Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 NFL Draft has concluded at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, and for the first time in eight years, no Boston College Eagles football player was selected. This shutout ends a streak of seven years in a row for BC; in five of those years, the Eagles had a player drafted in the first round.

This also marks only the second time since 1979 that Boston College has been excluded from an NFL Draft.

Boston College’s more notable pro prospects this year, including offensive linemen John Wetzel and Emmett Cleary, will likely get invited to NFL training camps this summer as undrafted free agents.

Story Update: 8:45pm ET
Most of Boston College’s NFL draft prospects have been signed as undrafted free agents.

• LB Nick Clancy has signed with the Atlanta Falcons.
• OT Emmett Cleary has signed with the Indianapolis Colts.
• TE Chris Pantale has signed with the New York Jets.
• OT John Wetzel has signed with the Oakland Raiders.

Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

The general consensus out there in National Football League territory — a sentiment which the editor-in-chief of this website shares — is that the 2013 NFL Draft stinks. This is one of the more underwhelming draft crops we’ve seen in a long while, and those who know a lot more about football than I do seem to agree.

Certainly, there are good players in the draft, but very, very few of college football’s elite, household-name players are in the mix this time around. Let’s be honest: with all due respect to the Chippewas, when the top pick in the draft might be an offensive lineman from Central Michigan, that’s a telltale sign of what we’ve got.

If you’re an NFL fan, the mediocrity permeating this draft will probably give you just cause to find something else to watch this weekend, but if you’re a Boston College Eagles football fan, there are reasons for some guarded optimism. We have known for a few weeks now that two of our offensive linemen, Emmett Cleary and John Wetzel, have a somewhat realistic chance of being taken at the tail end of the draft. Not to say that our players are bad in any way, because if they were, they wouldn’t be in the NFL Draft conversation, but the underwhelming nature of this crop may have helped them stand out a little more and work their way up these draft boards. Granted, we’re only talking mock drafts, but Cleary and Wetzel have gotten noticed, and since we know them both to be capable football players, they’ve both improved their standing relative to the rest of the field. Score one (or two) for BC football.

Of course, there’s bad news. While the 2013 NFL Draft is more or less an affront to humanity, the 2014 NFL Draft could be potentially loaded. If Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater come out early, it’s going to be a very strong class. That’s not necessarily a good thing for one Mr. Chase Rettig, Boston College quarterback.

Rettig is at least in the position of having been noticed: CBS Sports currently ranks him as the #23 quarterback available. That’s all well and good, and he can certainly improve upon his standing with a fine senior season, but looking at the list of names above him, and considering that others may be added, it remains highly unknown just how much upward mobility Rettig might have. A lot depends on how he plays in 2013, but compared to some of the other quarterbacks who will be in the draft in 2014? National champions, maybe a Heisman winner, quarterbacks who have played in BCS bowls, and the list goes on. Unfortunately, with only one year remaining in school, Rettig’s resume is a little too thin to stack up with the upper echelon of the competition. One thing is for sure: he’s going to have to have a hell of a senior season.

Right now, our focus is seeing as many Eagles drafted this weekend as possible, even if that only means one. The rest will almost surely get invites to NFL camps, anyway, so don’t feel too bad for them. If you’re looking to 2014, then yes, you may very well see your BC quarterback get picked if he has his best season in 2013. He just might be a victim of that draft looking quite strong, while our men on the draft board this weekend are helped by theirs being weak.

Once again, the enlightened Soaring to Glory duo teams up to thrust forth incisive commentary on Boston College sports. This week, the conversation centers around Boston College football.

The Jay McGills Memorial Spring Game, as most readers probably know, was cancelled for reasons that are clear. Nevertheless, we did miss out on our first chance to evaluate Steve Addazio’s new-look Eagles football team, and now, we will be forced to wait until school’s back in session to see what BC can do.

But no spring game was no problem, as we still took apart BC football and are setting the stage for what is to come.

Joe: I don’t have to tell you, but that spring game we looked forward to didn’t actually happen. This is all highly speculative, but if it had happened, what do you think we might have seen? Who (or what unit) do you think may have stepped it up?

Kyle: I really think the offense is going to be something special, even without Deuce Finch. Early reports are that Andre Williams, the now-senior running back who was hurt for a long period last season, is performing with a lot of extra burst. Even Chase Rettig, who is getting his 20th new offensive coordinator in four years, at least has a familiar face in Ryan Day, BC’s former wide receiver coach who worked under Chip Kelly at UNH. I love the fact that Alex Amidon is back for another year and the dynamic Spiffy Evans will help on both the receiving and kick returning ends.

Joe: Offense is all well and good, and I think BC will be improved in that department (it wouldn’t take much compared to the last four years), but for me, the unit that I think is going to take the biggest leap is the defense. I direct your attention to one Mr. Don Brown, defensive coordinator.

This guy has succeeded wherever he’s been and the new philosophy he brings is exciting. I still remember Steve Addazio’s introductory press conference when he said that on defense, “we’re going to go after the football,” which is a complete reversal from Spaz (“let the football come to us,” more or less). We’re getting away from what was becoming too conservative of a scheme and I think we’ll see instant results. The talent might be an issue in some areas, so there’s probably a ceiling, but I believe it will only get better in time. That’s what I would have looked for in the spring game.

Kyle: We are not going to set the table for teams like Alfred anymore. We are now going to have to force opposing offenses to guess what type of scheme we are going to use in different places. I fully expect a lot of walking around along the line to try to confuse the other team.

Kevin Pierre-Louis, who I feel has been under-utilized in recent years due to injuries/coaching, can play a kind of Mathias Kiwanuka LB/DE role. There is going to be a ton more blitzing compared to last year. We only got six sacks in 2012. I got two sacks in the last flag football game I played in (also, I tore a kid’s shirt off trying to go for flag, but that’s a story for another day). BC can certainly improve on the Maginot Line that Spaz put out there last year.

But I certainly wonder, how are these new 2013 recruits going to have an impact?

Part Two of this conversation is on the next page

Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

The momentum seems to be growing for Boston College’s offensive linemen in the 2013 NFL Draft, which gets underway on Thursday.

Of course, the term momentum is relative. It means that two months ago, none of our guys were appearing on the full seven-round mock drafts, but now, two of them — John Wetzel and Emmett Cleary — are making their way up the boards.

Boston College has had a player taken in the draft each year since 2006, and by Saturday, we’ll know if that streak will continue through 2013.

Emmett Cleary, OT

Draftsite: Round 7, Pick 212 overall (Philadelphia Eagles)
DraftTek: Round 6, Pick 202 overall (Tennessee Titans)

John Wetzel, OT

DraftTek: Round 7, Pick 240 overall (Cincinnati Bengals)

Undrafted
Nick Clancy (LB), Colin Larmond, Jr. (WR), Chris Pantale (TE), Gerald Levano (P)

Of interest to Eagles fans: also in the undrafted category is Montel Harris, former BC record-setter.

Remember that there have lately been a number of players who were expected to be taken in the late rounds of the draft but were not, some of whom were more heralded than either Wetzel or Cleary. It would therefore not be a stunning outcome if only one or neither is drafted, but as of right now, there is at least a sense that these two tackles could both find homes in the NFL. They’re no locks, however.

Either way, one would expect most of the names above to get an invitation to an NFL camp in the summer. Wetzel and Cleary definitely will if they are not drafted, and one would expect that relatively successful players like Pantale and Clancy will as well. Ifeanyi Momah already got his, and it’s likely he’ll have company.

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

It may be hard to believe, but 2013 is moving rapidly, and the Boston College spring football game is only nine days away. The 2013 NFL Draft is also fast approaching, and the first round will take place in New York City just two weeks from today. There’s no risk that any Boston College football players will be snatched up in that opening day, but it has at least become a bit more likely that an Eagle will get drafted sometime between then and the Mr. Irrelevant announcement.

BC has gotten a player picked up by an NFL team in the draft each year since 2006; the seven-year streak is definitely in some jeopardy. Lately, however, whereas it looked during the winter that none of Boston College’s eligible players were on the radar, it seems that the full mock drafts are starting to pay attention to the offensive line. The school’s reputation as “O-Line U” suffered in the past few seasons after some truly dreadful offensive performances, but two players in particular had their fates tied to one another and both seem to be benefiting.

John Wetzel and Emmett Cleary swapped ends of the line prior to the start of the 2012 season, and the results were much more encouraging than in 2011. Throw in some decent pro day and combine performances and it doesn’t quite look so bad anymore. As it stands right now, these two tackles stand the best chance at present of getting a draft-day phone call.

John Wetzel (OT)
DraftTek: Round 7, 239 overall (Philadelphia Eagles) [previously off-board]
Draftsite: Round 7, 252 overall (San Francisco 49ers) [no change]

Emmett Cleary (OT)
DraftTek: Round 6, 186 overall (Pittsburgh Steelers) [+8 spots]

Undrafted
Nick Clancy (LB), Colin Larmond, Jr. (WR), Chris Pantale (TE)

If you’re watching the draft only to see Boston College flash up on the screen, you’re probably going to be waiting until at least Round 6. We’ve discussed this before, however: being a BC football player and a “lock” for the late rounds usually means very little, and if you’re barely on the map to begin with, that’s a precarious position. It seems likely that most of these players would get invited to NFL camps as undrafted free agents, so it might not be worth too much worry at this point, but if BC wants to make it eight-straight years with a draft pick, then Wetzel and Cleary’s stocks have to continue to rise, or at least remain stable.

James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

With pro days ongoing and several more Boston College Eagles football players looking to end up in the National Football League, now is the time for these young men to shine. The 2013 NFL Draft is only a month away — a month minus two days, to be precise — and if any of these seniors plan to move up the draft boards, this is the time.

Amongst those players who has been getting good publicity lately is Ifeanyi Momah, the former Eagle who was ineligible to play in 2012 but is performing at pro days as a free agent (as in, not eligible for the draft, either). Momah, a former wide receiver who has played on both sides of the ball, has clocked solid 40-yard dash times and “impressed scouts with speed and agility for his size.”

That undrafted free agent route might still be the route that the draftable Boston College seniors have to go after April 27. As of last check, barely any Eagles made it into the full mock drafts at all, and right now, even after a few good pro day performances, that mostly remains the same, with a few exceptions.

Emmett Cleary, OL

DraftTek: Round 6, 194 overall (Seattle Seahawks)

John Wetzel, OL

Draftsite: Round 7, 252 overall (San Francisco 49ers)

Undrafted
Nick Clancy, Colin Larmond, Jr., Chris Pantale

Of the major full mock drafts, only the two noted above took any Eagles at all, and the best showing for either Cleary or Wetzel was late in the sixth round. As for Wetzel, pick #252 happens to be in the compensatory selections and was third to last. As one might note from past NFL Drafts, being a BC player in that position is no guarantee at all of being picked.

The last time a Boston College Eagle was not drafted was 2005, and with only a month to go, there is a real chance it might happen again.

Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

Last year, it was Mark Herzlich. In 2012, Donnie Fletcher is the latest Boston College Eagle regarded as having had a chance at being one of 253 but falling short.

Fletcher, the senior cornerback, was typically favored by the mock drafts as being a 5th to 6th-round pick in this year’s draft, but as the third and final day carried on, it became more obvious that Fletcher was not rising up the boards fast enough. Boston College only got one player, Luke Kuechly, taken, making it the second-straight year where BC had a first-rounder selected and nobody else.

This is why it is important for all fans, especially BC fans who have seen this happen before, not to put too much stock into mock drafts. They may be fun to follow and keep for somewhat of a point of reference, but at the end of the day, the analysts and football writers only know about as much as we do when it comes to the decision-making processes of the 32 NFL teams. It’s one thing to say that a random team will take a random player in the 7th round, but the bottom line is that they don’t actually know. When you’re looking at the first round with a player like Luke Kuechly, it’s easier to pinpoint destinations for players, but by the end of the draft, you’re sinking deeper into obscurity and it may be somewhat like throwing darts at the wall.

Is all lost for Fletcher, Max Holloway, and the other Eagles who did not get drafted? Of course not. Just like Herzlich, who was seen by many as a late pick in 2011, they all have a chance at sticking with a team as an undrafted free agent. Expect to hear soon that one or more of them will get a shot in training camp this summer.

James Lang-US PRESSWIRE

Luke Kuechly didn’t have to be at Radio City Music Hall to hear his name called.

Last night, from the comfort of his home in Ohio, he received a call from the Carolina Panthers, informing him that he was their choice at #9 in the 2012 NFL Draft.

With Kuechly’s top-ten, first-round selection, it is the second-consecutive year that BC has had a first-round pick. In 2008 and 2009, the Eagles had 1st-round selections as well, with Kuechly’s being the fourth time in five years. In 2008, Matt Ryan’s year, Gosder Cherlius was also taken in the first round. Kuechly is also one of three former Boston College players in the last several years to be selected in the top ten. BJ Raji, now of the Green Bay Packers, was also selected 9th (in 2009).

Since Matt Ryan was taken third in 2008, including Kuechly, Boston College has gotten eight players taken in the draft.

Carolina had recently shown interest in the BC linebacker, looking to upgrade the unit after another poor overall season. Kuechly’s heat-seeking missile tackling ability means he will be able to instantly contribute.

If interested in consulting Carolina’s 2012 schedule, which is certainly not easy, see here. Kuechly and his new team will face the Eagle-heavy champion New York Giants in Week 3 and Matt Ryan’s Atlanta Falcons in Weeks 4 and 14.

With Kuechly coming off the board, the most notable Eagle remaining is Donnie Fletcher, who is projected to be a Saturday pick.

Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

Not every question will be answered tonight, but one of importance to Eagles fans will: who drafts Luke Kuechly?

That’s right: the 2012 NFL Draft starts tonight, and if you’re not watching hockey, you can see Kuechly on his cell phone at home while his family congratulates him on national television. The question is who provides the call.

You saw my guesses as to Kuechly and the others, but what do the mock drafters say?

Luke Kuechly
Linebacker

5th-best player available on Scouts Inc. big board [+5]

DraftCountdown.com: Round 1, Pick 12 — Seattle Seahawks [unch]

Luke Kuechly of Boston College is a tackling machine and one of the most productive linebackers the college game has ever seen.

DraftTek: Round 1, Pick 21: Cincinnati Bengals [-11]

The Bengals have been rumored to be in trade discussions with the Seahawks to acquire their 12th pick for the 21st and Rey Maualuga so that they can grab Kuechly.

NFL.com (Mike Mayock): Round 1, Pick 10 — Buffalo Bills
NFL.com (Charles Davis): Round 1, Pick 11 — Kansas City Chiefs [+1]
NFL.com (Michael Lombardi): Round 1, Pick 11 — Kansas City Chiefs
NFL.com (Charley Casserly): Round 1, Pick 11 — Kansas City Chiefs [unch]
CBS Sports (Rob Rang): Round 1, Pick 10 — Buffalo Bills [+5]
CBS Sports (Dane Brugler): Round 1, Pick 9 — Carolina Panthers [+10]

With current Panthers’ linebackers Jon Beason and Thomas Davis coming off serious injuries, Luke Kuechly will give Carolina a player who can step in from day one and contribute.

CBS Sports (Pat Kirwan): Round 1, Pick 12 — Seattle Seahawks
CBS Sports (Pete Prisco): Round 1, Pick 10 — Buffalo Bills
CBS Sports (Clark Judge): Round 1, Pick 12 — Seattle Seahawks
CBS Sports (Will Brinson): Round 1, Pick 9 — Carolina Panthers
Jeff Saukaitis: Round 1, Pick 12 — Seattle Seahawks
Fox Sports (Peter Schrager): Round 1, Pick 21 — Cincinnati Bengals
WalterFootball.com: Round 1, Pick 9 — Carolina Panthers [+3]
DraftSite: Round 1, Pick 12 — Seattle Seahawks [unch]
Your NFL Draft: Round 1, Pick 15 — Philadelphia Eagles [unch]
The New NFL Draft: Round 1, Pick 15 — Philadelphia Eagles [unch]

With this selection I have them taking Luke Kuechly because he is a play maker at the linebacker position and they need to improve their defense in nearly every way possible.

By team: Seattle 5, Buffalo 3, Kansas City 3, Carolina 3, Cincinnati 2, Philadelphia 2

Donnie Fletcher
Cornerback

DraftTek: Round 5, Pick 136 Overall — Indianapolis Colts [+3]
DraftSite: Round 5, Pick 144 Overall — Buffalo Bills [+5]
Fox Sports (Peter Schrager): Round 6, Pick 171 — St. Louis Rams

DraftTek.com Big Board Rankings

Luke Kuechly: 7 [+1]
Donnie Fletcher: 147 [-7]
Montel Harris: 301 [note: not in draft]

Current Ranges

Luke Kuechly: Mid-1st round
Donnie Fletcher: Early 5th round to undrafted
All others: Undrafted

Analysis

We have a late entry in the Luke Kuechly sweepstakes in #9 Carolina. Many have suggested he might become a top-ten pick, and the Panthers certainly fit that bill. The leader with a plurality, however, remains the Seattle Seahawks. As a Boston College alum and fan, just like yesterday, I would still be kind of insulted if Kuechly, now 5th on ESPN’s big board, plummeted to #21. I understand some of the mock drafters were talking trades, but I’m not sure how anyone would explain a fall like that when there several teams before Cincinnati on the list who would kill to take Kuechly. I still find it highly unlikely that he will get past #12.

Donnie Fletcher actually fell off one of the big mock drafts, WalterFootball, which could either be chalked up to an oversight or their actually thinking he won’t get drafted. Still, others have him in the fifth or sixth round, which is where you should look for him.

No other Eagles appear on any mock drafts and have not for some time now, which means it is more than likely that Kuechly and Fletcher will be the only two Boston College selections.

Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

The 2012 NFL Draft gets underway tomorrow night at Radio City, but Luke Kuechly won’t be there. Indeed, the Boy Wonder will be at home watching the draft on his sports network of choice while waiting for his cell phone to ring. It will, that much we know, but what we don’t is who will be on the other end of the line.

We can guess, though. Who calls Kuechly, and will Donnie Fletcher or the others get one of their own?

Luke Kuechly | Linebacker

Prediction: Round 1, Pick 12: Seattle Seahawks

I went back and forth on this one. It seems fairly clear to me now that Kuechly is going to either Kansas City or Seattle, but the reason I went with the Seahawks is because defensive tackle is an area of desperate need for the Chiefs, and if Dontari Poe of Memphis is there, I suspect they will take him.

If Kansas City passes on Kuechly, Seattle will not. That is a team that does certainly need linebackers and with Luke being the best on the board, he goes no lower than #12. Some new mocks (as we will see tomorrow) have him sinking into the 20s, which would be practically insulting to me as a BC fan when he’s 7th or 8th on most big boards.

Buffalo is a wild card here, but I think they will go offense in the first round.

Donnie Fletcher | Cornerback

Prediction: Round 6, Pick 183-193

The late rounds are much more unpredictable and hard to nail down, so a ten-pick range is as narrow as you’ll get from me. Despite some full mocks taking Fletcher in the fifth round, I think he’ll sink deeper into the draft. Every now and then, it happens with late-round projected BC draft picks that they are expected to get taken but either don’t or go later than we figured. It happened last year with Mark Herzlich, who despite having special circumstances, was still considered to be a sure thing for the late rounds but he went unselected.

Fletcher had an unmemorable senior year and was spotty in the postseason exhibitions. His Senior Bowl performance was regarded as forgettable, he wasn’t invited to the Combine, and he has a recent injury history. To his credit, he reportedly performed admirably on BC’s pro day. I believe he’ll be taken, but there are teams that will pass on him and he’ll fall back.

All others

Prediction: Undrafted

Other Boston College Eagles in the draft are Max Holloway, Ifeanyi Momah, Nate Richman and Mark Spinney. The only one of those four that has gotten any attention whatsoever is Holloway, but as it stands right now, his odds are slim. As for the others, unfortunately, they will not be selected.