Jude Bowry and Logan Taylor are the latest Boston College offensive lineman to represent “O-line U” and they have a familiar name working to get them ready for the NFL Draft.
The two have spent the pre-draft cycle working under the meticulous eye of former Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia, the man responsible for decades of offensive line development in Foxborough.
For Bowry, a towering 6-foot-5, 315-pound tackle who anchored the Eagles’ line this past season, the opportunity to learn from “Coach Scar” has been about fine-tuning the technical details that separate collegiate starters from NFL mainstays. Scarnecchia, known for his “tough but fair” coaching style, has focused specifically on Bowry’s hand placement and strike timing. In a league where speed-to-power rushers can exploit the slightest hesitation, Bowry has been absorbing Scarnecchia’s decades of wisdom regarding the “punch” and maintaining a sturdy anchor.
“Coach Scar is great, man,” Bowry told reporters during the recent Boston College Pro Day. “It’s great to work with him. He’s a legend. He’s helped me a lot with my punch and just being a better overall player. He has seen the game in many ways and I just appreciate everything he has done.”
While Bowry has focused on the nuances of the tackle position, Logan Taylor has utilized the training to bolster his case as a swing tackle and guard. Taylor, a versatile 6-foot-7 lineman who has started at nearly every position on the line during his time at Chestnut Hill, provides the kind of positional flexibility that NFL teams—and specifically the New England Patriots under Mike Vrabel want.
Working with Scarnecchia has allowed Taylor to improve his footwork and leverage, crucial areas for a player with a higher-cut frame. The goal of these sessions has been to translate Taylor’s extensive on-field experience into a more consistent, professional-grade technique. During the Eagles’ Pro Day, that preparation was evident as Taylor navigated agility drills and position-specific movements with a refined fluidity that caught the attention of the 29 NFL franchises in attendance.
Scarnecchia working with Bowry and Taylor in their preparation is no coincidence, given the deep ties between the Boston College program and the New England Patriots. With former Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien now leading the Eagles and Vrabel recently completing a successful first season as the Patriots’ head coach, it makes sense that the veteran coach would work with both players.
By the time Bowry and Taylor took the field for their formal Pro Day workouts, they had already been vetted by the best in the business. They moved through drills conducted by current Patriots offensive line coach Doug Marrone with a level of comfort that suggested they were already well-versed in the “Patriot Way” of line play.
As the draft approaches, both linemen carry the rare distinction of being coached by three of the most respected offensive line minds in the sport: Scarnecchia, Marrone, and O’Brien. It can only help them as they begin their NFL journeys.
Scarnecchia is also working with former Eagles Chris Lindstrom and Drew Kendall as well this off-season. Lindstrom is arguably the best guard in the NFL and Kendall is working at both and center with the Philadelphia Eagles.