A bowl game with Boston College playing? You know the New York Giants will be paying attention, which means we should be too.
Any discussion about BC's prospects pretty much begins and ends with their offensive line. This is the same offensive line that paved the way for Andre Williams' 2,000-yard, Heisman runner-up season. They are all big and well coached, but right now the one that really stands out is center Andy Gallick. Gallick is built similarly to Weston Richburg, but is a bit shorter and wider. The red-shirt Senior currently has a mid-round grade. If teams decide he has starter up-side, his stock could rise. He could interest the Giants if he proves to have the power to play guard or center, a la Richie Suebert.
The really exciting prospects will all be wearing the white helmets.
Leading the way are two juniors who still have to decide whether or not to come out. First is defensive tackle Anthony Zettle. He is very athletic and disruptive, with 15 tackles for a loss, eight sacks, and three interceptions. He has stated that he intends to return for his red-shirt senior season, but has also asked the draft advisory board for an evaluation. at 6-4, 280, Zettle has some similarities to Houston's J.J. Watt. Disruptive, single-gapping, 5-techniques are highly sought after by NFL teams that run that defense.
Second is massive tight end Jesse James. James was Penn State's leading pass catcher coming into the game, and at 6-7, 255 pounds, he has the frame to make GMs and offensive coordinators drool. James has work to do with his technique, but he is not afraid to get physical at the catch, or drag defenders behind him as he turns upfield. He hasn't declared his intentions for 2015 yet that I've seen, but if he comes out for the draft, he should be a Day-2 pick.
And rounding out our slate of prospects to watch are safety Adrian Amos and linebacker Mike Hull. Amos has played safety and corner for Penn Sate, but his NFL home will likely be at free safety. He's generally aggressive downhill, but shows the quickness to hold up in coverage.
And finally I would be in trouble with the Beezer Brigade if I failed to mention Mike Hull. Hull is undersized, particularly by the Giants' standards, but he is smart, the unquestioned leader of the defense, and very instinctive. He's also an aggressive linebacker, which is nice to see. Instead of "catching" blockers before making a play on the ball, Hull attacks them before stacking and shedding on his way to the ball. Like his predecessor Sean Lee, there are concerns about his durability as well as his size, and that has him down draft boards. But Hull is the kind of football player teams should take a long look at, especially if he's still around by the middle of Day-3.
Both Amos and Hull have already accepted invitations to the Senior Bowl.
Game Details
Teams: Boston College (7-5) vs. Penn State (6-6)
Odds: Boston College -2.5
TV: Dec. 27th, 4:30 p.m. EST, ESPN