Household names or not, the Boston College Eagles football team has had its fair share of outstanding wide receivers take the field in program history.
They may even have their highest NFL draft pick at the position yet in Zay Flowers, if projections hold true.
It’s been over 35 years since Boston College had a wide receiver drafted, when Kelvin Martin was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1987. Martin was taken as the 11th-pick of the fourth round, and is only one of six former Eagle players to be drafted at the wide receiver position.
Flowers, despite the team struggles, was a standout in 2022, and among the greats to play the position for Boston College. Here are my top-five.
Early 2000s standout for Boston College Eagles
Sorting out the back end of this list was difficult, as any number of wide receivers could have made the cut.
In the end, the nod was given to Brandon Robinson (2005-08).
Robinson’s career with Boston College was a slow progression, but by the end was a steady contributor.
His career numbers are still among the top-10 in program history. Robinson’s 2023 receiving yards rank ninth all-time and his 141 receptions are fourth best among wide receivers and sixth overall.
Robinson finished with 10 touchdowns and had five 100-yard games. He also played during one of the best stretches in Boston College history, where the Eagles went 39-14.
Playing with Matt Ryan as quarterback, Robinson’s best season was in 2007, where he caught 56 passes for 793 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Narrowly missing out on this list was Tom Waddle (1985-88), who sits just behind Robinson in receptions (139) and receiving yards (1965). One of Waddle’s finest games was a 174-yard effort vs Rutgers in 1987 and his 13 receptions in a game are tied with four others for tops in the program.
Also going without mention is Gerard Phelan (’81-84). Phelan was the receiver on the infamous “Hail Mary” from Doug Flutie and finished his career with 107 receptions, 1714 yards, and six touchdowns.
As difficult as settling on the fifth spot was, the top four wide receivers all have an argument for the top spot.
Boston College Eagles: Standout in the 80s
A three-year starter, Kelvin Martin (1983-86) remains one of the best receivers to ever don the Boston College uniform.
Martin’s distinction as the highest drafted wide receiver for Boston College could be coming to an end, but his contributions on the field won’t soon be forgotten.
His 133 career receptions are a little behind the pack but his receiving yards and touchdowns are not. Martin is fifth overall in yards with 2337 and his 28 receiving touchdowns are second.
In 1985, Martin has his finest season with Boston College, finishing with 49 receptions and 958 yards (which is still fifth-best in school history). He added nine receiving touchdowns, which was second-best to the 10 he had the season prior.
Martin also added four touchdowns in the return game, where he finished with 1012 career punt return yards. A 93-yard return against Holy Cross was a highlight; one among many that helped him eventually secure a long career in the pros.
Drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, Martin ultimately played ten seasons and for four teams. He retired with the Cowboys after the 1996-97 season, where he finished as one of the top return specialists in franchise history.
Martin’s achievements at Boston College were something special, as were those of the next player on the list.
Steady for Boston College Eagles
Rich Gunnell (2006-09) formed quite the duo with Robinson for a couple of seasons and, in the end, stood at or near the tops of the record books. Gunnell’s 181 receptions place him fourth overall (and third among receivers).
At one point, during his final game with Boston College, the 2009 Emerald Bowl, Gunnell moved into first place in career receiving yards. He finished with 2459, a mark that now places him third all-time.
Gunnell added 18 touchdowns, good for fifth on the list.
He finished with eight 100-yard games and had his best season as a sophomore. Gunnell hauled in 64 receptions that season with 931 yards.
A single-game best was saved for his senior season in a loss to Notre Dame. In that game, Gunnell had 10 receptions for 179 yards.
Though Gunnell’s pro prospects never quite materialized, aside from time spent with the Kansas City Chiefs, he has been a coach in the college game. From 2012-2021, Gunnell was with Boston College in various duties and is now the receivers and passing game coordinator at Holy Cross.
Gunnell was part of the more successful eras at Boston College in recent memory, where he was one of the last greats before Boston College turned to a running focused attack for nearly a decade.
Boston College Eagles: A class act
Prior to the middle part of the 2010s, the Boston College Eagles had one last wide receiver cement his legacy for the program: Alex Amidon.
Amidon played from 2010-13, closing his college career with two of the best season a Boston College receiver has seen. Amidon’s 78 receptions in 2012 are tied for a single-season best and his 1215 receiving yards remain tops for one season.
This was followed a truly remarkable 2013, where Amidon had 77 receptions for 1032 yards. This was in addition to an all-time great running back in Andre Williams tearing up the record books on the ground.
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When all was said and done, Amidon walked away with 191 career receptions and 2800 yards, both good for second in program history. He added 15 career touchdown receptions and tops the 100-yard games list with 11, including a 193-yard effort in a 2012 loss to Clemson
Amidon, despite his talent and stats, did not receive an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine and at one point considered putting his NFL dreams on hold to pursue being a Navy SEAL.
Amidon’s career at Boston College should forever be remembered, and would stand atop this list if not for the recent career of a future NFL pick.
Boston College Eagles: Flowers caps fabulous career
The Boston College teams during the career of Zay Flowers may have been mired in mediocrity but his play was spectacular. And, when the dust settled, his spot in Boston College history was secure.
Flowers saved the best for last on a team that struggled with injuries and a stagnant offense. In 2022, even as opponents keyed in on him, Flowers set a single-season mark for touchdown receptions (12) and tied Amidon’s record with 78 catches.
His 1077 yards in ’22 stand as third-best in program history. Flowers was rewarded by being named first team All-ACC.
Flowers finished his career with nine 100-yard games, with his best a 180-yard game in 2020 at Virginia. He also leaves Boston College as the career leader in receptions (200), yards (3056), and touchdowns (29), catching passes from no less than four different quarterbacks.
Opportunities were abound for Flowers to leave this team behind, whether after his junior season or during the struggles of ’22. But he remained committed until the end and will always be considered an all-time great.
Flowers, Amidon, and the rest of the top five earned various places in fans’ hearts. And of course, there are plenty not talked about or mentioned in the brief span of this list. Is there a receiver that was your personal favorite? A player not mentioned who should have been? Or is there an up-and-coming current Eagle who might one day crack this list? Feel free to discuss below.