Boston College #NSD: A Review of the Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
By Kyle Egan
Sep 6, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston College Eagles wide receiver Alex Amidon (83) scores a touchdown against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the first half at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
The wide reciever/tight end position is a huge area of need for the Eagles going into the 2014 season as they are losing one of the best in Boston College history in Alex Amidon.
The newcomers
Thadd Smith
Smith committed to Boston College on April 15th as an athlete, but projects to be a wide receiver for the Eagles. Thadd Smith comes out of Cardinal O’Hara in Springfield, PA choosing the Heights over Rutgers and UMass. Smith is a three star prospect who is 5’9 163lbs. ESPN scouts classify Smith having “below average height and bulk” yet “is a lean, sleek athlete” with “some explosive properties and will make plays”. Smith will most likely fill in the slot position and overall be a good addition to the Boston College receiving corps. Perhaps Thadd Smith can be a Wes Welker type of player that any coach would love to have on their team.
Isaac Yiadom
Local prospects are always good for business at Boston College and Isaac Yiadom is nothing different. Yiadom, who comes out of Doherty Memorial in Worcester, MA, committed on March 28th as a three star prospect over offers from UConn and Holy Cross. It seems that other schools realized that Yiadom was so committed to Boston College and ditched the cause. ESPN describes Yiadom as “tall and lanky, with an underdeveloped frame…a good athlete that stands out against [high school] competition, but may find it more difficult to make plays at the next level.” Yiadom may take over Alex Amidon’s role as a “possession guy”. So Yiadom will be a project that Coach Steve Addazio will need to work on to make the wide receiver position viable at Boston College.
Gabriel McClary
Coach Steve Addazio exploited his Florida connections once again to pick up Gabriel McClary out of Winter Park High School in Winter Park, Florida. McClary is a 6’2 185lb three star wide out. ESPN lauds McClary as “a very solid receiver who should make a mid-level BCS school excited to have him. He will contribute as a receiver and has the body type to also help on special teams.” McClary looks to be a big part of Steve Addazio’s system as he has the body type to be a quality down the field threat. McClary chose BC on June 28th, refusing offers from Arizona, UNC, Illinois and USF among other suitors.
Tom Sweeney
When Boston College missed out on Trey Klock, who chose Georgia Tech over the Heights, the school offered tight end Tom Sweeney out of camp on June 21st and he committed on June 25th. The Don Bosco(NJ) player is rated as a three star recruit at 6’5 225lbs. ESPN describes Sweeney as a “productive short/medium, tight end/“Y” possession receiver needing time…to develop physically”. Boston College would be delighted if Sweeney was able to evolve into a solid blocking tight end.