Boston College has named Dylan Lonergan its starting quarterback for the 2025 season, the program announced Monday. A transfer from Alabama, Lonergan spent two seasons with the Crimson Tide before entering the portal and joining the Eagles.
Lonergan was a four-star recruit out of Brookwood High School (Georgia) in the Class of 2023 — ranked the No. 162 overall player nationally and the No. 13 quarterback in that cycle. His playing time at Alabama was limited: he appeared in three games (one in 2023, two in 2024), completed 7 of 8 passes for 35 yards and rushed for 21 yards. He used a redshirt in 2023, leaving him three seasons of eligibility remaining.
The move continues a recent trend of former Alabama quarterbacks transferring into the ACC. Pitt’s Eli Holstein, another Alabama transfer, will begin his second season as Pitt’s starter in 2025 after leaving Alabama a year earlier following coaching changes in Tuscaloosa. That transition came amid Nick Saban’s retirement and Kalen DeBoer’s arrival as Alabama’s head coach.
There is a preexisting recruiting connection between Lonergan and Boston College head coach Bill O’Brien. O’Brien served as Alabama’s offensive coordinator in 2021–22 and likely recruited Lonergan from Georgia, though during Lonergan’s two seasons at Alabama O’Brien was first with the New England Patriots and then as Boston College’s head coach.
The quarterback situation at Boston College has been unsettled in recent seasons. Last year, O’Brien benched then-starter Thomas Castellanos; Castellanos later transferred to Florida State and publicly described difficulties in the player-coach relationship. O’Brien has disputed some of Castellanos’ comments. Grayson James took over starting duties last season after Castellanos was benched; Lonergan competed with James for the job and has now been chosen to lead the offense in 2025.
Lonergan’s season debut is scheduled for August 30, when Boston College hosts Fordham. The following week the Eagles travel to face Michigan State — Lonergan’s first Power Four start — then open ACC play on the road at Stanford.
Commentary and context
– Lonergan brings high-end recruiting pedigree and developmental upside despite limited game reps. The redshirt year preserved eligibility and gives him time to grow into a full-time starter role.
– Bill O’Brien’s prior recruiting ties to Lonergan could ease the transition; O’Brien’s pro-style background and NFL experience can be an asset in preparing a young quarterback to handle a complex playbook.
– The early schedule is challenging: after a tune-up versus Fordham, Lonergan faces a Power Four opponent and a tough road start to ACC play. Those early tests will quickly reveal how ready he is to lead the offense.
– The transfer portal activity at quarterback for both BC and other ACC programs underscores how coaching changes and fit can reshuffle rosters quickly; Lonergan’s move reflects that dynamic.
Brief summary
Dylan Lonergan, a former Alabama quarterback and 2023 four-star recruit from Brookwood High (Ga.), has been named Boston College’s starting QB for 2025. He appeared in three games at Alabama, holds three seasons of eligibility after using a redshirt, and won a competition with Grayson James for the job. Lonergan debuts Aug. 30 vs. Fordham, then faces Michigan State and Stanford in back-to-back road games.
Hopeful outlook
This is a fresh start for Lonergan and for Boston College’s offense. With a coach who previously recruited him and retained eligibility to grow into the role, Lonergan has a clear opportunity to establish himself early and build momentum through a stretch of meaningful, high‑profile games.