Although Boston College will not begin spring football drills until next month, Eagles coach Steve Addazio could not wait to get started Wednesday after BC signed 30 recruits, many of whom Addazio predicted would make an immediate impact.
Last year Addazio had to scramble to put together a recruiting class less than a month after taking the BC job Dec. 4, 2012. “We were able to bring in a couple of guys and I didn’t really know those guys really well,” he said. “We’re really fortunate, because a handful of those guys are going to be really, really good players.
“But this is a class that we put a full year into and we know them very well and any time you sign 30 that’s a large number and you need to know them well,’’ he said. “Because the more guys you sign, the higher rate there are for some misses, but we feel great about this class.
“There’s some high-end players in this class. We’re going to be able to really build off this.’’
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The signees include a pair of University of Florida transfers, quarterback Tyler Murphy and offensive lineman Ian Silberman, both of whom already have enrolled at school as mid-year transfers.
Silberman, a 6-foot-5-inch, 303-pounder from Fleming Island, Fla., appeared in 20 games for the Gators and made seven starts. Murphy, a 6-2, 206-pounder from Wethersfield, Conn., started six games for the Gators in 2013 and completed 112 of 185 passes for 1,216 yards and 6 TDs.
“Ian brings great experience at a high level,’’ Addazio said. “And, obviously, Tyler brings experience as a starting veteran quarterback in a top conference.’’
With the departure of quarterback Chase Rettig, a 46-game starter, Murphy likely will compete with dual-threat QB Darius Wade, a 6-2, 195-pounder from Middletown, Del., who was one of five incoming freshmen to enroll early at the school. Also on board is standout Natick QB and BC legacy Troy Flutie (son of Darren Flutie), who passed for 9,014 career yards and a state-record 112 touchdowns.
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“We lost a guy who started a lot of games here and we wanted to make sure that we had an opportunity to bring someone in here who’s done it and has had a lot of experience,’’ Addazio said of Murphy. “Tyler, to me, is a BC guy. He probably should have been here right from the get-go. I think he really loves and enjoys everything about the atmosphere at BC and he grew up about an hour and 15 minutes from here.
“They all can run and they all have got some real magic to them,” Addazio added about his QBs. “I’m really excited about all of them, but it’s really good when you have a good older guy who can really mentor them.”
The Eagles also signed running backs Jonathan Hilliman, a 6-foot, 215-pounder from Plainfield, N.J., and Marcus Outlow, a 6-foot, 210-pounder from Norwich, Conn.
“We have an identity, and that’s being big and physical and [having] the ability to run it, and we won’t lose that,’’ Addazio said. “But we’ll add in some spread-option components and more spread sets in the throw game.
“We’re going to give the defense more conflict, make them defend the field more.’’
Addazio indicated that backup QB Josh Bordner, a 6-4, 220-pound senior who appeared to be in the running to replace Rettig, will become a hybrid tight end/receiver.
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Seven of the players, including Flutie and St. Sebastian’s linebacker Connor Strachan, another BC legacy, are from Massachusetts.
BC landed six defensive linemen, including four-star defensive end Harold Landry, a 6-3, 258-pounder from Spring Lake, N.C.
“I’m really excited about our class and I really feel like we filled some real needs,” Addazio said. “Just a great group of guys. I really couldn’t be happier.’’
Michael Vega can be reached at vega@globe.com.