC tackles who stand 6-foot-7 (Conley) and 6-foot-8 (Trapilo). Trapilo made his first career start at left guard this season versus Virginia Tech and excelled. The highly-touted BC High product turned in an 83.8 pass blocking PFF grade. He filled in for Mahogany against Florida State, though, and had a much more difficult time, allowing three pressures that afternoon.
Finn Dirstine is the wild card here. Like Trapilo, Dirstine was a four-star local guy. Except Dirstine’s been with the program since 2018 and has been tucked away on the two-deep. Will he finally get his shot next season? It looks like he’ll have a chance, barring an incoming transfer. He actually played 14 snaps at right guard against FSU and recorded an 89.4 run blocking PFF grade.
Drew Kendall is basically a shoo-in at center. He was BC’s best get in the 2021 recruiting class, and he’s a legacy who will likely end up being a three-year starter for the Eagles. Kendall got a year to learn under Lindstrom, a future NFLer, and now will probably take the keys to the O-Line. He’s in all three of these projected combos. At this point, Blerim Rustemi appears to be in line to be Kendall’s backup.
COMBO B
LT Kevin ClineLG Jack Conley
C Drew Kendall
RG Christian Mahogany
RT Ozzy Trapilo
Outlook: As a redshirt freshman this season, Kevin Cline was second behind Vrabel on the depth chart. Of course, when Vrabel was out, Conley ended up stepping in. And Cline was in for just 14 snaps this year, 13 of which came against Colgate in the opener. But Applebaum must have seen something from the 6-foot-6, 314 pound Boca Raton, Florida, native. He didn’t have a Rivals Rating while he was at Boca Raton Christian, and his offers were limited. So Cline is apparently already exceeding expectations. In this scenario, he’s protecting the blind side.
Here, Conley is pushed inside to the left guard spot. If Applebaum and Co. like him enough to want him starting, this could be an alternate solution to his troubles at left tackle. His size inside could be a bit awkward, however, it’s not unheard of (after all, Trapilo played well at guard this season, and he’s one inch taller than Conley).
In this hypothetical, Mahogany stays at right guard, and Trapilo rounds out the line at right tackle.
COMBO C
LT Ozzy TrapiloLG Christian Mahogany
C Drew Kendall
RG Finn Dirstine
RT Kevin Pyne
Outlook: This one’s a little different. Trapilo is blocking the blind side. And Mahogany flips sides to be right next to him. Dirstine is plugged in at right guard, and Kevin Pyne gets a shot at right tackle. No Conley makes this the least likely scenario, at least at this point. But Pyne is an interesting player. He was another four-star lineman brought in by Addazio’s staff. He’s got NFL roots as his great grandfather, grandfather and uncle all played in the NFL. Pyne was the top-ranked Class of 2020 recruit in Massachusetts and the No. 6 tackle in the country in that cycle (6.0 Rivals Rating).
But the Milford native redshirted the 2020 campaign and didn’t see the field this season. It’s possible that, like Dirstine, Pyne could be buried on the depth chart for a few years, regardless of his initial prospects.
But maybe he’ll crack the rotation.
