Three Eagles Named Phil Steele 2018 Preseason All-Americans

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Three Eagles Named Phil Steele 2018 Preseason All-Americans

Will Harris, Zach Allen, and AJ Dillon earn preseason national accolades

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Boston College senior defensive end Zach Allen, senior defensive back Will Harris, and sophomore running back AJ Dillon have been named to Phil Steele’s Preseason All-America teams.

Harris collected Phil Steele Preseason All-America first-team honors as the standout senior safety has started all 26 games he has played in over the previous two seasons. Harris led the nation with four fumble recoveries in 2017 to go along with 83 tackles (third on the team). For the year, Harris totaled 5.5 TFLs, one interception, one sack and two pass breakups as a key part of one of the nation’s top pass defenses.

Allen captured Phil Steele Preseason All-America second-team accolades after one of the most dominating seasons by a defensive lineman a year ago. The New Canaan, Conn., native was just one of two defensive linemen nationally with 100 or more tackles in 2017. He finished the year with 100 tackles and led BC with six sacks and tied for 10^th in BC single-season history with 15.5 TFLs. Allen was the recipient of the 79^th annual George “Bulger” Lowe Award, “New England’s Heisman Trophy” and one of America’s oldest college football accolades last season.

Dillon was named to Phil Steele’s Preseason All-America third-team after his breakout debut as a freshman in 2017. The 2017 ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year, Dillon was the first BC player to win either award. He finished the season with 1,589 rushing yards, seventh nationally and second among all freshmen nationally. A FWAA Freshman All-American, he was the first Eagle to be named to the FWAA team since Luke Kuechly in 2009. Dillon’s 1,589 rushing yards were the most by any freshman in BC history and second in ACC history. He rushed for 1,256 rushing yards over the last seven games, the most of any player in the country.

BC opens the 2018 season at Alumni Stadium versus in-state foe UMass on Saturday, Sept. 1 at 1 p.m. Season tickets are now on sale for the 2018 campaign that features home games against Clemson, Miami and ACC foes Louisville and Syracuse. To purchase tickets, visit BCEagles.com or call 617-552-GoBC.