Boston College has QB concerns as Duke game looms

Boston College has a starting quarterback quandary going into Friday night’s (7) ACC encounter with the Duke Blue Devils at Alumni Stadium.

BC starter Phil Jurkovec was injured on his 14th run of the game in last Saturday’s humbling 13-3 loss at UConn. Jurkovec was upended and took a hard tumble to the turf in the fourth quarter and did not return. Jurkovec was replaced by redshirt freshman Emmett Morehead, who closed out the game.

Jurkovec did not practice on Monday or Tuesday and his status was listed as day-to-day going into the media blackout. BC coach Jeff Hafley said Jurkovec would play if his undisclosed condition cleared up by game time. But there is a real possibility the 6-5, 229-pound Morehead will get his first career start.

“It’s hard because there are limited reps as it is this late in the season and the starter has to get most of them,” said Hafley. “Obviously with Phil out, Emmett got the reps, which is helpful in case he does have to play.”

Duke first-year head coach Mike Elko is not facing the same concerns coming off a bye week. The Blue Devils’ 6-4, 212-pound field general, Riley Leonard, has emerged as one of the ACC’s most efficient dual threat quarterbacks, leading the team in rushing and passing.

Leonard’s dual threat capabilities are more in line with Syracuse quarterback Garrett Shrader than Louisville uber athlete Malik Cunningham, but his combined numbers are some of the best in the ACC.

“He’s a big guy,” said Hafley. “He’s tall, he’s thick, he throws the ball well down the field and he’s their leading rusher so he definitely wants to turn it up and run.”

Duke averages 34.4 points per game with 177 first downs and a healthy balance of 1,641 rushing yards and 1,736 passing in eight contests.

Leonard ranks fifth on the ACC in totals yards with 271.75 per game. Leonard has completed 143 of 223 pass attempts for a 64.1 percentage, 1,693 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. He has rushed for 481 net yards on 78 carries with eight touchdowns.

“He’s got a strong arm and his completion percentage is pretty high,” said Hafley. “He has been a really good fit on the offense they run.”

 

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/GIBAyzE