Last year was one that Eagles fans are hoping was an abnormality.  The team endured its first losing season since 1998 and sat out the postseason after going to 12 straight bowl games following a 4-8 season.

Offense: This year’s offense returns seven starters, including four of five offensive linemen.  That will be a plus for quarterback Chase Rettig, who is going to be molded by Doug Martin, BC’s fourth offensive coordinator in three years and a so-called “quarterback specialist.”  Rettig completed 54 percent of his passes and threw 12 touchdowns, but also tossed nine interceptions.

The team will have to do without the school’s all-time leading rusher, Montel Harris, however.  Harris was kicked off of the team in the spring due to “repeated violation of team rules.” All Harris had done was rush for 3,735 yards in three years.  Rolandan Finch will be looked to replace Harris.  Finch ran for 705 yards last year, filling in for when Harris was injured.

Rettig brings back many wide receivers, but only one starter.  The group is young, as five of the six are juniors or younger, so the potential is there.

Defense: Like the offense, the defense also returns seven starters.  Unfortunately, one who won’t be coming back, two-time All-America middle linebacker Luke Kuechy, left early for the NFL. Kuechy had 532 tackles in his Eagle career. Either highly rated freshman Steven Daniels or sophomore Sean Duggan will replace the NFL first-round draft pick.  However, the two starting outside linebackers, Kevin Pierre-Louis and Steele Divitto, return.

Despite also losing defensive end Max Holloway, the defensive line won’t be in that much trouble.  Sophomore right tackle Dominic Appiah and defensive end Kasim Edebali return as starters. And Kaleb Ramsey, a left tackles, was granted a fifth year of eligibility.

The Eagles lost their top cover corner, but Jim Noel and Sean Sylvia return as safeties. Three of the four starters are sophomores.

Recruiting: BC doesn’t bring in a large class, but it fulfills the team’s needs.  Other than Daniels, the Eagles brought in another highly rated linebacker in Tim Joy, who had 140 tackles as a senior.  The team also stocked up on wide receivers and tight ends, the best of which being 6-5 tight end Dan Crimmins.  Crimmins finished his senior year with 55 catches for 1,249 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Schedule: The schedule doesn’t help the Eagles either.  Road games include NC State, Northwestern, FSU and Ga. Tech. They should split the noncon games (Northwestern, Army, Maine, ND), but the ACC should be pretty competitive this year.