(Photo Courtesy of Boston College Athletic Communications)

David Dudeck starred in baseball at the Hun School but he made it to Yankee Stadium last year as a member of the Boston College (BC) football team.

Playing in the 2014 New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Penn State, BC receiver Dudeck made some history at the legendary stadium, making a 21-yard touchdown reception in overtime as BC ended up falling 31-30 to the Nittany Lions in the December 27 contest.

“I am not really an avid sports fan but one of the teams I support is the New York Yankees,” said Dudeck, who also enjoyed a superb career with the Hun football program, getting named as the New Jersey Prep Player of the Year in his senior season in 2011 when he caught 50 passes for 1,000 yards to help the Raiders go 7-1 and win the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) title.

“My favorite player was Derek Jeter, I loved the way that he carried himself. Playing football in the house that Jeter built was amazing. I was a good baseball player in high school and never dreamed I would be playing there. We were playing Penn State. There is a lot of history there, they had a lot of support. The atmosphere was amazing. Scoring that TD was an experience I will never forget.”

As he looks forward to his senior season at BC, Dudeck has enjoyed some unforgettable moments over his career, starting with his freshman year when he came in as a defensive back in 2012 not expecting to see any action that fall.

“I was going to redshirt and then week three was a bye week and we had some injuries and other things going on and the coaches said we are going to switch you to offense,” said Dudeck.

“It was a whirlwind, they had me practicing at running back and I had never played there before. I played against Clemson and I had two catches and things took off from there.”

Seeing action in nine games that fall, Dudeck made 21 receptions for 155 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 111 yards on 41 carries with a touchdown.

“I ended up starting four games, my very first start was against Notre Dame,” recalled Dudeck, who made four catches for 40 yards in a 21-6 loss to Notre Dame.

“It was everything I wanted to do when I was younger. It was the goal I had set out to accomplish. I am playing against Notre Dame and Kirk Herbstreit and all the ESPN guys are out there at midfield. It was surreal. I was 18 years old, I was so young. My whole freshman year was getting my feet wet.”

Although Steve Addazio replaced Frank Spaziani as head coach of the Eagles before Dudeck’s sophomore season, the 5’11, 194-pound receiver continued to progress. He appeared in all 13 games, making 11 catches for 84 yards and a touchdown, rushing for eight yards on five carries, returning nine kickoffs for 130 yards, and three punts for 25 yards.

“It has been a great transition, his whole staff brings passion,” said Dudeck, reflecting on the new regime.

“I was both running back and a receiver as a sophomore. I played running back on third down situations. It was a great experience to play beside Andre Williams (who rushed for a program-record 2,102 yards that season on the way to earning All-American honors). On the receiving end, I played more in the slot.”

The team experienced more success in 2013, finishing at 7-6 after going 2-10 the previous season.

“We ended up getting back to a bowl game, that was one of our big goals,” said Dudeck.

“We played Arizona in the AdvoCare V100 Bowl. It didn’t go as well as we would have wanted (a 42-19 loss), it left a bad taste in our mouth.

Last fall, Dudeck tasted more success, making 12 catches for 127 yards and recording five tackles on special teams as BC went 7-6.

“I was all receiver, which was what it was like in high school,” said Dudeck, reflecting on the 2014 campaign.

“I was also playing on special teams, playing wherever I could help the team.”

While some players view special teams duty as dirty work, Dudeck relishes his work on the return units.

“I love playing special teams, it is a big part of the game,” asserted Dudeck.

“It is a great way to get on the field and contribute. It goes back to high school, doing whatever I can to help the team, whether it is as a returner or going down the field covering kicks. That is what football is about.”

Dudeck and his teammates saw playing in the Pinstripe Bowl last year as a great opportunity notwithstanding the result.

“That didn’t end well with us losing in OT but it was an unreal experience,” said Dudeck.

“When we learned that the Pinstripe Bowl was an option, that was the game we wanted to play in. We are a northeast school so we had a lot of fans there. Most of my family and friends are from New Jersey so that was great.”

Gearing up for preseason camp, which started on August 9, Dudeck and his teammates spent most of the summer on the BC campus.

“We are in classes Monday through Friday and we are doing workouts,” said Dudeck.

“It is nice to get the whole team up here. We are doing strength and conditioning and all the stuff with the football and passing routes. It is players only. We are getting better and better and getting the timing down so when camp starts we don’t have to worry about that. Everyone is really ready for camp and excited about the season.”

As he gets ready for the 2015 season, Dudeck believes the Eagles are on the way up.

“We want to come together and play as one,” said Dudeck. “I think we can have a really big year if we do that. The goal is to get to Charlotte and play in the ACC championship game.”

Individually, Dudeck’s goal this fall is to contribute wherever needed.

“I want to be the best teammate I can be and the best leader I can be,” added Dudeck.

“I am going into my final year and I want to help the team any way I can. I want to help the team get to the ACC championship game.”

Even if BC doesn’t get to the championship game, Dudeck is determined to savor his final college campaign.

“We have played in some unreal venues, like Yankee Stadium, Clemson, Florida State,” said Dudeck.

“It has been unreal, so much fun. As you get older, you cherish every game, you cherish every week. I am looking forward to the season and getting better every day. I think I have matured as an athlete. You go in and help the team, being on a team is the big point of the game.”

Outside of the game, Dudeck has matured as a person and student over his four years at BC.

“This is a really great institution; there are a lot of different things to do and I have met a lot of different people,” said Dudeck, a dual major in finance along with management and leadership. “It has definitely expanded my horizons. It has about 8,000 students, there is a nice feel to the school.”