Boston College Sophomore AJ Dillon is arguably the best running back in the nation. He’s the Preseason ACC Player of the Year, and currently ranks 3rd in the NCAA in rushing yards with 652.
The looming question as the weekend approaches is whether or not Dillon will be able to play against NC State on Saturday.
Dillon rushed for 161 yards and 2 touchdowns this past Saturday against Temple, but left the game early in the 3rd quarter after injuring his ankle, and didn’t return.
At this point, Dillon’s status for Saturday’s game is ‘questionable.’
Boston College head coach Steve Addazio didn’t have an update on Dillon’s status at his weekly press conference yesterday.
I don’t know. I just don’t know yet. As I said, I think I we got a lot of guys with a lot of dings right now, and that’s the result of being in a lot of tough games, you know.
So probably have more information as the week goes on, but right now I’m hoping to have everybody. I’m hoping that we get on the mend pretty quick here. Usually I get better feel for that by tomorrow. I wouldn’t expect some of these guys will be practicing tomorrow, to be honest with you, but I don’t think that’s a reflection on whether they will necessarily be ready to play for Saturday. (247)
You have to imagine that if there is anyway that Dillon can play on Saturday, he will find a way to play through the pain, but then again ankles are finicky, and Boston College won’t want to jeopardize his whole season for the sake of 1 game, no matter how big of a game it is.
Last year, as a freshman, Dillon carried the ball 36 times for 196 yards and 1 touchdown against NC State, and the Wolfpack still found a way to win 17-14 on the road. If you take away his 66-yard touchdown run in the 2nd quarter, the NC State defense actually did a pretty good job slowing Dillon down. Without that explosive play, the Wolfpack held him to 3.7 yards per carry.
With that being said, Dillon is a special talent. There are other players on the Golden Eagles squad that are talented, but in all reality, BC rides the coat tails of Dillon. While I wish ill will on no opposing player, even if he plays, a banged up Dillon bodes well for NC State.