"Exploring the ACC: Bill O'Brien Embraces Transition as Boston College's Latest Head Coach"

Despite not holding a head coaching position in college football for the past decade, Bill O'Brien is not shying away from the changes that have affected the sport during his time away.

O'Brien, who took over as the coach of Boston College in February, has fully embraced the advancements of the transfer portal, the world of name, image and likeness (NIL), and the new roster limit of 105 scholarship players.

"Coaching also requires the ability to adapt," O'Brien stated at the Atlantic Coast Conference media days in Charlotte, N.C. "As the coaches I have worked for, such as Nick Saban and Bill Belichick, have always said, you must adapt to stay relevant in the game."

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"We are doing a great job of that at BC. We are adapting to the changing times with the help of our administration, particularly our athletic director Blake James. I believe we are on the right track."

A native of Boston, O'Brien previously coached at Penn State for two seasons (2012-2013) before taking on the role of head coach for the Houston Texans from 2014-2020. He then served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Alabama in 2021 and 2022, and held the same positions with the New England Patriots last season.

"I try to share my experiences and knowledge from my 32 years in this profession with my players," O'Brien explained. "I hope to play a role in helping this team improve every day, as I have had many great experiences and learned a lot."

The Eagles finished with a 7-6 record under former coach Jeff Hafley, who is now the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers. Boston College ended their 2023 season with a win over SMU in the Fenway Bowl, their first bowl victory since 2016.

O'Brien has been impressed with the talent on the Eagles' roster and believes the team is in a good position to have back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2017-2018.

"These guys, as I mentioned earlier, are punctual and fully committed to our offensive, defensive, and special teams strategies," O'Brien said. "I have enjoyed working with the staff and the people at Boston College. Nothing has surprised me, as this is a job I love coming to every day."

--Eagles quarterback Thomas Castellanos is confident that he will be a contender for the Heisman Trophy. In his first season at Boston College after transferring from UCF, Castellanos threw for 2,248 yards, rushed for 1,113 yards, and scored a total of 28 touchdowns (15 passing, 13 rushing).

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No other player in Eagles history has thrown for 2,000 yards and rushed for 1,000, and only five players (including Castellanos) have achieved this feat in the ACC since 1996.

"Last year, as a young player, I was thrown into the fire and it was a bit of a blur. I was just out there playing ball," Castellanos reflected. "This year, I will be more mature and the game will slow down for me. I believe I will be able to do more."

--Castellanos is hoping that O'Brien can help him reduce his turnovers. The rising junior threw 14 interceptions in 2023.

"We have been working hard this offseason and it has been great," Castellanos said. "I am confident that I will see a change in protecting the ball, throwing it away, sliding, and getting out of bounds."

--Drew Kendall, a native of Norwell, Mass., will be the anchor of Boston College's offensive line while also trying to follow in his father's footsteps.

Pete Kendall, a former Eagle himself, went on to have a 13-year NFL career after being selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round (21st overall) of the 1996 draft. He played in 189 games throughout his career, making 188 starts.

"I was always a huge fan of BC football growing up and attended many games," said Drew Kendall, a redshirt junior. "It was a special moment when I received an offer to play here and visualized wearing the number 66 with 'Kendall' on the back. It is a special feeling for me and my dad."

--Boston College senior defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku believes that the Eagles have the potential to reach new heights under O'Brien, who