Boston College extensive receiver Lewis Bond started coaching camp for the 2023 season seeking to get seen.
While portal switch Thomas Castellanos was supplanting incumbent Emmett Morehead for the beginning quarterback’s place, Bond adopted swimsuit by enhancing his standing within the extensive receiver’s room.
In his first two seasons on the Heights, the 5-11, 188-pound redshirt sophomore from Chicago, Ill., appeared in eight video games with six receptions for 57 yards.
Bond labored his strategy to the highest of Castellanos’ targets record and can make his thirteenth begin when the Eagles (6-6) interact the Mustangs of SMU (11-2) within the second annual Wasabi Fenway Bowl on Dec. 28 at Fenway Park.
“It started with practice and making sure you are running the right routes every time in seven-on-seven with the team,” mentioned Bond. “When you’re down there training within the pink zone it’s a must to be dependable so within the sport, he (Castellanos) trusts you.
“Then you just have to take advantage of your opportunities in the game.”
BC will likely be taking part in in its first bowl sport since 2019, a lopsided 38-6 loss to Cincinnati within the Birmingham Bowl. BC was bowl eligible in 2020 however voted as a staff to not take part. BC’s sport with East Carolina within the Military Bowl in Annapolis, Md., in 2021 was cancelled when 40 gamers examined constructive for the coronavirus.
“I am excited to play and that’s the biggest thing in the group, especially the receiver group,” mentioned Bond. “My freshman year we didn’t play. We had gotten all the way down to D.C. and the day of the game it got cancelled. So, we are excited to play in a bowl game.”
Bond emerged because the Eagles’ chief in receptions, yards and touchdowns as a result of he can play all-three wideout positions and blocks like a demon down discipline. Bond is sixth within the ACC with 48 receptions for 611 yards and 7 touchdowns. Bond is the Eagles’ most dependable choice within the pink zone with practically half of BC’s 15 receiving touchdowns.
“I think we get a lot of zone coverage in the field and when we get to the red zone it is more one on one,” mentioned Bond. “You have to use the techniques we’ve been working on all year to win your one on ones.”
Bond was the proper complementary receiver to burner Ryan O’Keefe, a stretch-the-field cut up finish who transferred to BC from Central Florida together with Castellanos.
Bond’s state of affairs modified when O’Keefe suffered a season-ending neck harm within the second half of the Eagles; 27-24 win over Virginia on Sept. 30 at Alumni Stadium. Despite taking part in in 4 and a half video games, O’Keefe is fourth on the staff with 23 receptions for 235 yards and a landing.
“We have missed Ryan throughout the season but we came together and I think we have had a successful year,” mentioned Bond. “I think we could have a few little things better and that is what we are working on now, the small details to get better and to move on to the bowl game and next year.”
Castellanos has emerged as one of many premier twin risk quarterbacks within the ACC. Castellanos is third within the nation in speeding yards by a quarterback with 957 and fifth in touchdowns with 11, which tied him with Tyler Murphy for the college file.
Castellanos has accomplished 178-of-312 passes for two,146 yards with 15 touchdowns and 13 picks. His potential to increase performs has allowed the receivers to seek out holes within the zone and accumulate yards after the catch.
“We have been taught to get on his arm as fast as we can and keep the play alive,” mentioned Bond. “We have to separate from the DB’s, because once he scrambles it becomes man again.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com