LB Isaiah McDuffie
This is a player that is likely to be very active for the Eagles from the jump this weekend. If Malik Cunningham is looking to take off with the ball, Isaiah McDuffie is going to be the key cog in stopping him from getting too far.
Boston College has two very good linebackers in McDuffie and Max Richardson. I am giving the nod to McDuffie as the player to watch because he is a great athlete for the position.
There may be a bit of a stereotype out there that all Boston College linebackers are slow, stiff run defenders who like to come downhill and thump people. While McDuffie certainly can do that, he is a much better athlete than people might realize.
He is tied for third in the nation in the solo tackles category with 49 in Boston College’s nine games. That’s over five tackles per game McDuffie is making with no help from his teammates. That’s extremely impressive.
For reference, McDuffie is to Boston College what Monty Montgomery is to Louisville. McDuffie is a huge talent that is underrated in the ACC in most likely in due part to him missing most of the 2019 season due to injury.
This is a player that concerns me for Louisville. It is not every week when the Cards play against someone who has a linebacker that can at least come close in matching the athleticism of Malik Cunningham when he escapes the pocket.. But McDuffie can certainly do that.
Louisville will have their hands full with him and the two studs on offense.
Other players to watch
QB Phil Jurkovec – Jurkovec has thrown for 17 touchdowns this year and is averaging over 260 yards per game through the air.
CB Brandon Sebastian – Sebastian is fifth in the nation with nine pass breakups on the season so far. He is Boston College’s best cover man.