AJ Dillon just finished up his sophomore campaign and, at the rate he’s going, could end up being the best running back ever to suit up for the Boston College Eagles.
Mother Nature intervened on December 26 in what might have been a huge day for sophomore running back AJ Dillon and the Boston College Eagles.
Dillon scored on a 19-yard touchdown run on the Boston College Eagles first drive of the game, but Mother Nature intervened with 5:08 left in the first quarter. Lightning strikes near the stadium delayed — and ultimately forced cancellation of — the First Responder Bowl in Dallas, TX.
It is believed to be the first bowl game ever to be canceled due to weather.
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All stats were taken off the board, meaning Dillon finished up his sophomore season with 1,108 yards. Dillon played in ten games, but some of these were only partial appearances due to injuries. He had five games of 100 yards or more, finishing with 10 touchdowns on the ground.
Dillon, as a freshman, had 1,589 yards on the ground, fourth-highest for a single season in program history. His 272 yards against Louisville in 2017 ranks as the third best single-game performance in Boston College history.
During his time at Boston College, Dillon has 2,697 yards on the ground, already ranking ninth in school history.
An over-the-moon performance in his freshman campaign, along with a steady sophomore year has Dillon on track to be one of the best ever at Boston College. A healthy and productive junior season could vault Dillon to number one in many categories.
Until then, here are the top-five running backs who paved the way in the record books before Dillon came along.
5-William Green
William Green (1999-2001) carried the Boston College Eagles into the 21st-century, notching back-to-back 1000-yard seasons in 2000 and 2001. Green’s 33 career touchdowns rank 2nd-best in school history.
In ’01, Green was a consensus first-team All-American in 2001 and won the Big East Offensive Player of the Year the same season. It was also during this season in which Green failed to crack the 100-yard mark only once and he ran for 180 or more yards five times, including 213 in a game at Rutgers.
Green finished with 2,974 career rushing yards and played four seasons in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns. Green finished with 887 yards as a rookie but ran into off-the-field problems that slowed his career.
4-Mike Cloud
Back in 1998, Boston College running back Mike Cloud (1995-98) had one of best single-seasons in program history.
Cloud ran for 1,726 yards, third-best in the nation that season and still second-highest in Boston College history. He added 14 touchdowns in ’98, helping him earn a First Team All-American nod, alongside Texas running back Ricky Williams.
The 3,597 yards Cloud had in his college career rank fourth-best in school history and he finished with 25 rushing touchdowns.
Cloud found a little longevity in the NFL. After being selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round and spending four seasons with the team, Cloud ended up on the New England Patriots. He had a reserve role for the 2003 Super Bowl team, twice scoring two touchdowns in a game.
Ultimately, Cloud was inactive for the Super Bowl that season and finished his playing career in 2005 after bouncing between the Patriots and New York Giants.
3-Derrick Knight
Labeled as an undersized player at 5’9”, Derrick Knight (2000-03) finished his Boston College Eagles career as one of the best backs ever to don the uniform.
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When Knight finished up his career, he was the school’s leading rusher with 3,725 yards (he’s now third). It was during Knight’s junior and senior seasons he which he truly shined. A 1,432 yard attack in 2002 was followed up by 1,721 yards in 2003.
During these two seasons, Boston College also won 17 games. Knight had two games in which he carried for 200 or more yards and had 18 games of 100 yards or more. He also had versatility out of the backfield, hauling in 72 receptions for 700 yards in his career.
One of Knight’s best games was a 224-yard, 3-touchdown performance his senior season against Rutgers. Knight averaged 8.3 yards per carry in that game.
Knight finished with 25 career rushing touchdowns and his yardage in his senior season still ranks for third-highest in school history. The NFL may have not called, but Knight still deserves legendary status at the school.
2-Montel Harris
Unfinished business and injuries at Boston College kept Montel Harris (2008-11) from sitting at the top of this list. When he was dismissed from the team in the spring of 2011, Harris was already the career leader in rushing yards at Boston College (3,735).
This mark is still second-best, only four yards behind the leader.
After collecting 900 yards as a freshman, Harris followed it up with back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons. As a sophomore in 2009, Harris had 1,457 yards on the ground, still the sixth-most in school history.
Harris also had a record-setting game against N.C. State, rushing for 264 yards and 5 touchdowns. The touchdown mark still stands while the single-game yardage mark is third-best ever by a Boston College Eagles player.
2011 was supposed to be an even greater year for Harris. However, he injured the same knee he had at the close of 2010 and, after being named the Preseason ACC Player of the Year, Harris played in only two games.
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After his dismissal from Boston College, Harris finished his career at Temple. He’d been granted a sixth-year of eligibility thanks to a medical redshirt. He ran for 1,054 yards and 12 touchdowns.
1-Andre Williams
Who else would there be to top the list than the school’s all-time leading rusher?
Andre Williams (2010-13) had a season to remember in ’13 when he set the single-season rushing record at Boston College with 2,177 yards. This mark was 5th-best all-time in college football and was one of the myriad of reasons Williams was a Heisman finalist in 2013, as he eventually finished fourth.
Williams suffered through some disappointing seasons while at Boston College, including a two-win campaign his junior year. Everything came together in 2013, though, under new coach Steve Addazio.
The seven wins from that season matched the team from Williams’ freshman year. But it was individual performances for which Williams will be remembered.
Williams owns four of the top ten best single-game performances in school history. This includes a 295-yard game against New Mexico State and a school-record 339 yards against N.C. State. Williams also had five touchdowns against Army, tying the single-game record held by Harris.
Though he only finished with 75 yards against Arizona in his final game, Williams has the school rushing record with 3,739 yards.
Do you agree with the list? Others to consider are Keith Barnette, who leads with 34 career rushing touchdowns. Or how about Mike Esposito or Troy Stradford? Do they belong here? Will A.J. Dillon rule them all by the time his career is all said and done? Be sure to sound off in the comments below.