Spring Game Positional Recap: Part 1

The backfield got a lot of exposure Saturday, thanks to the Spring Game’s silly new point system.

Running backs

After jumping out to a big lead behind the big arms of Matt Ryan and Chris Crane, the offense let up in the second half to allow the defense a chance. That translated into a lot of rushes by four different Boston College halfbacks.

The Eagles are already set at tailback, no need to wait for an incoming freshman to crack the mix. L.V. Whitworth and Andre Callender are back again for their senior year. The steady tandem, which has been in tact since their freshman year, has already combined for more than 4,000 career rushing yards. While Whitworth needs 779 yards to become just the fourth Eagle to notch 3,000 yards, Callender needs just 22 yards to reach 2,000, which would mark the first time a pair of BC classmates each reached the exclusive milestone.

Beyond Whitworth and Callender, the Eagles are still very deep. A.J. Brooks has a had tough time getting regular action over the course of his first two seasons (he even redshirted his sophomore year after playing as a true freshman), but he’s still a junior and can provide experience as a third back. The versatile sophomore Jeff Smith looks to be the fourth option at this point, though it’s possible the speedster will be used in a variety of different ways, both out of the backfield and at receiver.

Here’s a look at how each back fared on Saturday.

Andre Callender (Sr.): 18 carries, 67 yards

Callender led the Eagles in rushing and was the most impressive runner all afternoon. Most of his work was done between the tackles, where he showed off his elusiveness and field vision. In the first half, when he had the luxury of countering a potent passing attack, Callender hit the inside seams hard and didn’t go down easily. 

The highlight of Callender’s day came during the last possession of the first quarter, when he gained 40 of his 67 yards (and all but 7 of the team’s yards) on a field-goal scoring drive. Callender slid through a few holes on the possession and racked up the YAC once he reached the linebackers. He was upset when he slipped on the three-yard line with a chance to sneak into the end zone, but it was his only misstep of the drive.

Projection: BC fans can expect the same kind of consistent production Callender has been delivering during his career. He’s an intelligent and occasionally explosive back who most likely won’t start over Whitworth, but will collect almost as many carries.

L.V. Whitworth (Sr.): 13 carries, 39 yards

His final stats didn’t stand out, but Whitworth looked good in limited action on Saturday. As he is expected to do in the fall, Whitworth started at halfback with the first team. Not much was working for him between the tackles, but Whitworth showed that he could beat BC’s athletic linebackers to the sideline. The sweep was his most successful play, though often times he did a good job just to get to the corner to avoid a loss. With a new offensive line adjusting to Jeff Jagodzinski’s new, more complicated playbook, Whitworth had to make several adjustments on his own to maintain positive yardage.

Projection: Look for Whitworth to maintain his hold on the starting job next season. While he’s not recognized as one of the most exciting backs in the league, he has underrated speed and is one of the most experienced runners in college football. He won’t be on any Heisman watches, but Whitworth will do enough to reach the 3,000-yard plateau. Some questions might arise regarding his ability to adapt to Jagodzinski’s “mobile linemen” running scheme, but his experience won’t let him down in that department.

Jeff Smith (So.): 17 carries, 29 yards; fumble

Smith’s speed is no secret. Just ask Clemson. BC had to hide him behind teammates last year during kick returns, just so opposing ACC teams couldn’t kick away from him. The Eagles are hoping his wheels will provide a spark in the backfield next season, so he saw significant action at halfback in the Spring Game.

But Saturday’s performance didn’t look particularly promising for Smith. He got caught up in the middle of the pack much too often, where BC’s defense features 330-pound behemoths. In other words, his decision-making and field vision need a lot of work. Luckily, Smith has plenty of time to learn how to become a full-time running back and combine his explosive speed with some backfield craftiness. If he does, look out. He has the type of athleticism that can make him a deadly X-factor.

Projection: Little tough to gauge how Smith will develop over the summer, but he can go in any of several directions. Halfback would be preferred, it seems, but that would depend on him gaining the trust of the coaching staff as a dependable option. He could come out of the backfield to serve as a receiver and exploit mismatches with linebackers. Smith’s speed, though, is too impressive to go by the wayside.

A.J. Brooks (Jr.): 1-yard touchdown

Brooks didn’t stand out in any way Saturday, though he snared enough passes out of the backfield to prove he has some versatility. His largest gain of the day (by my account) was about four yards. Brooks had some trouble breaking through the line of scrimmage, though it didn’t appear as though the holes were very favorable. So far he hasn’t done enough in his career to warrant taking many carries away from Whitworth and Callender. 

Projection: Brooks said after the game that his goal for the summer was to earn a starting spot, but he knows that it’s not very likely. Whatever the coaches ask of him, or whatever might help the team win, Brooks said, he’ll do. Right now it looks like he’ll serve as an experienced backup while logging the majority of his field time on special teams.