Boston College Football 2014: Paul Gaughan, OL

2014 Boston College Eagles football is 83 days away, and the player previews are only just beginning. Why, we’re only in the letter “G,” with the next topic of discussion being junior offensive lineman Paul Gaughan.

Gaughan was recruited to Boston College in 2011 from Dunmore in northeast Pennsylvania. During his high school days, Gaughan was a noted offensive lineman, earning a number of league and county honors, and getting invited to the Big 33 Football Classic.

Paul Gaughan’s offer list was fairly lengthy, and it included other major-conference schools such as Wisconsin, Stanford, Syracuse, Maryland, and Northwestern. Nevertheless, in October 2010, the three-star recruit made his pledge to the Eagles.

While he came to Boston College with some expectations of a solid career, through his first two seasons as a player in 2012 and 2013, he did not see much of the field. In 2012, his redshirt freshman season, Gaughan appeared in six games. Last year, under the new coaching staff as a sophomore, he made it into just two (UNC and Syracuse), backing up Bobby Vardaro on the two-deep much of the way.

Is 2014 the year that things change for Paul Gaughan?

Paul Gaughan #69: Fast Facts

• Position: Offensive lineman
• Hometown: Dunmore, Pennsylvania
• High School: Dunmore High School
• Measurements: 6-foot-6, 300 lb.
• Class year & age at 2014 opener: Junior (RS), 21
• BC games played: 8

Paul Gaughan #69: 2013 Season

• Backup left guard behind Bobby Vardaro
• Games played: 2; no starts
• Appeared on Spring 2014 roster

If he is moved around, Gaughan could find work at other positions on the offensive line, but he is a center by trade. Slotting him in at left guard at least keeps him towards the middle; it’s unlikely we will see Gaughan at the ends, which is where the open starter roles are. The most likely outcome is that he remains a backup in 2014, possibly setting him up to contend for a starter’s role as a senior in 2015.

Missed any 2014 player or season previews? Click the “114 Days” tag below to catch up on what we’ve shared so far.