2024 Boston College Eagles Football Position Preview: Special Teams

Boston College On SI previews each position as the college football season quickly approaches. Up next, special teams.

Oct 7, 2023; West Point, New York, USA; Boston College Eagles kicker Liam Connor (95) celebrates an extra point against the Army Black Knights during the second half at Michie Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports / Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston College football program has gone through multiple changes during the offseason, primarily on the coaching staff. 

Amid all the changes, the program kept a majority of its players including 15 starters from last year. 

Special teams will look nearly identical to 2023 as the team retained its starting punter Sam Candotti and kicker Liam Connor as well as kept special teams coordinator Matt Thurin, who has been at The Heights since 2020. 

The only addition to the special teams position is Ivan Zivenko, a sophomore who transferred to Boston College during the offseason from Bryant. 

Projected Depth Chart:

Punters: Sam Candotti, Ivan Zivenko 

Kickers: Liam Connor, Luca Lombardo

Both: Sam Stone

Sam Candotti

Junior | 6’2” 190 lbs | Niddrie, Victoria, Australia

Candotti is entering his third season with the Eagles. Last season, he tallied 32 punts for 1,218 yards, averaged 38.1 yards per punt, recorded a career-long 47 yard punt during Boston College’s contest against Syracuse and put 14 punts inside the 20-yard line. As a recruit, Candotti was a three-star from the class of 2022 and ranked No. 1,854 nationally, No. 5 in punters, and No. 3 in Australia, according to 247Sports Composite. 

Ivan Zivenko

Sophomore | 6’5” 194 lbs | Miami, Fla. 

Zivenko is entering his first season with the Eagles after transferring from Bryant during the offseason. During his sole season with the Bulldogs, he did not appear in a game. 

Liam Connor

Junior | 6’2” 207 lbs | Leominster, Mass. 

Connor is entering his third season with the Eagles. Last season, he tallied 20 kickoff attempts for 1,241 yards, averaged 62.1 yards per kickoff, and allowed four touchbacks. With field goals, he went 11-of-14 with a career-long of 45-yards. 

Luca Lombardo

Junior | 6’ 174 lbs | Westport, Conn. 

Lombardo is entering his second season with the Eagles after transferring from Syracuse. During his time in Chestnut Hill, he has not appeared in a game, however made a 50-yard field goal in Boston College’s spring game in April. 

Sam Stone

Redshirt Freshman | 6’ 165 lbs | Austin, Texas

Stone is entering his second season with the Eagles after redshirting during his freshman campaign. As a recruit, Stone was unranked from the class of 2023. During high school, he went 14-of-18 in field goals and 93-of-98 extra points, tallying 135 total points. As a punter, he averaged 35.4 yards per punt with a career-long of 59 yards and placed seven within the 20-yard line. 

This is an ongoing series on Boston College Eagles On SI. Check out our other position previews here. Defensive Backs | Defensive Line |Offensive Line | Tight Ends | Wide Receivers |Running Backs |Quarterbacks.