Boston College: Senior Harold Landry aims to soar even higher in 2017

The star defensive end will be looking to duplicate a 2016 season in which he helped lead the Boston College Eagles to their first bowl win since 2007.

Senior defensive end Harold Landry has a high standard to live up to when Boston College opens the 2017 season September 1 at Northern Illinois. And if things go according to plan, Landry will one day count himself among the proud Eagle alumni in the NFL.

The standard Landry will be playing up to is the one he set for himself in 2016.

Landry–in leading BC to a 7-6 record in 2016–is coming off a season in which he put up gaudy stats.

Last year as a junior, Landry led the FBS with 16.5 sacks. His 22 tackles for loss was tied for fifth in the FBS. All this while contributing seven forced fumbles and even collecting one interception.

Media, coaches, and other outlets have not forgotten about Landry’s 2016 exploits. He has been voted to the preseason all-ACC team, named to various preseason All-American teams, and was recently included on the Walter Camp 2017 watch list.

The preseason accolades don’t stop there. Landry is also listed as the ninth-ranked player in Sports Illustrated’s top 100 college football players of 2017 list.

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Going out in style

Playing in the ACC’s Atlantic Division, with foes like Florida State and Clemson, is a test in and of itself for Landry and the rest of his Eagle teammates.

A test so stringent, in fact, has many predicting Boston College finishing in last place in the division.

Landry and the rest of the defense will be huge factors in how far these predictions go in coming true.

While he certainly has a nose for finding the quarterback, one of the reasons Landry returned was to improve his game against the run. Landry is already the anchor of a very talented front seven. If he can improve even the slightest in this area, the Eagles will again be on the right side of .500.

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Playing up to expectations can sometimes be a difficult thing to accomplish. Outstanding junior season aside, Landry has put in the work, building on the foundation he set in 2016.

Do that and the Boston College football team will be more than fine. And Landry will have earned his preseason recognition and step away from the team as one of the all-time greats.