If you have been following us on social media over the past year, you know that I am one of the biggest Phil Jurkovec fans in college football. I believe he is one of the most underrated quarterbacks and can help Boston College become a true player in the ACC this season. He is the subject of today’s 99 Things. The talent around Jurkovec will ultimately be the reason Boston College is not able to contend for an ACC title. He should have the Eagles in the top 25 when the season is all said and done.
Jurkovec played in six games last season and only finished four of those games. He was incredibly limited throwing 20 or more passes in only three games. Boston College went 4-2 in games Jurkovec started in 2021. The team went 2-4 in games with a different starting quarterback. The average college football fan will not know who Jurkovec is but he is likely to be one of the best passers in the ACC this season.
Jurkovec finished the season throwing 17 touchdowns and only five interceptions in his first season as a starting quarterback. He led Boston College to a 6-5 record in 2020. The overall season record may not impress fans but he was able to keep his team in games against superior opponents. Boston College nearly beat Clemson (who did not have Trevor Lawerence). Jurkovec had the ball and drove into Clemson territory with less than 4 minutes remaining before throwing an interception on fourth down. He also helped keep Boston College in games against North Carolina and Notre Dame before both schools eventually pulled away.
The wide receiver core is intact to give Jurkovec plenty of weapons. His main target will be Zay Flowers who finished last season with 746 yards and five touchdowns. Flowers has a knack for making big plays as he averaged 17.0 yards per catch last season. Jaden Williams and Jaelen Gill are also likely to factor into the offensive game plan. Gill and Williams each had at least 19 receptions and over 200 yards. Jurkovec having returning playmakers is helpful for him when returning from an injury so he does not have build chemistry with new players.
The schedule is not friendly for Boston College as they play essentially 10 power five schools (if you include Notre Dame, which I do). They start the season hosting Rutgers followed by a trip to Virginia Tech. The schedule also consists of home matchups with Clemson and Louisville while they will travel to Notre Dame, NC State, Wake Forest and Florida State. A successful season with this schedule is 8-4. The Eagles will need to lean on the shoulders of Phil Jurkovec in order to get there. Watch out for Boston College this fall, they are likely to upset a team or two.
