One last recruit for 2017 class

The focus of recruiting has been the 2018 class, yet Addazio just added one more piece to his incoming freshmen group. On Wednesday, New York DT Jaleel Berry signed with BC. I like this signing because he was personally scouted by Pasqualoni and has DT size now.

Berry is only available because he qualified so late in the process. While that is usually a red flag for BC, Addazio somehow got him through. The fact that he also had a scholarship available shows how tightly he is managing the roster. As soon as one guy drops out, the position is filled.

Best of luck to Berry. This could end up being a great BC story.

A few recruiting notes

Four star California QB Brevin White is coming out to BC on his own dime. That's a good sign. But at the same time, it sounds like he is more excited about his Harvard visit than his BC visit. Maybe Addazio can sell him on our combination of athletics and academics.

BC sounds like they are in a good position for Indiana LB Hugh Davis.

BC's recruits get some media attention

Addazio raved about AJ Dillon during his interviews Wednesday and the four star running back received the most attention in and around Signing Day. He was on ESPN and also featured in the Boston and Connecticut media.

I'm very thankful for the amazing opportunity to share signing day with ESPN. It was an unbelievable experience. @CoachLesMiles @espn pic.twitter.com/1wCIL4DwtB

— AJ Dillon (@ajdillon7) February 1, 2017

Because of the time difference on the West Coast and an afternoon press conference out there, Addazio couldn't talk about QB Matt McDonald. His story sounds great and seems like he has real upside.

As Addazio mentioned, Tate Haynes will also be given a chance to play QB at BC.

Even though Travis Levy is already on campus, he is still getting attention from his home town paper.

It sounds like Isaiah McDuffie's dad is building a regional power in Buffalo. Probably not a bad guy to have in BC's corner.

Noah Jordan-Williams tried to talk BC into recruiting his high school teammate. Obviously Addazio and crew did not. But that sort of loyalty is refreshing.

Pre Signing Day recruiting news

Signing Day is approaching and BC used the last free weekend to close in on some more recruits. After just offering New York Defensive Tackle Nate Emer, he reportedly verballed this weekend. He's going to need to add weight and adjust to the higher level of play, but I think Emer has potential.

Another reported verbal was New Jersey DT TJ Rayman. He has a better offer list than Emer. He's also a bit older and more developed. Hopefully he will be able to contribute right away.

Matthew McDonald had a good visit too but won't announce until Wednesday.

The latest on BC's second QB target

We've known that BC was still looking at California QB Matt McDonald as a recruit in the 2017 class. Now he has an official offer and is on campus for an official visit. Based on timing and Twitter, it seems like McDonald is coming.

Absolutely loving my Boston College official! pic.twitter.com/xHV0chAsPm

— Matt McDonald (@mattcmcdonald4) January 27, 2017

Adding another QB to this class is critical. Not only is BC's current BC depth chart inexperienced, but also thin. Assuming that Wade is out, the only QB on campus with experience is Fadule. Even if Brown is a super star in the making, we need some sort of hedge. EJ Perry is committed, but why not bring in another QB like McDonald?

McDonald is available because he is a late bloomer who transferred from a mega power to get more playing time. He played in a good league and has the build and arm of a ACC player. Because he just became a starter, there is a risk, but the upside is huge.

As much as I would love for Addazio to target an elite recruit well in advance and keep him locked in, the McDonald situation is pretty common in BC's recruiting. We always have to take fliers on late bloomers and guys who fall through the cracks. They don't always become stars, but as long as a few do, BC will keep winning.

Hockey drops game to BU and other links

BC lost a defensive battle to BU Saturday. They meet again at BC on Monday night.

Now that the "quiet period" is over, Addazio and his staff are on the road again locking up the verbals.

Former verbal Jason Pinnock sounds like he really loves Pitt. Maybe Addazio can win him, back but it doesn't sound like it.

If you didn't read earlier in the week, Hoffses captured the good and the bad of Addazio's TV work during the National Championship Game.

Women's Basketball lost again.

Frates honored and other links

The NCAA gave Pete Frates its 2017 inspiration award for his work with ALS and the Ice Bucket Challenge.

BC is adding more recruits before the quiet period, including Ohio DLine prospect DeAri Todd, and Conneticut Linebacker TJ Gardner. Michigan fans are also worried we might flip AJ Dillon.

This is a long article on the Houston Rockets Daryl Morey by Michael Lewis. If you like Lewis' approach it is worth your time. If you are just a curious BC fan, then read about Sean Williams and Houston's experience with him. The Williams stuff comes early in the article.

Burton and Stoneburner commit

Although he only recently received an offer from BC and transferred to Florida in order to gain more national attention, Austin Burton will be playing college football close to home. The former Newton South QB verballed to Addazio Thursday. He's the second QB to commit in this recruiting class. I am excited for him -- all reports are that he is a good kid -- I just hope this sticks. My fear is that if he has a great season in Florida, big programs will come calling.

One of the guys he might be throwing to at BC is new commit Ohio WR Caleb Stoneburner. He's a big kid and from a good program in Dublin, OH, but most of his offers are MAC type. Perhaps being a tweener between Tight End and Wide Receiver scared Power 5s off. BC has done well with big WRs under Addazio. As long as the kid can block, we should be okay.

Recruiting class getting bigger

Summer remains Addazio's key recruiting period. Wednesday, BC added New Jersey DE Marcus Valdez. While he doesn't have many stars with the rating services, Valdez does have a good mix of offers from Power 5 and mid major schools. He also comes from Don Bosco. I think it is important to stay relevant and bring in kids from programs like Bosco that have supported BC through the years and consistently produce talent. Hopefully Valdez is another Bosco player who will blossom at BC.

Another new member of the class is New Hampshire's Drew McQuarrie. Although he plays QB, he is coming to BC as a Tight End (according to BCI and EA).

I remain impressed that Addazio has this momentum coming off a terrible season. Imagine how things will be if we turn it around?

Can Florida competition validate Mass QB?

BC offered QB prospect Austin Burton Monday after camp. Focusing on a second QB in this class is noteworthy, but what I find more interesting about Burton is his geographic background. He's from Massachusetts and played at Newton South, but is now playing in Florida.

BC was very familiar with Burton before he left for Florida. He's Newton Offensive Cooridnator was Darren Flutie and his father is local Boston anchor Steve Burton. Austin tranfered in an effort to raise his profile and prove his talent at a higher level. Now that he's wrapped up a BC offer, will other Power 5 schools come calling? Will they wait until he actually plays in Florida?

It will be also interesting to see how much playing in his hometown means to Austin and if he is willing to be the second QB in the class. He seems like a good prospect and assuming he plays well this fall, will bring in a different perspective than most of our New England recruits.

Barnes-Thompkins to transfer

Rising sophmore Sammy Barnes-Thompkins is transferring. This comes as no surprise considering SBT's open criticism of the staff and his teammates. While it would have been nice to see Barnes-Thompkins develop, as a player, he is not a significant loss. He was not going to change the program this summer as a swimmer.

Best of luck to SBT. Hopefully he finds a team and scenario that meets his needs and hopefully BC uses the SBT scholarship in a thoughtful and valuable way.

More Hoops schedule info and other links

The dates and opponents are now known for Basketball's trip to Brooklyn. BC will face Kansas State November 25 in the Barclays Center. BC will then face either Richmond or Maryland in Day 2 of the event.

Former BC Athletic Director and BC grad Chet Gladchuk won a prestigious AD award. Gladchuk's post-BC career has been fascinating. He did many things that used up goodwill and the Henning-gambling issue ultimately cost him his job, but he has used his second chances to really turn other Athletic programs around.

BC is still putting the hard sell on New Jersey Defensive Lineman Mike Tverdov.

McDuffie joins recruiting class

It has been a busy week for Coach Addazio, as he and his staff collected another verbal late Monday. This time it was New York defensive player Isaiah McDuffie.

McDuffie originally committed to Syracuse. After their coaching change, he reopend the process and picked  BC.

BC adds New Jersey Linebacker

Paul Theobald is the newest member of Addazio's 2017 recruiting class. He verballed Tuesday via Twitter and gives the class more defensive talent and continues the push into New Jersey.

A Seton Hall Prep product, Theobald carries 3 stars from 247 and 3 stars from Rivals. He is unranked by Scout. Other than BC, his best offers were from Rutgers and Northwestern.

Things won't stop now. Other rumored verbals are looming and should come in the following days.

We won't know about Perry until he steps on campus

ESPN posted a glowing article on recent BC commit EJ Perry. It basically says he has all the tools to succeed at the next level. I obviously hope so, but have some hesitation on drinking the scouting report Kool-aid

All QBs are tough to project from one level to the next. You can't always tell how much the system in which they played, the depth of the league and the quality of the coaching impacted performance. There have been plenty of Massachusetts QBs who lit up the record books but weren't physically capable of playing at the next level. Even if, as the article states, Perry's offense was sophisticated for High School, in college it will be a different story. The defenses and the defenders will be much better. Your "football IQ" doesn't matter when you are running for your life in the pocket.

BC is hedging bit on Perry too. Addazio is supposedly bringing in two QBs in this class. That will give Perry some competition and Addazio a back up plan in case Perry is just another kid who dominated in high school.

BC land Mass QB

Addazio filled an important slot in his 2017 recruiting class with Massachusetts QB EJ Perry. Perry is the son of Andover High School's coach. Rivals considers him the 5th best prospect in the state. Nationally his rating is not as high.

Perry's commitment sparked the usual debate about the quality of Massachusetts prospects. Other schools have shown interest in him, but BC is his only Power 5 offer. I am still in the trusting Addazio mindset on local talent. The program knows Perry and if Loeffler is now on board with him, then I am sold too.

There haven't been many impact Massachusetts QBs in a long time. Let's hope Perry breaks that streak.

What we can learn from the Petrula commitment

Aside from the Spring Game, the weekend also brought good recruiting news. New Jersey OL prospect Ben Petrula verballed on Saturday. The New Jersey media interviewed him and looked into his recruiting. It sheds a little light on how BC works.

Location is always important in recruiting. Most guys stay near their homes. That is why New Jersey remains so important. Petrula had other offers in the Big Ten and SEC but he wanted to stay in the northeast. It came down to BC and Rutgers. Fortunately we won and have put more New Jersey recruiters on staff.

Players recruiting other players is often overlooked. Petrula also mentioned the other St. Peter's players at BC. That is why we need to spend so much time recruiting kids who get what BC is about...and then we need those kids to sell that idea and perpetuate that culture.

Addazio getting in the mix also closed Petrula. Other BC coaches used to be the "closer" in the recruiting process and sell the kid when he was in the office. Addazio is getting out on the field and working with them. This gives him a chance to evaluate the player but it also gives them a chance to know him.

There are plenty of things Addazio needs to work on, but based on the Petrula courtship, recruiting doesn't seem to be one of them.

BC adds California Tight End

California Tight End Patrick Brown committed to the football team this weekend. He's a three star with lower tier FBS offers, but still represents a good get. We have invested more time in California of late, so it is good to get a commitment. Brown plays for Cathedral Catholic which is a strong program in the San Diego area. Hopefully he won't be the only California product in this class.

Recruiting picks up

The 2017 Football recruiting class just got bigger. Addazio and company picked up verbal commitments from New York Tight End Devan Lawson and Maryland Running Back Travis Levy. Of the two, Levy carries the higher rating and the better offer list. But Lawson comes from a productive area (Rockland County, NY) and has the type of body and skills that can be slotted for a Tight End but moved to another position if needed.

This recruiting class is critical because it is the first coming off a losing Addazio season and it is the first with the new staff. Getting these two guys early is a good sign and hopefully just the start of verbals to the program.