There was a recurring theme from the players who spoke at Boston College football’s 2026 Pro Day—it was great to come back home and show what they could do in front of players and coaches they knew well.
“I think I did a lot better when it comes to movement than I did at the combine,” offensive tackle Jude Bowry said. “I was more comfortable in the atmosphere, old teammates, new teammates, coming in and showing support.”
It was an especially big day for wide receiver Lewis Bond, who was not invited to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine despite setting BC’s single-season (88) and all-time (213) reception records, plus earning All-ACC Second Team honors.
“I was proud to showcase what I could do,” Bond said. “Just to showcase what I could do, prove that I could run routes, prove that I could play at the next level.”
BC head coach Bill O’Brien had some high praise for Bond, too.
“Lewis Bond is one of the best players to ever play here,” O’Brien said. “For him not to be invited to the combine … I think Lewis has a real good shot to get drafted.”
While Bond performed well on Monday in Fish Field House, he is glad to move past the metrics and measurements of Pro Day and focus on playing football again.
“This was probably the hardest part—this is the non-football part,” Bond said. “It’s good to be over. It’s good to be back to football.”
The players also talked about how important it is to have a legacy of former BC players in the NFL to lean on, especially last year’s selections: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Ozzy Trapilo, and Drew Kendall.
“I leaned on [Ezeiruaku] when it comes to everything,” Quintayvious Hutchins said. “I look at Donovan as a role model.”
Bowry discussed the influence that fellow offensive linemen Trapilo and Kendall had on his time at BC.
“It was great to have [Trapilo and Kendall] in the locker room, and, you know, in a meeting room,” Bowry said. “As leaders, and to show you what to do to get to the next level.”
O’Brien mentioned that BC alumni aren’t just valued on the Heights—they are also standing out in NFL locker rooms across the league.
“Boston College is held in high regard,” O’Brien said, citing former Eagle Zach Allen, who visited with the team last week. “You’re talking about guys of high character, really good football players, tough guys, dependable guys … The NFL locker room is a sacred place to be. BC guys fit right in there.”
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel attended Pro Day.
“It was pretty cool,” Bowry said. “It was genuine—like, [Vrabel] took the time out to seek something in me, to like, stop his day to say something to me.”
BC’s outgoing players spoke about what getting drafted would mean to them. They all shared a similar sentiment.
“It would mean everything,” Bond said. “It would just show that the work I put in for the last five years here at BC meant something.”
How do these now-former Eagles stay focused on the task at hand as the NFL Draft approaches? For Bowry, it’s all about the attitude.
“You never want to be negative,” he said. “Negativity is not going to help you get through a lot of things. So I’d rather see the positive side.”
