Poll: The 2014 Boston College Football Offensive MVP
By Joe Micik
With the season now over and all the individual units graded, it’s time for some awards. This first one concerns the 2014 Boston College football Offensive MVP.
The Eagle offense this past year found its way, and there were some exciting times with a stable of young running backs alongside a veteran quarterback. Do not forget that the five guys up front all helped make it happen as well.
Which of the offensive players is deserving of the honor? Review the candidate records and then vote in our poll.
2014 Boston College Football Offensive MVP Candidates
Tyler Murphy, graduate student, quarterback. Murphy only spent one season on the Heights, and it was an important one. Mostly using his legs, Tyler Murphy powered the Boston College offense as its leading rusher while obviously also being the passer of record.
Throwing the ball, Murphy was 131-for-230, accumulating 1,623 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Running it, he had 1,184 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 6.5 per carry. Murphy had 2,807 yards of total offense.
Jon Hilliman, freshman, running back. Hilliman was one of the stellar freshman running backs that came to Boston College in 2014, and statistically, he was the most productive. Jon Hilliman led the team with 13 rushing touchdowns, also totaling 860 yards on 201 attempts.
With 78 points, Hilliman was Boston College’s leading scorer in 2014. He was also on the all-ACC third team.
Myles Willis, sophomore, running back. Willis just completed a good second year with the Eagles, contributing on offense and special teams. Though it may not be eligible for your consideration here, Willis was one of only three ACC players in 2014 to have a kickoff return touchdown. This helped give him the most all-purpose yards on the team with 1,372.
Boston College Eagles
Most of the other yardage was on the ground (459), averaging 5.2 yards per carry and scoring two touchdowns.
Sherm Alston, freshman, running back. Some of the most exciting plays the Boston College offense had this season were because of Sherman Alston. Sherm had 352 rushing yards on the season and two touchdowns, but made the most of his carries as he averaged 10.4 yards per rush.
He also had some explosive plays through the air, receiving for 175 yards and two touchdowns, averaging about 11 yards per catch. With over ten yards per offensive play, no other Eagle came close.
Andy Gallik, graduate student, center. Had to get an offensive lineman in here for consideration. A team captain, Gallik led an offensive line that put together one of the best run games in the nation this year. Furthermore, they did not give up many sacks and Gallik himself helped create some running lanes for guys on his own team to get through.
Gallik was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy and an all-ACC second teamer.