It’s all on the line for BC
Eagles face battle in trenches with Tigers
Boston College guard Chris Lindstrom could get a sampling of what awaits in NFL when the No. 17 Eagles (7-2, 4-1) hosts No. 2 and reigning ACC champion Clemson (9-0, 6-0) tomorrow night at Alumni Stadium. The Tigers’ front four is considered the best in the country and is populated across the line by potential NFL first-round draft picks. The Tigers’ quartet includes senior Austin Bryant and junior Clelin Ferrell at the ends with graduate Christian Wilkins and junior Dexter Lawrence at tackle. “They (Wilkins and Lawrence) are two of the biggest most athletic and talented D-linemen in the country and they bring a lot of challenges with their physical ability,” said Lindstrom, a 6-3, 310-pound, senior from Dudley. “Along with that is their technique and how they use their counter moves. They bring a challenge to us.” The Tigers front four have accounted for 116 tackles, 30.5 tackles for a loss and 14.5 sacks. Clemson has the ACC’s top ranked unit in scoring defense (13.3 ppg.) and rushing defense (90.4) and second in total defense (269.2) and pass defense (178.8). Clemson leads the ACC in sacks (32) and first downs allowed with 14.4 per game. “There are so many great D-lines in the ACC this year and these guys are one of the best if not the best in the country,” said Lindstrom. “It’s a great challenge this week for our unit and we are going in every day working to perfect our assignments and have the best week we can and have our best game on Saturday.” BC has earned the moniker O-Line-U over the generations and the current crop of big experienced blockers rates with the best. Graduate center Jon Baker anchors the group flanked by Lindstrom and Sam Schmal at guard and Aaron Monteiro of Brockton and sophomore Ben Petrula at the tackles. Petrula started 12 games at center as a true freshman when Baker suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 2017 season opener at Northern Illinois. “It’s a trench game, we are going to have to play really well up front,” said BC coach Steve Addazio. “We are going to have to have the ability to run the football. “We are going to have to be smart and we are going to have to do a good job and get hats on hats and move the front a little. Very few people have had the good for- tune to be able to do that to them.” Addazio pledged to build a recruitment fence around Massachusetts and Monteiro and Lindstrom are two examples of that. But Wilkins is the one that got away even though BC was on his short list of preferable destinations. The 6-4, 315pound, Wilkins is from Springfield and prepped at Suffield Academy in Connecticut. “I really enjoyed recruiting him and getting to know him,” said Addazio. “I’m sure it will be a great thrill for him to be able to come back up here and play in front of a lot of people that love and support him.”