Boston College quarterback Phil Jurkovec took a refresher course by studying issues the Manning approach.
For the second straight summer season, Jurkovec served as a counselor to highschool athletes whereas additional growing his personal expertise on the Manning Passing Academy at Nicholls State University in Louisiana.
Jurkovec introduced items of what he realized on the Bayou from Peyton and Eli Manning again to Chestnut Hill and put them to make use of throughout the Eagles’ coaching camp all through the canine days of August.
The Notre Dame switch begins his third and ultimate season on the Heights on Saturday in opposition to Rutgers.
“The Mannings were great in the camp and talking to them and seeing how they operate was a very cool experience,” mentioned Jurkovec. “You learn to take care of folks the way in which the Mannings do with their experience in soccer and their soccer information.
“You try to achieve every thing you’ll be able to from them and it was good. Most of it was psychological, conversations with the Mannings actually, and we did a few exercises on the market on the sphere.
“The Mannings were coaching us up on some techniques. They could make all the throws and they know the game so well to be played at the highest level.”
Jurkovec labored alongside and brainstormed with the perfect returning faculty quarterbacks from the key conferences. The group included ACC Atlantic Division rivals Sam Hartman of Wake Forest, Clemson’s Hunter Helms, and Devin Leary of North Carolina State. Jurkovec had a chance to eye the competitors in his pursuit of the Manning Award, given yearly to the nation’s high quarterback.
“I talked to a bunch of guys, but I don’t know if I was close with anybody,” mentioned Jurkovec. “I obtained to bounce round and discuss to quite a lot of guys from throughout the nation.
“It was kind of like a conference. You get all the quarterbacks from across the country together and we just bounced ideas off each other.”
The Eagles offense underwent some substantial turnover within the offseason, after going 6-6 general, 2-6 within the ACC in 2021. BC was denied participation within the Military Bowl in opposition to East Carolina on account of COVID restrictions.
John McNulty changed Frank Cignetti as offensive coordinator and Dave DeGuglielmo took over as offensive line coach whereas 4 starters on the OL decamped for the NFL. BC coach Jeff Hafley felt Jurkovec’s participation within the Manning Passing Camp was an excellent crossover between spring ball and coaching camp.
“I told him to go have fun,” mentioned Hafley. “I requested him the way it went and he mentioned ‘great’ and that was just about it.
“It is a great experience to learn and ask questions and kind of eye up the competition and see what it is like. I did ask him if there was anyone as big as him and he just kind of smirked. Wait until you see how big he is and he’s got some zip on the ball.”
Jurkovec came to visit from Notre Dame in January 2020, however this in his first actual alternative to make a totally ready wire-to-wire run.
Jurkovec signed on with BC beneath new administration when Hafley changed Steve Addazio. COVID adopted, eliminating the pure progressions made by a brand new employees with a brand new quarterback and disrupting spring ball and coaching camp.
Jurkovec performed past expectations in his first season. He began 10 video games and handed for two,558 yards and 17 touchdowns whereas exploiting the formidable abilities of large receiver Zay Flowers and tight finish Hunter Long (Dolphins).
There was hypothesis Jurkovec would declare eligible for the NFL draft after the 2021 season. Those aspirations have been disposed within the second recreation when he broke his passing hand within the Eagles’ opening drive at UMass on Sept. 11.
Jurkovec accelerated his rehabilitation and returned after lacking six video games. He loved a profession recreation in BC’s 41-30 victory at Georgia Tech on Nov. 13 at Bobby Dodd Stadium. He rushed for 71 yards and landing runs of 8, 14 and 31 yards. Jurkovec accomplished 13-of-20 passes for 310 yards and two touchdowns to be named ACC Quarterback of the Week.
“The way he ran and he’s 235 (pounds) and he took off,” mentioned Hafley. “He’s fast and we all kind of saw that and he threw some big balls in the pocket. But I would say it was the speed he showed in that game that’s he’s the whole package.”
Jurkovec is at a vital juncture in his profession. He wants BC to succeed whereas personally standing out amongst his friends to take his recreation to the following degree. McNulty has factored each of these into the brand new system.
“It’s going really well and he’s really embraced everything we are trying to do,” mentioned McNulty. “He’s been in excessive spirits out right here and he’s been enjoying at a excessive degree.
“It’s his final yr to win as many video games as attainable to arrange his future. I feel at first it was this entire new system and what’s this going to be and he’s obtained so much driving on it.
“I think we have both gotten to know each other really well. We’ve had great open lines of communication of what he likes and what he doesn’t like.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com