Boston College doesn't have much to hang its hat on heading into 2017, especially considering the fact that the football team has gone 24-27 in Steve Addazio's four season campaign.
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Things just got a bit bleaker, though.
Michael Sullivan of EagleAction is reporting that linebacker and expected starter Sharrieff Grice is not just leaving the team but retiring, due to injury. According to Sullivan, the decision to retire is likely due to a concussion that Grice suffered during Boston College's spring game.
Grice was a prep football star before joining Boston College, playing for Kingswood Oxford School and being honored on the New England Preparatory Athletic Council All New England Team three times. Upon joining BC, Grice played special teams as a freshman before breaking his way onto the defense as a sophomore. He started once at middle linebacker his sophomore campaign, filling in for an injured player. He was seen as 2017's heir apparent to Matt Milano, who was just drafted by the Buffalo Bills, per Sullivan.
Milano played for seasons for Boston College, making his biggest impact as a junior and senior. He notched 58 tackles (17.5 for loss), three passes defended, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 2015, following that up with a 2016 season that saw him snag 59 tackles (12 for loss) with two passes defended, two forced fumbles and one interception taken back for a touchdown.
Losing Milano to the NFL was a big loss for Addazio and the Eagles, though having Grice there to step up and start at strong-side backer seemed to alleviate some of those concerns.
Now, according to Sullivan, Kevin Bletzer, Jimmy Martin, and John Lamot will all have a chance to crack BC's starting lineup.
In his two season college football career, Grice notched 16 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and one sack.
