Jurkovec seeking fresh start
Notre Dame QB transfer trying to find place at BC
Quarterback Phil Jurkovec’s immediate future at Boston College remains uncertain, but he speaks of Notre Dame in the past tense.
The 6-foot-4, 227-pound redshirt freshman accepted coach Jeff Hafley’s invitation to transfer to Boston College because there wasn’t a sustainable future for him in South Bend, Ind.
Irish quarterback Ian Book is one of the top returning signal callers in the country and there is a deep cadre of wannabes in the room.
“I’d rather not talk too much about Notre Dame, but Ian Book is a very good player and I wish him the best,” said Jurkovec, during his first meeting with the local media on Thursday at Conte Forum.
Jurkovec combined his move to BC with an appeal to the NCAA for a waiver to the transfer rule. Jurkovec wouldn’t comment on the grounds of his appeal but if the waiver is not granted, he will have to sit out the 2020 season.
Jurkovec’s current situation has made for an amenable separation from South Bend. The BC program is transitioning to a new regime, putting Jurkovec on the starting line in terms of coaching, personnel and style of offense.
Jurkovec will be on equal footing with incumbent quarterback Dennis Grosel when spring ball begins next month under the direction of offensive coordinator
Frank Cignetti.
“I knew anywhere I was going to go there was going to be competition and the quarterbacks on the roster are very good and we’ve all been competing already,” said Jurkovec.
“But the two criteria I was looking at making the choice where to go was really about the coaches who believed in me and would develop me. I think I have a lot of room to grow.”
Jurkovec made an immediate connection with wide receiver Kobay White beyond the obvious reasons. Jurkovec is from Pittsburgh and became one of the most decorated quarterbacks in Pennsylvania history at Pine-Richland High School.
Jurkovec established his dual-threat bona fides with 11,144 total yards with 8,202 passing yards and 71 touchdowns. White is from Harrisburg, Pa., and was a decorated receiver at Bishop McDevitt, a football powerhouse of equal standing with Pine-Richland.
“Me and Phil are both from Pennsylvania and we both kind of went to two powerhouse high schools so that led to a little trash talking,” said White, who contemplated transferring out of BC when coach Steve Addazio was fired.
“Before he got here, I wasn’t working with the team so I was asking around about Phil. ‘Is he weird? Is he cool? What’s he like?’
“I heard only positive things. I’ve only been around him a few weeks but he seems like a great guy so far.”
Jurkovec’s initial climb up the Irish depth chart hit immediate roadblocks. He appeared in two games as a true freshman in 2018. Jurkovec appeared in six games last season, going 12-for-16 for 222 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 130. Jurkovec participated in the fourth quarter, piling on during ND’s 40-7 win over BC on Nov. 23.
Despite the limited touches, Jurkovec got a feel for competing at the Division 1 level while the Irish played half their schedule against ACC opponents.
“In style I think I can fit into different offenses,” said Jurkovec. “I can run the spread and the pro style and talking to coach Cignetti about what he does and I feel I can morph into different styles.”