Boston College extensive receiver Ryan O’Keefe had a brief hospital keep for what at first seemed to be a long-term harm.
BC coach Jeff Hafley delivered the excellent news about O’Keefe throughout his weekly press briefing on Monday morning on the Yawkey Center. O’Keefe suffered an immobilizing neck harm at 14:07 of the fourth quarter of Saturday’s 27-24 victory over Virginia at Alumni Stadium.
O’Keefe was awaiting a large receiver display cross on the BC 33 when he was violently set upon by Cavaliers’ cornerback Malcolm Greene. Both gamers required medical consideration, however O’Keefe was taken from the sphere on a stretcher and transported to Mass. General Hospital.
“Ryan is doing well and he is on the road to recovery,” mentioned Hafley. “It was actually good to see him Sunday, it was good to have him round his teammates and he got here to follow however clearly didn’t follow.
“The guys were really excited to see him and I was excited to see him. I thought our doctors and our trainers deserve a lot of credit for doing everything on the field and that was a scarry moment. But he is doing really good right now and on the road to recovery and that is the best news we could ever have.”
Hafley had no timetable on when the 5-10, 174-pound, graduate switch from Central Florida can resume follow, however he’s been dominated out for Saturday’s conflict with Army at West Point. BC enters the bye week after the Army sport and resumes ACC play at Georgia Tech on Oct. 21. In his 5 begins, O’Keefe has 23 receptions for 235 yards and a landing.
“We have to clear some things but I know he wants to get back out there,” mentioned Hafley. “His safety and his health are obviously our No. 1 concern. I would be hopeful to get him back but not at the expense of him being injured.”
O’Keefe is assessed on the depth chart because the F-receiver which is definitely the slot and the job comes with blocking duties. Hafley mentioned all of the BC cut up ends are interchangeable, however Hafley expects redshirt senior Dino Tomlin can be within the slot towards the Black Knights of the Hudson.
“Dino can backup all positions and the F for us is the slot,” mentioned Hafley. “Dino can definitely slip into Ryan’s spot and we can move Lewis (Bond) around and there some other young guys who might get a chance.”
The Odd Couple
In most situations on a university soccer crew, guys that play the identical positions are inclined to room and hang around collectively off the sphere. Those sorts of groupings come naturally however that isn’t the case with O’Keefe, who’s the roommate of Eagles left guard Kyle Hergel.
O’Keefe is a downfield burner from Austin, Texas, whereas Hergel strikes mountains within the trenches and is a Maple Leafs fan from Toronto. They do have a Lone Star connection. Hergel transferred to BC from North Texas State.
“I was pretty worried out there too and that’s my guy,” mentioned Hergel. “I got here in with him and we have been like the unique two transfers and we dwell collectively and we went via the entire course of collectively.
“I got to go to the hospital and see him quick. They let me in and I wasn’t going to let him sit there alone. I made sure I was there to see my guy.”
Goodbye Virginia
The BC protection gave a medical lesson on learn how to shut out sport towards the Cavaliers late within the fourth quarter. Down 21-7 on the half, BC rallied to take its solely lead on a 42-yard subject purpose by Liam Connor that made it 27-24 with 2:11 remaining.
The Cavaliers received the ball on the 28 yard line with 2:05 minutes remaining however managed solely seven yards earlier than turning the ball over on downs.
“The mindset for a defense is every play we’ve got to stop them and get a three and out, especially when it’s two minutes to go in the fourth quarter,” mentioned redshirt sophomore defensive deal with George Rooks, who completed with 5 tackles and 1.5 of BC’s six sacks.
“That is premium time. We have to stop them and get them off the field and I think all of us as a defense answered that.”