Walking into Alumni Stadium, I could sense there was a vibe of excitement and inquiry. What will this 2023 season bring with a new QB in Emmett Morehead, who flashed late last season? Who will step up to replace NFL-bound WR Zay Flowers? Fans and family filled the seats to see the maroon and gold give them a preview of what’s in store w/ HC Jeff Hafley back for his 4th season w/ the Eagles.
The BC Eagles QB Room has a lot of promise this season with Sophomore Emmett Morehead as the QB1, and promising Freshman QB Jacobe Robinson taking over for QB Phil Jurkovec who transferred. Morehead was the clear-cut leader on the field for the Eagles on Saturday. His cadence and demeanor scream leadership, which was displayed in the game. Morehead took most of his snaps under center for the Eagles on Saturday, a change from Jurkovec in 2022. Although Morehead was off early in the game, throwing an INT in the endzone to Amari Jackson, he was able to connect with WR Dino Tomlin for a TD later in the half. Morehead developed an excellent connection with WR Taji Johnson, the two connected on multiple plays down the sideline.
Jacobe Robinson took the 1st set of reps with the 2nd team, which speaks volumes of where he is early on in his collegiate career. Robinson was very mobile in the pocket and showed he could extend plays in the 1st qtr. He also connected with both RBs on screens out of the backfield. QB Matthew Rueve took a bunch of snaps late in the 1st half, and most of the 2nd half, with QB Peter Delaportas sprinkled in late.
Speaking of the running backs, this was an area heading into 2023 that the BC Eagles needed to improve on for a successful 2023 season. RBs Phil Garwo and Alex Broome were in command of the RB room as they were the main guys in the 1st half to play. Broome had an excellent 1st down run to the right side of the field early on in the 1st qtr and looked explosive on many short-yard runs. Garwo started slow but seemed to get into a rhythm later in the game. Neither RB was eye-popping, but as HC Hafley stated, the offense was vanilla for the Eagles.
Fresh new face, UCF transfer Ryan O’Keefe didn’t play as the Eagles didn’t want to give up too much of their offensive game plan in the ACC televised game, and WR Joseph Griffin Jr didn’t play as he is still recovering from injury. WR Dino Tomlin wasn’t targeted much in the game but did have four receptions and Morehead’s lone TD. Tomlin’s route running looked crisp, and he was creating separation on most of his routes. Another WR that will look to render some targets this fall was 5’9” Junior, Jaden Williams, and Morehead found him for multiple 1st downs. TEs George Takacs and Jeremiah Franklin received most of the reps and targets from all 4 QBs on the day. Franklin’s growth in just one season was visible in route running and run blocking on the field.
The DEF was the apparent winner of the day and worked as more of a cohesive unit than the offense. The defense had 6 takeaways led by Soph DB Amari Jackson, who had 2 INTs. The 1st of Jackson’s interceptions was on the game’s opening drive when QB Emmet Morehead was trying to hit the WR in the right corner of the endzone, and Jackson left his man to make a one-handed interception. DB Elijah Jones has a nice pass break up on the right side of the field w/ 4:49 left in the 2nd qtr. Jones played inside a lot in the spring game and was the captain of the secondary. 6th Year Senior LB Vinny DePalma was doing everyday DePalma things with disruption in the backfield and multiple run stops. Junior DE Neto Okpala had a sweet strip sack with 5:26 left in the 2nd qtr and also recovered the fumble. DE Shitta Sillah looked healthy and ready to attack the backfield as he had a big run stop on the GL in the 2nd qtr.
LBs Jaylen Blackwell & Bryce Steele both looked more comfortable in the system with another season under their belt. Blackwell could be in line for more playing time in 2023, as he seemed to have more juice during this spring game than I saw from him last season.
There is tons of excitement and promise for the BC Eagles, and we are only just now coming into May! HC Hafley and the Eagles are ready for the stiff ACC competition in 2023, Let’s GO!
