{"id":5087,"date":"2026-07-16T19:36:58","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T19:36:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=5087"},"modified":"2026-07-16T19:36:58","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T19:36:58","slug":"boston-college-football-knows-it-has-a-lot-to-prove-after-2-10-campaign-and-other-acc-kickoff-takeaways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=5087","title":{"rendered":"Boston College football knows it has a lot to prove after 2-10 campaign, and other ACC Kickoff takeaways"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

As Boston College football transfers Mason McKenzie and Anthony Palano arrived at ACC Kickoff in Charlotte, N.C., early Thursday morning, both took a moment to reflect on how far they have come.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more New law puts question to N.H. voters: Should a property tax cap apply to your local schools?<\/a><\/p>\n

McKenzie, a dual-threat quarterback who played three years at Division 2 Saginaw Valley State, found himself sitting next to Jimbo Fisher and shaking James Franklin\u2019s hand. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust guys I\u2019ve grown up watching, then you\u2019re sitting in the same room with them, is really cool,\u201d McKenzie said. \u201cI definitely was a little taken aback by it. It\u2019s just a surreal experience.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Palano, a versatile linebacker whose only offer out of high school came from South Dakota State, has immediately established himself as a leader after transferring from Washington State. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like it\u2019s a full-circle moment,\u201d Palano said. \u201cI\u2019m truly blessed. It was definitely cool to step off that plane and represent something that\u2019s bigger than myself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Palano and McKenzie, joined by coach Bill O\u2019Brien and veteran defensive back KP Price, encapsulate the underdog mentality of this year\u2019s team. Coming off a 2-10 season, with a half-new roster and low expectations from the outside, the Eagles are determined to prove people wrong.<\/span><\/p>\n

O\u2019Brien believes it\u2019s a much-improved group, but he made it clear the Eagles have to execute on the field.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI feel really good about the chemistry of the team, the talent of the team, I feel good about the coaching,\u201d O\u2019Brien said. \u201cI think we\u2019re on the right track.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are four takeaways:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
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No quarterback controversy<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Much of the conversation last season centered around the quarterback battle between Dylan Lonergan and Grayson James. <\/span><\/p>\n

This year, there is no debate and no discussion. Until further notice, the redshirt junior McKenzie (6 feet, 1 inch, 200 pounds) is the starter.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been the No. 1 guy since he arrived here,\u201d O\u2019Brien said.<\/span><\/p>\n

O\u2019Brien said the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is very competitive, noting that Ole Miss star Trinidad Chambliss made a name for himself from Ferris State. <\/span><\/p>\n

He called McKenzie a \u201cwinner\u201d and highlighted his intelligence, leadership, and rare skill set.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always been told I\u2019m too small, not big enough, not fast enough, can\u2019t throw the ball well enough,\u201d McKenzie said. \u201cIt\u2019s how it\u2019s been my whole life, but I\u2019ve always been able to perform.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

Palano\u2019s place<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

It\u2019s rare for a defensive player in his first year with a program to attend ACC Kickoff. The fact that O\u2019Brien chose Palano (6-1, 230) shows how much trust he has in his ability to lead and perform on the field. <\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Red Sox pitcher Payton Tolle just got married and celebrated at this North End restaurant<\/a><\/p>\n

Palano, a redshirt sophomore, called it \u201can honor\u201d to represent BC and Boston in Charlotte.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBeing able to establish myself as a leader, I feel like it started when I transferred here,\u201d Palano said. \u201cAll the guys who were already here, and who transferred in, welcomed everybody with open arms. You could start building trust right away. It\u2019s super important to start that process early.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

O\u2019Brien credited Palano for attacking every day and said he has brought a lot to the program already.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s tough, he can run, he\u2019s a great communicator,\u201d O\u2019Brien said. \u201cI have really high hopes for him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Palano and his sidekicks will have their hands full fortifying a defense that allowed the most rushing yards in the conference last season.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

Staying home <\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Price (6-2, 205) said it was a \u201creally easy\u201d decision to return to Boston College. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the place I belong,\u201d Price said. \u201cI was called to it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

While leadership is spread throughout the roster, the savvy senior Price is the undisputed top dog. He said he relishes his role and loves helping his teammates acclimate.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a lot of new faces, but what\u2019s crazy about it is that I feel like this is the closest our team has ever been since I\u2019ve been here,\u201d Price said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

Chudzinski sidelined <\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Up-and-coming tight end Kaelan Chudzinski is expected to miss the season with an Achilles injury.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Needham native and St. Sebastian\u2019s product established himself as one of the best freshmen in the ACC last year. Chudzinski (6-3, 240), the son of current BC senior offensive analyst and former NFL head coach Rob Chudzinski, contributed 24 catches for 313 yards and four touchdowns.<\/span><\/p>\n

He suffered the injury in spring practice and is progressing through rehab. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you asked him, he\u2019d tell you he\u2019s coming back this season, but chances are that probably isn\u2019t the case,\u201d O\u2019Brien said. \u201cHe\u2019ll be back with us in January.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In Chudzinski\u2019s absence, redshirt freshman Bryce Lewis is moving from the defensive line to tight end. Lewis (6-6, 245), the son of former Eagles defensive coordinator Tim Lewis, played tight end in high school. <\/span><\/p>\n

Standout wide receiver Jaedn Skeete (6-2, 200), a Hyde Park native and Catholic Memorial product, is back after missing the spring with a shoulder injury.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Bruins announce full 2026-27 schedule, will retire Patrice Bergeron\u2019s No. 37 on Dec. 1 before game vs. Avalanche<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Coach Bill O\u2019Brien believes it\u2019s the Eagles have a much-improved group, but he made it clear they have to execute on the field.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5086,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5087","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sport"],"yoast_head":"\nBoston College football knows it has a lot to prove after 2-10 campaign, and other ACC Kickoff takeaways - Boston Relocation Insider<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=5087\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Boston College football knows it has a lot to prove after 2-10 campaign, and other ACC Kickoff takeaways - 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