Over the last several years, Boston College football has grappled with its fair share of kicking struggles. Last season, head coach Steve Addazio gave departing senior Colton Lichtenberg the bulk of the field goal attempts but struggled to work in freshman John Tessitore—he missed four extra points despite being pegged as the program’s future kicker.
With Danny Longman lurking in the depth chart as well, Addazio went out and ensured that he would be getting the best in the upcoming competition. After two years at Temple, kicker Aaron Boumerhi announced via social media on Wednesday afternoon that he was transferring to Chestnut Hill.
Boumerhi saw his 2018 campaign cut short with a season-ending hip surgery, and was unable to kick during spring practice with the Owls. Boumerhi was originally a walk-on with Temple back in 2016, but was an injury replacement in Week Six and quickly earned the starting job.
In 22 games with Temple, Boumerhi connected on 31-of-43 field goal attempts (72.1 percent) and buried 59-of-62 extra points. As a freshman, in just nine games, he buried 15 field goals—including a 48-yarder— and earned All-AAC Second Team honors. The next season, as the team’s starting kicker, Boumerhi played all 13 games and hit 15 field goals, one a career-long 52-yards.
His career in Philadelphia, Penn., wasn’t without its ups and downs. In a 2017 game against Army with his team trailing, 31-28, in overtime, Boumerhi stepped up with a chance to tie the game. He missed his first attempt while being iced by the Black Knights head coach, then after the reset missed another.
In 2016, though, with the Temple offense stagnating in the Military Bowl against Wake Forest, Boumerhi came up time and time again. While the Owls would drop a 34-26 nailbiter, Boumerhi sunk a career-high four field goals, including three straight in the second half to close an 14-point deficit to just five.
Boumerhi, if healthy and with two years of eligibility, immediately becomes a significant piece for the Eagles. With Lichtenberg gone, Tessitore and Longman are two unproven pieces. Tessitore played in four of the first five games last season but missed an extra point in each matchup and didn’t attempt a field goal. Longman hit the only field goal he attempted and was 3-for-3 on extra points, but his role as a kickoff specialist seems more fitting. Boumerhi, meanwhile, has all-conference honors under his belt and the opportunity to make a big mark on the BC offense upon his arrival.
Featured Image by Bradley Smart / Heights Editor
