101 Days of BC Football: Ian White, #62

Boston College’s offensive line is nothing if not unsettled. Over the last few years, we’ve had some unsatisfactory performances and a marked decline in what was previously known as “O-Line U.” There have also been a number of shifts, with guys moving into and out of the center position and sliding here and there while the staff attempted to find the right combination. This year, changes will be made again, and Ian White is at the center of them — literally.

Of course, shifting positions on the offensive line is nothing new for White, a 6-5, 300 lb. junior from Conway, New Hampshire. At the end of the 2010 season, White was the second-string left guard behind Nate Richman. Against Miami in 2011, White started at right guard. Now, as we head into the 2012 campaign, White is listed as the starting center. This position was vacated after Mark Spinney graduated, and unless a change is made heading out of summer training camp, White is on his way to another new position.

White performed decently as a guard and, though he’s had his good and bad days, may in fact be one of the better linemen the Eagles currently have. Paul Myerberg, however, noted in his BC season preview that shifting White from guard to center would “leave the Eagles very thin at right guard.” If the Eagles go the way they appear to be going, White will start, Andy Gallik backs up, and sophomore Harris Williams is the right guard with redshirt freshman Liam Porter backing him up. Right guard might be the position in which White is needed more for depth, but Gallik was hit-or-miss in his first year (don’t forget Bryan Davis here as well). Neither solution is particularly appetizing, but by keeping White at center and Williams at RG, you’ve got a decent starter at each position, which may be the best outcome.

Spring depth charts are definitely subject to change, but for now, it seems like White is strongly in the running to be BC’s center on opening day. At 300+ pounds, he’s got the mass for the position, but we’ll see if this is a good fit once the season rolls around.