Boston College’s football team is in a bye week. Only one game remains against Syracuse before the offseason kicks in.
The 2025 offseason should be busy—recruiting, coaching changes, and transfer portal news are all on the horizon. To get ahead of it all, let’s dig into a postseason look at Boston College’s transfer portal class, the first for head coach Bill O’Brien.
This class brought in 16 transfers, and their impact has varied widely. Here’s how these players have fared this season—some hit, some missed, and some are still question marks.
Quarterback Performance: Dylan Lonergan’s Rollercoaster Season
Boston College picked up Dylan Lonergan from the portal, thanks to his connection with Bill O’Brien at Alabama. Lonergan flashed early in spring and quickly won the starting job over Grayson James in the summer.
He started the season hot, especially against Fordham and Michigan State. In those two games, he threw for a combined 657 yards and eight touchdowns.
Mid-Season Struggles and Resurgence
But then Lonergan’s performance dipped as the season rolled on. He got benched against UConn, bounced back against Notre Dame, then sat again.
When James struggled against SMU, Lonergan returned and played solidly against SMU and Georgia Tech. Right now, he’s got 2,051 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and five picks to his name.
Wide Receiver and Special Teams: V.J. Wilkins and Shamus Florio
Expectations ran high for Campbell transfer V.J. Wilkins, aka “Rocket.” He came in to add depth at wide receiver, but things didn’t go as planned.
Wilkins battled a nagging injury most of the fall. He had a couple big catches early but was mostly quiet, with Dawson Pough taking over his snaps. No one’s really sure what’s next for Wilkins.
Special Teams Contributions
Shamus Florio won the starting punter job out of camp, beating out true freshman Andy Quinn. Florio has been a noticeable upgrade, averaging 38.2 yards per punt.
His performance has been up and down—great games against Fordham and UConn, but rough ones like Georgia Tech. Still, he’s a steady option overall. Ben Mann, a long snapper from Yale, has played 54 snaps and been a regular on special teams.
Defensive Line and Linebackers: Key Transfers and Their Impact
The defensive line got a boost from several transfers. DL Makai Byerson, coming from West Virginia, stepped in because of injuries and played in seven games, tallying five tackles and two quarterback hurries.
Even while fighting his own injuries, Byerson played a key role for the defense.
Defensive Standouts
Chris Marable Jr. from Wake Forest became a leader at defensive tackle, playing 413 snaps with 13 tackles and a sack. His best game was against Fordham, but he also showed up big against Georgia Tech.
E’lla Boykin, who came from Division II Barton College, played all but one game. His best showing came against Georgia Tech, where he had four tackles.
Offensive Line and Running Backs: Contributions and Conversions
Tommy Matheson, a Princeton transfer, started at left guard against UConn and earned a 56.2 grade for that game. Vaughn Pemberton, who arrived as a running back from Ball State, switched to defense after injuries hit the roster.
He played one snap on defense against Stanford and contributed on special teams in nine games, recording a tackle and an assist.
Running Back Depth
Pemberton’s versatility is a good reminder of how unpredictable college football can be. His work on special teams stood out, and his willingness to change positions helped the team’s depth.
Late Arrivals and Their Roles
Mike Bumpus finished his degree at Brown and joined Boston College in the summer. He became valuable on defense later in the season, playing decent snaps against UConn, SMU, Georgia Tech, and Notre Dame, with three tackles and a hurry.
Even as a late arrival, Bumpus made his presence felt on defense.
Under-the-Radar Performers
Amir Johnson, from Merrimack, played seven snaps in the opener and chipped in on special teams, earning a PFF grade of 64.2. Onye Nwosisi from Valparaiso and Chuck Nnaeto both played limited snaps but flashed some potential.
Nwosisi finished with four tackles and a QB hit, while Nnaeto logged three tackles against Clemson. Both could return next season if they want to use their eligibility.
Future Prospects and Offseason Storylines
The 2025 offseason could get interesting. V.J. Wilkins’ future is up in the air, and whether he sticks around or hits the portal again is anyone’s guess.
Players like Onye Nwosisi and Chuck Nnaeto, with eligibility left, might take on bigger roles if they come back. There’s a lot to watch as the next chapter unfolds.
Building on This Season
Boston College’s transfer portal class under Bill O’Brien brought a mix of ups and downs this season. Some players really stood out, while others quietly made the roster deeper and more flexible.
The Eagles are getting ready for their last game against Syracuse. Looking ahead, how these transfers performed could seriously shape the team’s direction.
If you’re curious for more details about Boston College’s transfer portal class and how they did this year, check out the full article on 247Sports.
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