While Building National Brand, BC Also ‘Stayed Home’
Andy Backstrom (@andybackstrom)Publisher
Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley and his staff uncovered new territory in this year’s recruiting class, pulling from Tennessee and Nevada. And they continued to tap into a newly established southern pipeline, drawing from the likes of Georgia and Texas for the second year in a row.
The group also got the “best athlete” in Massachusetts, though. At least in Hafley’s opinion. As well as a few other Bay State playmakers who could surely make an impact on the Heights.
“I’m not going to be one of these guys that says I’m going to fence this area. No, I’m not going to talk like that. I said when I got here that we were going to do our best to evaluate this state. And we did.
“Last year, we kept the best player in the state home. And he had the opportunity to go to a lot of places. And I believe we did the same thing this year.”
In 2020, it was four-star offensive lineman Drew Kendall, the son of BC Varsity Club Hall of Famer and 13-year NFL O-Lineman Pete Kendall. The younger Kendall was a Rivals100 prospect ranked No. 76 nationally among all Class of 2021 prospects. He was being recruited hard by Stanford, but Hafley and his staff got Kendall, who played at Noble & Greenough School, to sign with the hometown BC.
This time around, it was Joe Griffin, a top-flight wide receiver from Springfield Central. Hafley mentioned how Notre Dame, in particular, was in strong pursuit of the 6-foot-4, 200-pound wideout. But Griffin committed to BC in October 2020 and stuck with his decision the whole way.
Hafley raved about Griffin Wednesday, noting how he made the game-sealing interception against Central Catholic in the Massachusetts Division I state title game.
“We’re not gonna play him on defense even though I’d love to,” Hafley said. “But he gives you one of those big, tall guys who can go. And a credit to him for choosing to stay home.”
Hafley made the point that usually when people talk about Massachusetts football, you think linemen. And while the Eagles did get one of those—a behemoth in 6-foot-6 offensive tackle Jack Funke—they also came out of this cycle with three in-state pass catchers, including Griffin.
BC got Ismael Zamor, a 6-foot-1 wideout from Everett. The pipeline from Everett to BC has been prevalent for years, and that came in handy again with Zamor signing on to join offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr.’s pro-style aerial attack.
Hafley described Zamor as “big, strong, twitched up.” Zamor actually played both ways for Everett and even led the team in interceptions at free safety. But Hafley said that Zamor will stick to wide receiver at BC.
Then there’s tight end Matt Ragan, who comes from a line of former Eagles and a school in Lawrence Academy that’s another BC feeder. Ragan’s father, John, played linebacker at BC from 1978-80 and his older brother, Sean, was an O-Lineman for the Eagles from 2016-19.
“Long,” Hafley said, describing Ragan. “I mean, wait until you see this guy. Wait until he gets in the college weight room. He’s got a chance to be a great tight end.”
Ragan stands 6-foot-5, 230 pounds right now and is coming off a senior season that saw him post 28 receptions for 556 yards and four touchdowns.
Back to that O-Lineman. Funke.
“One of the recruits thought he was a parent on the official visit,” Hafley said. “I mean, he looks like he’s been picking up cars and working out. This guy’s enormous. His neck is about as big as my shoulder width.”
Funke spent the last two seasons at Xaverian Brothers playing left tackle but he cross-trained at all four positions in the offseason. And that’s something he’ll likely be called upon to do every year at BC.
Hafley declared that Massachusetts has the guys in the trenches as well as the skill players. It’s a “mixture,” Hafley said. The second-year Eagles head coach is still getting to know the state.
After all, this was his first in-person recruiting class. Last year’s was done over Zoom because of COVID-19. He said that he plans on getting back out there in January and making his way to all of the local schools he hasn’t reached yet.
As much as the Eagles have expanded their recruiting footprint, Hafley doesn’t want to lose sight of the talent in his own backyard.
“BC’s a national brand,” Hafley said. “I believe that. We believe that. And we feel we can go to California, and we did. We can go to Texas, and we did. But then, most importantly, we stayed home.”
