101 Days of BC Football: Nick Lifka, #48

The 101 Days continues on in the defense, moving back to linebacker for a few days. There’s no question that Boston College has managed to build up a well of talent in this corps, and one of its new faces is redshirt freshman Nick Lifka. He hails from Naperville, Illinois.

This 2011 recruit came to Chestnut Hill with three stars, though a few like MaxPreps had him as a four, and with good reason. In each of his last two seasons playing for Naperville North High School, he made the All-State team. Lifka also managed to be a multiple winner of the DuPage Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year award. 2010 (Lifka’s senior year) was a Kuechlyesque season for the Illinoisan as he amassed 168 tackles; he ended up with 373 in just three years of varsity football. It probably shouldn’t surprise you that he was the team captain for that final year.

He participated in spring football from the first scrimmage onward, getting his fair share of snaps as he becomes further acclimated to the BC system. Lifka’s typical position in high school was middle linebacker, and that’s where he lands now on the two-deep behind Sean Duggan. It could be a contest for the starting job during training camp, but Duggan likely has the edge based on experience (not that this is always the right way to do things, but that’s probably why).

Lifka’s height and weight are almost exactly the same as Luke Kuechly’s were for his junior season at BC (Lifka is an inch shorter and two pounds lighter), so the Eagles aren’t losing size here. All indications are that he has the talent to succeed at Boston College, so I’m fairly confident that when he gets the opportunity to do so, he will.