CHESTNUT HILL – Penn State has earned the moniker Linebacker-U across generations, an accepted designation based on the number of WILL, MIKE, and SAM backers the program has sent to the NFL.
But the Nittany Lions’ ACC cousins from Western Pennsylvania could challenge their dominance at that position this season.
Boston College football’s (1-3, 0-2) offense will have to contend with the strongest linebackers unit it will face this season when the Eagles engage the Pittsburgh Panthers (2-2, 0-1) on Saturday (noon) at Acrisure Stadium.
“It is going to be a gritty game,” said BC slot receiver Luke McLaughlin, who grew up across the state line in Hudson, Ohio. “Coach said earlier it’s a tough city and a tough team, and so are we.
“We are a tough city and a tough team, and it is going to be a gritty game. We are all excited about the opportunity. It’s about an hour and a half from where I’m from, and I have a bunch of people coming up.”
Both teams will be looking to secure their first league wins. BC is coming off a 28-24 hard-luck home loss to California, while Pitt was on the business end of a 34-27 decision at home against Louisville. BC beat Pitt, 34-23, in last year’s regular-season finale on Nov. 30.
“We want to win,” said BC coach Bill O’Brien. “Nobody wants to win more than we do, and we are just trying to get better and get on the right track.
“The message to the team is what I’ve said all along. One play at a time, and it only takes one play to turn a game and turn a season. We are right there. We are close, but close isn’t good enough.
“It has got to start at some point, and why not this week? We have to go out there and do it. Pitt is a very good team, and they play very hard. We have to match that intensity and see what happens.”
The numbers posted by the Panthers’ three starting linebackers have been staggering over four games.
Kyle Louis is listed as a star linebacker, and the 6-foot-1, 220-pound junior has played up to the job description. Louis has registered 13 solo tackles, 12 assisted tackles, with 3.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery.
“We always have to have an eye on him (Louis),” said McLaughlin. “He is a great player, and we’ve played against him the past few years, so we know what we are going against. He is a great player with a bright future.”
Rasheem Biles is listed as the money linebacker, and Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi can bank on him playing through every snap. Biles, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound junior, leads the team in total tackles (42) with 12 solo tackles and 30 assisted tackles.
They include seven tackles for a loss, one sack, and an interception returned 75 yards for a touchdown.
Braylan Lovelace is the MIKE linebacker who anchors the Panthers’ front seven. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound junior has 13 solo tackles with 15 assisted tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, and an interception.
“He (Louis) is definitely one of the best, no doubt about it, and all three of those guys are really good,” said BC coach Bill O’Brien. “They are very highly rated guys, and the guy (Cal’s Cade Uluave) we went against last week is really good.
“These Pitt linebackers are way up there on how good they are, no doubt about it.”
BC’s ground attack was dormant in road losses against Michigan State and Stanford but enjoyed a revival of sorts against the Golden Bears. Sophomore tailback Turbo Richard led the way with a career high 171 yards on 15 carries with two touchdowns and zero fumbles.
“That is obviously something we can build off of,” said right guard Logan Taylor, who started at left tackle against Cal in place of Jude Bowry.
Richard will be hard-pressed to duplicate those numbers against Pittsburgh. The Panthers’ defense as a collective unit has 169 solo tackles, 160 assisted tackles, with 40 tackles for a loss and an ACC-best 14 sacks. Pitt has held its opponents to 296 rushing yards with an average gain of 1.8 yards per snap and 74 per game.
“Pitt on defense does a great job, and they play very hard,” said O’Brien. “They have a great scheme. They do what they do, and they believe in what they do and do it very well.
“They do a good job defensively, and they have a great pressure package and good players up front. It is going to be a good challenge for us, no doubt about it.”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.