Boston College Eagles quarterback Thomas Castellanos runs into the Southern Methodist Mustangs during the first half of an NCAA football game at the Wasabi Fenway Bowl at Fenway Park in Boston, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. throws out safety Jonathan McGill (2). (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
When Bill O'Brien was hired as Boston College's 37th head football coach, it was hailed as the beginning of a prosperous new era in the Heights.
Then the fanfare died down and the real work of coaching began. O'Brien began the process of establishing a team culture and implementing new systems on both sides of the line of scrimmage on Monday morning inside Fish Fieldhouse for the start of spring football.
“It's really about taking it one day at a time. We need to be a hard-working, smart team, and we need to be a team that plays physically and mentally tough,” O'Brien said. “We have to become a team that can't lose to us.
“Do a good job of staying onside at the line of scrimmage, positioning yourself correctly, understanding the calls and executing correctly on both sides of the ball and on special teams. The important thing for the first day is creating that culture,” he said. It starts in the weight room.”
O'Brien replaced Jeff Hafley, who left after four seasons to become the Green Bay Packers' defensive coordinator. O'Brien and Hafley approach the task of program development from a variety of perspectives.
O'Brien was an offensive mastermind who specialized in developing quarterbacks, while Hafley was more defensively focused with an emphasis on the secondary. Both coaches have had success at the NFL and FBS levels.
Mr. Hafley's departure was sudden, but it didn't leave him with an empty cupboard. Coach O'Brien took over a nearly unblemished team that won seven games, including a 23-14 upset victory in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl on Dec. 28 at Fenway Park.
On the first day, many media members watched practice from the sideline, and all eyes were on second-year quarterback Tomas Castellanos, a transfer from Central Florida. He has emerged as one of the most dynamic two-way field generals in the Power 5. .
Castellanos led BC with 215 carries, 13 touchdowns and 1,113 net yards in 12 regular season games and 11 starts. He completed 189 of 330 passes for 2,248 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 14 picks. Castellanos' 3,361 yards of total offense are the third-most by a BC quarterback behind Matt Ryan and Doug Flutie.
Castellanos has been described as a runner who can throw, but O'Brien feels he could be the complete package.
“He's really bought into the system, he's worked very hard, and he's taking it one day at a time and trying to get better every day,” O'Brien said. “But he's definitely a guy who can do both, there's no doubt about it. I think he's a really good football player and I'm glad we got him.”
There was speculation that Castellanos entered the NCAA transfer portal in search of a better playing opportunity with greater potential in the NIL, leveraging his skills and name recognition. Transfer rumors surfaced after the Eagles' win over SMU, with Castellanos rushing for 155 yards and two touchdowns in blustery, wet conditions. However, Castellanos claimed after the match that he would return to BC, but that was long before O'Brien became involved.
“I knew I was going to come back,” Castellanos said. “They gave me the keys to this place with Coach Hafley, and Boston embraced me as part of the family in their community. decided to stay.”
Despite a patchwork scheme devised by co-offensive coordinators Steve Chudzinski and Steve Simko, Castellanos found success in 2023.
O'Brien and offensive coordinator Will Lawing implemented multiple pro-set offenses that aim to take advantage of Castellanos' creative side. O'Brien hopes to incorporate some of what he did for Bill Belichick in New England and Nick Saban in Alabama.
“We’re going to do a lot of different things, play multiple roles within the human resources group, play multiple roles in planning, and utilize everything he can do.
“I think that's the key. That's the type of system we run, a quarterback-centric system of who the quarterback can do and what he can do, and he can do a lot.
“Of all the players I've ever worked with, the most successful players have had a sense of anticipation and the ability to get it done quickly. Good decision making knowing the rush is coming.” person.”
O'Brien worked with Tom Brady in New England and with Deshaun Watson as head coach of the Houston Texans. At the college level, he developed Bryce Young into a Heisman Trophy winner and drafted Mac Jones into the Patriots' 2021 first-round draft pick. Castellanos agreed to O'Brien's pitch after the first meeting.
“You see a lot of passing the ball, a lot of times you see him throwing the ball down the field and trying to make explosive plays,” Castellanos said. “We have a lot of good receivers, so we try to get the ball in their hands and let them make plays.
“I feel like this year is going to be a year where even more time has passed and I’m going to grow and refine myself even more. When we acquired him, I was really excited because he’s worked with some great quarterbacks in the NFL and in college. did.”
