By Tiffany Williams –
In the 2025 NFL Draft, a trio of talented Boston College players were selected to join the ranks of professional football.
Defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku was chosen by the Dallas Cowboys with the 44th overall pick in the second round, followed by offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo, who was picked 56th overall by the Chicago Bears also in the second round. Rounding out the group, center Drew Kendall was selected in the fifth round as the 168th overall pick by the Philadelphia Eagles.
With these selections, Boston College has now seen a remarkable total of 227 players drafted into the NFL.
Ezeiruaku’s ascent to the Cowboys not only makes him the 224th all-time BC player to be drafted but also extends Boston College’s streak of alumni hearing their names called at the NFL Draft to an impressive 11 consecutive years. During the 2024 season, he achieved the prestigious honor of being named a consensus All-American, a distinction only awarded to a select few. His accolades included First Team honors from the American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press, and Sporting News, while also receiving Second Team recognition from the Walter Camp Football Foundation. This marked a significant resurgence for BC, as Ezeiruaku became the first All-American from the university since 2022 and the first consensus All-American since 2013.
“Donovan is a smart, tough, dependable player with great leadership qualities. He was a unanimous captain selection voted by his teammates,” said Boston College Football Head coach Bill O’Brien. “He has a versatile skill set – an elite pass rusher with great explosive ability to close on the quarterback. He plays with a great motor and single-handedly won us games by strip sacking the QB at the end of games in critical situations. Donovan will be a great pro.”
As the 2024 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-ACC selection, Ezeiruaku dominated on the field, leading all NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) players with a staggering 16.5 sacks during the regular season. His remarkable average of 1.38 sacks per game set him apart as a fierce competitor, with his 16.5 sacks tying for Boston College’s single-season record. Ezeiruaku consistently wreaked havoc on opposing offenses, recording at least one sack in eight games and two or more in six.
Alongside his impressive performance statistics, he anchored the Eagles’ defense with a team-high 80 tackles, which included an astonishing 20.5 tackles for loss—ranking second nationally in FBS. Ezeiruaku’s outstanding achievements earned him recognition as a national semifinalist for the Bednarik, Lombardi, and Walter Camp Player of the Year awards, while locally, he garnered the Bulger Lowe Award from the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston and the Season Gold Helmet Award from the New England Football Writers.
Beyond the gridiron, Ezeiruaku has made a significant impact in the community, volunteering at the Allston/Brighton Food Pantry and engaging with students in Boston Public Schools, alongside an active role in the football program’s partnership with Team Impact. A dedicated student, he was named to the All-ACC Academic Football team twice and proudly earned his degree in management from Boston College’s Carroll School of Management in December 2024.
Ezeiruaku’s selection in the second round is not only a significant moment for him personally but also marks the first time an Eagle has been drafted in this round since AJ Dillon (62nd overall) went to the Green Bay Packers in 2020. It also establishes him as the highest defensive draft pick for BC since Harold Landry (41st overall) was chosen by the Tennessee Titans in 2018. Additionally, he is the first Boston College player to be drafted by the Dallas Cowboys since offensive tackle James Marten was selected in 2007 (3rd round, 67th overall).
Ozzy Trapilo made history as well, being chosen by the Chicago Bears with the 56th overall pick, becoming the first BC player drafted by the Bears since Josh Beekman in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft (130th overall). Trapilo reflects Boston College’s continued prowess on the offensive line, being the third BC offensive lineman selected in the last four years and the fourth in the last six drafts.
“Ozzy is a smart, tough, dependable player with great leadership qualities. He was a unanimous captain selection, as voted by his teammates,” said Boston College Football Head coach Bill O’Brien. “Ozzy has all the tools to be a great left or right tackle in the NFL. He is able to run block, double team block, pull and block the defensive ends or defensive backs on the second level, and he is an elite pass blocker. Week in and week out, he set the tone up front. Ozzy played with great pad level for a man of his size. He has the ability to block speed and power off the edge. Ozzy is a consistent person and he will do whatever is best for the team. Ozzy will be a great pro.”
A First Team All-ACC selection in 2024, he started all 12 regular-season games at right tackle, achieving a notable 74.1 offensive rating from Pro Football Focus (PFF) and an impressive 81.0 in pass blocking. His solid play was pivotal, helping to drive an Eagles’ offense that recorded four games with over 200 rushing yards and two with over 300, earning him the title of ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week following a 420-yard performance against North Carolina on November 23.
Meanwhile, Boston College’s Drew Kendall was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round, becoming the 168th pick overall. A respected captain and All-ACC First Team honoree, Kendall’s leadership and skill were evident as he started all 13 games at center, culminating in a remarkable 31 consecutive starts at the position. He recorded an exceptional 83.1 pass block grade along with a solid 76.8 offensive grade from PFF, allowing only five pressures out of 350 dropback snaps. His contributions were crucial in supporting an Eagles’ offensive line that produced four games of 200-plus rushing yards and two games with 300-plus yards.
“Drew is a smart, tough, dependable player with tremendous leadership qualities. His teammates unanimously voted him a team captain,” said Boston College Football Head coach Bill O’Brien. “Drew was the best center in the ACC. He can run block and he can anchor the interior of the pocket in pass protection. He is a great puller in the run game and in the screen game. He is a bright guy who made all the calls up front on every play. He has a tremendous work ethic to go along with a consistent approach to his daily life. Drew will be a great pro.”
Kendall proudly continues a family legacy, as his father, Pete, was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round (21st overall pick) of the 1996 NFL Draft. He stands as the 15th Boston College player to be drafted by Philadelphia, making him the first since Brian Mihalik was selected in the seventh round (237th overall) in 2015.
The 2025 NFL Draft also marks a significant milestone, being the first time since 2019 that three Boston College players have been selected in the same draft, a testament to the hard work and dedication of the athletes and the program itself.