Boston College has a proud football tradition from Doug Flutie to Matt Ryan, but they more often produce linemen and linebackers.
When you think of Boston College football, you may not think of great teams of late. That can change though in the blink of an eye like it did with Matt Ryan at the helm. Even in losing or poor seasons, BC still produces some NFL talent.
Below is my list of the 10 best former Boston College Eagles in the NFL. This is not a list of the all-time best Eagles to play for an NFL team, it is a list of the best current NFL players. If you like this list, think I left someone off of it or would reorder it, let me know in the comments or on Twitter @CandCFanSided or @JakChowder!
10. DT Connor Wujciak
The list gets started with a player that hasn’t even played a down in the NFL yet, but he has a chance to crack the Philadelphia Eagles roster.
Connor Wujciak spent four seasons as a DT for the Eagles in Chestnut Hill. He went undrafted but was signed by Philadelphia last spring. Wujciak then had to have surgery on his shoulder and was placed on injured reserve for his entire rookie season.
Wujciak will technically now be a rookie this season at 24-years old, and he’ll have to fight for a roster spot somewhere. As it stands Wujciak is without an NFL team entering the 2017 season.
At Boston College Wujciak was superb. He had 112 tackles and 21½ tackles for loss in 49 career games in maroon and gold.
9. LB/TE Mark Herzlich, New York Giants
By now most people know Mark Herzlich’s story about his battle with cancer. His NFL journey has been just as inspiring.
Herzlich is not the most athletic player on the field for the Giants, but he finds a way to make plays. He made the Giants roster six years ago as an undrafted free agent and hasn’t looked back. In 2011 as a rookie has was a Super Bowl champion as the Giants defeated the New England Patriots.
Now, Herzlich will look to contribute on offense. He’ll switch from #94 to #44 to play tight end. He hasn’t played TE consistently since high school though.
"“It’s exciting,” Herzlich said. “A lot of times I’m playing scout-team tight end the last couple of years just because we were low in numbers and I was able to show I could be versatile in that aspect. So, when it’s, ‘Hey, you want to come add another weapon to your repertoire?’ It’s, ‘Yeah, sure, sign me up.’ The more I can learn, the better. And the better I can help out, the better, too.”"
Herzlich will likely still see some action as a linebacker and on special teams. He is a truly versatile player, even if he doesn’t have a set role. At TE Herzlich will likely be behind rookie Evan Engram, Will Tye, and Jerell Adams. At LB he’s behind Devon Kennard, J.T. Thomas, and Jonathan Casillas. He will likely still make the roster though due to his versatility.
8. LB Kevin Pierre-Louis, Seattle Seahawks
Kevin Pierre-Louis is a key role player on the Seattle Seahawks defense. 2017 will be his 4th NFL season, and he may just now be coming into his own.
In 2016 Pierre-Louis appeared in 13 regular season games. Though he only had 12 tackles as a linebacker, he is also a contributor on special teams. Pierre-Louis has said that outside thoughts don’t affect the Seahawks, they just get the guys that they feel can fill a role.
"“[The Seahawks] draft guys who they truly believe are going to fit into their system. They could care less what everyone else thinks. They try to get their guys. You know, Coach Carroll speaks about that a lot. He got his guys. Those are guys they hand-picked.”"
The experience gained at Boston College definitely helped Pierre-Louis as he played alongside Mark Herzlich and Luke Kuechly.
"“Playing with Luke and playing with Herz, they were just great examples that I could follow. They were people that I could see did things the right way. I can’t say I modeled my game after them at all, however, they were just a great support system that if I ever needed anything or had a question, I could easily go to them. They were doing things right so it was truly up to me to bring my game to a level to match theirs as well. Because they were bringing their A game, I had to bring my A game as well.”"
Kevin Pierre-Louis will likely crack Seattle’s roster again as a depth linebacker and key special teams player.
7. RB Andre Williams, Los Angeles Chargers
Andre Williams has spent time with the Giants and Chargers in the NFL, though he appeared in only one game for the then San Diego Chargers in 2016.
Williams’ most productive year came as a rookie in 2014. No one expected much from him, so when he had 721 yards and 7 touchdowns for the Giants, their fans were ecstatic. Things went downhill though. Williams has since tallied just one touchdown, and he had none last season in his lone game.
As it stands, it looks like Williams is 5th on the Chargers RB depth chart behind Melvin Gordon, Branden Oliver, Kenneth Farrow, and Kenjon Barner. He will need to have an extremely strong training camp to make the cut. It’s possible that he ends up as the No. 2 back behind Gordon, but only time will tell.
6. P Ryan Quigley, Minnesota Vikings
Surprised to see a punter on the list ahead of some skill position players? I was too, but when putting this list together I had to give Ryan Quigley his fair shot at cracking the top 10.
Quigley is now with the Minnesota Vikings, but he has spent time with the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals in the NFL. He’s in a battle for the punting job with Taylor Symmank, and that will likely last throughout training camp. Vikings Special Team Coordinator Mike Priefer likes the way the competition is playing out.
"“Ryan is an experienced punter with a couple of years under his belt,” Priefer said. “With Taylor, he’s got the benefit of being young, he doesn’t overthink things. Taylor probably has a little bit stronger leg, but Ryan is more consistent right now. We’re looking for a guy that when we’re indoors, he’s very good at directional punting.”"
In the league, Quigley has averaged 44.6 yards on his punts, with a long of 69. His competition is Symmank could be stiff, but he’s never punted in the NFL before.
5. S Justin Simmons, Denver Broncos
We begin our top 5 of BC Eagles in the NFL with Broncos safety Justin Simmons. As a rookie last season, Simmons carved out a nice role for himself with the team. He had a total of 30 tackles with a sack and 2 interceptions.
In 2017 Simmons will look to improve and gain even more playing time alongside Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. He’ll have the chance to become a true member of the “No Fly Zone” but for now he says he’s still learning and improving.
"“Myself, Will (Parks) and a few others consider ourselves ‘Baby No Fly.’ We’re still in the works, we’re still learning a bunch of the tools of the trade to carry that No Fly Zone,” Simmons said. “Those (veterans) truly are the most selfless guys I’ve ever met, with the standard they hold being the best. They just want to win. They don’t care who is on the team to help them win. They just want to win.”"
Simmons will have to overcome a sophomore slump, and I think he will. He has the skills and ability to become a major factor on the Denver Broncos defense.
4. S Will Blackmon, Washington Redskins
Will Blackmon is the wily old veteran on this list. The 32-year old safety will enter his 11th NFL season in 2017.
2017 will only be the second season in which Blackmon plays safety. From 2006 through 2015 he was a cornerback with the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington Redskins.
Blackmon has appeared in 96 NFL games and has tallied 155 tackles and 4 interceptions. He’s also returned 73 punts and 85 kicks over his career, with 3 touchdowns.
The veteran Washington safety is now competing for his job. DeAngelo Hall is the veteran most likely to be cut, but a poor training camp could spell the end for Blackmon.
3. LT Anthony Castonzo, Indianapolis Colts
Anthony Castonzo could be #1 on the list if the two ahead of him weren’t skill players with amazing stats. He’s started in all 89 games he’s played for the Indianapolis Colts as their left tackle since 2011. That means that Castonzo has been the blindside protector for one of the league’s best young QBs in Andrew Luck since he came into the league in 2012.
Consistency has been in question among the Colts offensive line, and Castonzo works to be perfect on every single play.
"“I take it personally every time I watch film and see something I don’t like,” Castonzo says of the offensive line criticism. “That’s a personal attack from me, on myself, when I put something on film that I don’t like. My goal is to be perfect on every rep and I think that’s our offensive line’s goal. When we are not, we do take it personally. Regardless if someone is saying something or not, we realize we’ve got to get it corrected.”"
Castonzo is also growing into one of the leaders on the Indianapolis offense. He’s now the second oldest player on that side of the ball behind Frank Gore.
"“And that kind of drives home even more how much I have to take a leadership responsibility,” he said. “You have some young guys who can develop into a heck of a team… If the right example is set for them, a winning example and a winning culture, I think there could be a lot of success here as there has been in the past. We have to keep that rolling.”"
Castonzo can be a Pro Bowl-caliber LT for the Colts, and Andrew Luck sure hopes that he is in 2017.
2. LB Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers
When you think of the Carolina Panthers you likely think about Cam Newton. But, if you’re asked who the face if the defense is, your answer us undoubtedly linebacker Luke Kuechly.
The former Boston College standout has developed into one of the best LBS in all of the NFL. In fact, on the 2017 version of the NFL Top 100, Kuechly was ranked #20 by his peers. Only two LBs ranked higher, the Raiders’ Khalil Mack and Broncos’ Von Miller. Kuechly is ahead of players like Richard Sherman, Rob Gronkowski and J.J. Watt on the list.
Kuechly has played in and started 71 games for the Panthers over his five year career. In that time he’s recorded 453 tackles with 9 sacks and 12 interceptions.
Sports Illustrated ranked Luke Kuechly as the No. 1 most important player for the Carolina Panthers in 2017. He almost had a clean sweep of first place votes, but one writer gave the top spot to new LT Matt Kalil. Kuechly ranked ahead of Kalil, DT Kawaan Short and rookie RB Christian McCaffrey.
After missing six games last season, Kuechly will look to stay healthy for 16 and the playoffs. The Panthers are in a tough division with the Atlanta Falcons and up and coming Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so they’ll need Luke to help them keep pace.
Kuechly will get to faceoff against the No. 1 player on this list twice this season when his Panthers take on the Atlanta Falcons.
1. QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
Matt Ryan and the Falcons may have blown a 25-point lead to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI, but he’s still the best Boston College player on the field in the NFL. There’s a chance that Luke Kuechly could pass him up for that title, but how can you argue against the man that took his under-appreciated Atlanta Falcons team to a Super Bowl and won league MVP.
Competition in the NFC South will be stiff this year against Cam Newton, Drew Brees, and Jameis Winston, but Ryan can still be the best of the bunch. The weapons available to Ryan in Julio Jones, Mohammed Sanu, Devonta Freeman, and Tevin Coleman make him a constant threat.
Ryan has said that the Super Bowl loss is behind him and the team, and that 2017 is a new season, though they’d love to reach the Super Bowl once again.
"More from Chowder and Champions 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win “When we started as a team in April, we got together before that as players down in Miami, it was time to move on. It was time to look forward. Anytime that we kind of dwell on that, is wasted time. We have to focus trying to become the best football team that this group can be.”"
Ryan will likely be ranked as the No. 3 QB on the NFL Top 100, and he’ll be in elite company. Ryan and his teammate Julio Jones will both be in the top 10, the only other QBs up there with him are Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers and New England’s Tom Brady.
The debate will continue as to if Matt Ryan is a future hall of famer, but he still has years to add to his resume. According to Blogging Dirty, he’s got a chance.
"“Ryan has thrown for 37,701 regular season yards thus far in his career. That’s more than all but eight (Brett Favre, Marino, John Elway, Moon, Tarkenton, Fouts, Joe Montana, and Johnny Unitas) HoF quarterbacks. Ryan’s averaging 4,189 yards per year. If he hits that mark this coming season he’ll pass Unitas and Montana.”"
Matt Ryan will aim to replicate the numbers from his 2016 MVP campaign, though he’ll hope for a Super Bowl win this time.
Next: Patriots working to defeat man coverage
Do you agree with my ranking of the best Boston College Eagles currently in the NFL? If not, let me know on Twitter @CandCFanSided or @JakChowder!