BC Finally Picks Their QB: Dylan Lonergan Gets the Nod Over James in What Took Way Too Long

Well, well, well. Boston College fans can finally exhale – sort of. After what felt like an eternity of quarterback drama that would make a soap opera jealous, head coach Bill O’Brien has officially named Dylan Lonergan as the starting quarterback for the 2025 season. And honestly? It’s about time someone made a decision around there.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the redshirt sophomore Alabama transfer will get his shot to lead the Eagles when they face Fordham on August 30th. Now, before we all start planning the parade route, let’s remember this is the same program that managed to turn last season’s quarterback situation into a complete disaster with Thomas Castellanos.

Why Lonergan Makes Sense (Finally)

Let’s be real here – this decision shouldn’t have taken eight practices to figure out. Lonergan comes with some serious pedigree, being ESPN‘s No. 36 overall recruit in the Class of 2023. The kid put up video game numbers in high school at Brookwood High School in Georgia, completing over 63% of his passes for 3,392 yards and 32 touchdowns against just three interceptions. Oh, and he added 645 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground for good measure.

But here’s the kicker – O’Brien actually recruited Lonergan to Alabama when he was the offensive coordinator there. So it’s not like they’re strangers playing matchmaker through the transfer portal. When your coach follows you from one program to another, that tells you something about the relationship and belief system already in place.

The 6-foot-2, 211-pound quarterback didn’t exactly light up the stat sheet at Alabama, but let’s cut him some slack. Completing 5-of-6 passes for 23 yards and picking up 16 rushing yards isn’t exactly a sample size that screams “bust.” It’s more like “didn’t get a fair shot behind Jalen Milroe and company.”

What This Means for Grayson James

Poor Grayson James. The senior quarterback stepped up last season when the Castellanos situation imploded, starting six games and doing his best to keep the ship from completely sinking. But apparently, experience and loyalty only get you so far when a shiny new Alabama transfer shows up on campus.

James has been nothing if not professional about the whole ordeal, but you have to wonder what’s going through his mind. He cleaned up O’Brien’s mess last year, and now he’s watching from the sidelines as Lonergan gets handed the keys to the offense. College football can be brutal, and this is just another reminder of how quickly things can change.

The O’Brien Factor and Trust Issues

Let’s address the elephant in the room – Bill O’Brien’s quarterback management hasn’t exactly been stellar. The way he handled the Castellanos situation left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth, and now he’s asking BC fans to trust him with another quarterback decision.

Castellanos has been pretty vocal about his issues with O’Brien, and while coaches and players don’t always see eye to eye, the public nature of their falling out wasn’t exactly a good look for anyone involved. Now, O’Brien gets a fresh start with Lonergan, someone he personally recruited and has a history with. Maybe that existing relationship will prevent another mid-season quarterback controversy.

What BC Fans Should Expect

Here’s the thing about Lonergan – he’s got talent, but he’s also relatively inexperienced at the college level. Three games of action at Alabama doesn’t exactly prepare you for the grind of being a starting quarterback in the ACC. The good news is that he’s got the physical tools and the football IQ that made him a highly-rated recruit in the first place.

The Eagles open with Fordham, which should be a nice confidence-building exercise before things get real. But then it’s off to Michigan State and a road game against Stanford to kick off ACC play. Those games will tell us a lot more about what Lonergan can do when the lights get bright and the pressure mounts.

The Bottom Line on Boston College’s QB Decision

At the end of the day, O’Brien made the call that probably should have been obvious from the start. Lonergan brings more upside than James, and at this point, BC needs upside more than they need safe plays. The program has been stuck in neutral for too long, and maybe a quarterback with something to prove is exactly what they need.

Will Lonergan be the answer to Boston College‘s offensive struggles? Who knows. But at least O’Brien finally picked a direction and committed to it. Now the real test begins when the games start counting, and we’ll see if this Alabama transfer can live up to the hype that followed him from Tuscaloosa to Chestnut Hill.

One thing’s for sure – Eagles fans better hope this works out better than the last quarterback drama, because another mid-season implosion might just send everyone over the edge.