Unsettled status for BC’s Dillon
BOSTON COLLEGE NOTEBOOK
Boston College coach Steve Addazio said AJ Dillon has made “good improvement” but was noncommittal about the injured tailback’s status for Saturday’s ACC Atlantic Division clash with Louisville at Alumni Stadium.
Dillon, the ACC preseason pick for player of the year, rolled his left ankle early in the third quarter of BC’s 4535 victory against Temple on Sept. 29. Dillon did not travel with the Eagles for a 28-23 loss to No. 23 North Carolina State Saturday.
“I just don’t know yet, and this won’t change,” Addazio said. “It will continue to be a day-to-day, week-toweek deal and it is just hard to know. He made good improvement over the weekend and he is working really hard on rehab.
“He has to get his strength back and feel good and I just don’t know when that will be.”
Dillon remains the ACC leader in rushing yards per game (130.4) but fell to second in rushing yards (652) behind Clemson sophomore Travis Etienne (761). Etienne leads the ACC in total touchdowns (12) and rushing touchdowns (11).
Dillon enjoyed a career rushing day in BC’s 45-42 upset victory at Louisville on Oct. 14, 2017. Dillon rushed for a freshman school-record 272 yards and scored a career-high four touchdowns.
Benny the jet
Redshirt sophomore Ben Glines will continue to practice with the first unit and start against Louisville if Dillon is unavailable. Glines moved into the top spot in the second half against Temple and gained 120 yards on 20 carries with a touchdown.
In his first career start, Glines rushed for 90 yards on 16 carries that included a nifty 21-yard touchdown run around left tackle in the third quarter against the Wolfpack. He later caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Anthony Brown at 11:10 of the fourth. Glines has 265 rushing yards and has caught seven passes for 106 yards and three touchdowns.
Glines is the featured back but will share the rock with third-down back Travis Levy, short-yardage specialist Davon Jones and freshman power runner David Bailey. Brown rushed the ball six times against NC State with a long gain of 28 yards.
“We got pretty accustomed to a style of play with AJ in there,” said Addazio. “What we will do now (is) trying to make sure we find the right rhythm for the new normal.”
Jackson to Pass
Appropriately named Louisville quarterback Jawon Pass has attempted to fill the biggest cleats in college football.
The redshirt sophomore inherited the job from Lamar Jackson, who was a two-time ACC Player of the Year and 2016 Heisman Trophy winner. Jackson, the ultimate dual-threat quarterback, was drafted in the first round (32nd overall) by the Baltimore Ravens.
Pass has struggled to inspire the Cardinals’ attack for coach Bobby Petrino but made progress in two recent home losses to Florida State and Georgia Tech. Pass completed 23-of35 passes for 299 yards and a pair of touchdowns and no interceptions against Georgia Tech.
Louisville is last in the ACC in scoring offense (20.5), total offense (340.2 per game) and second from the bottom in rushing offense (118.8) and passer rating efficiency (116.1) after six games.