Independence Bowl Preview – Georgia Tech vs. Air Force

The matchup – Just three days after Tulsa and Hawaii threw for a combined 842 yards in the Hawaii Bowl, Georgia Tech and Air Force will turn back the clock in the Independence Bowl.

The Falcons and Yellow Jackets are the two most prolific rushing offenses in the country. Both schools run the triple option, giving this game a pre-1970’s feeling to it.

The Yellow Jackets average 327 yards per game on the ground, while the Falcons average 317.9.

Air Force beat both Army and Navy – who also run the triple option – by a combined scored of 56-28.

Season summaries –

The Falcons’ four losses all came to formidable opponents; Oklahoma, San Diego St. and TCU on the road, and Utah at home. The only one of those game decided by more than five points was a 38-7 TCU victory.

Georgia Tech, meanwhile, had ACC championship aspirations before the season, but those unraveled quickly. A loss at Kansas in the second week of the season took the wind out of the Jackets’ sails. They were still in the picture for the league title when Joshua Nesbitt broke his arm in a crushing 28-21 loss at Virginia Tech on Nov. 4.

Key players –

It all boils down to quarterback play in this game.

Nesbitt’s status for Monday’s game has yet to be determined, though it appears unlikely he’ll be able to go. If that is the case, Tech will rest its laurels on sophomore Tevin Washington. Since replacing Nesbitt at halftime of the Virginia Tech game, Washington has rushed for 334 yards and thrown for 372 while leading the Yellow Jackets to 1-2 record in three starts.

Washington struggled mightily against the Hokies and again the following week against Miami, but showed improvement in a win over Duke and close road loss at rival Georgia. He should be much more comfortable against Air Force with the extra two weeks of practice with the first-string offense.

For Air Force, it all starts with quarterback Tim Jefferson, who ironically enough is from Atlanta, Ga.

Jefferson rushed for 769 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. In his first full season as the starter under center for coach Troy Calhoun, Jefferson has operated this offense at a consistently high level. The Falcons averaged 32 points per game, the highest mark of any wishbone-based option attack in the country.

Who has the edge?

Georgia Tech never in its wildest dreams thought it would spend Christmas in Shreveport. Late in the week leading up to the game, the Jackets learned they would be without four key players who failed to qualify academically.

Wide receiver Stephen Hill – the only true receiving threat on the roster – as well as safety Mario Edwards, defensive end Robert Hall and linebacker Anthony Barnes all will miss Monday’s game. It’s just another spoon of salt in the Jacket’s wounds.

Air Force, meanwhile, is extremely well coached and hungry to beat not only a BCS automatic-qualifying foe, but also a fellow triple-option team. The Falcons would love nothing more than to beat the big, bad Yellow Jackets at their own game.

Prediction – Air Force 31, Georgia Tech 21

Weekend Forecast – October 9

1. Florida State at Miami

This game is nearly always a classic. Who could forget last year’s ending, when Christian Ponder thought he’d thrown the game-winning touchdown pass on the final play, only to see the official waving his arms signaling an incompletion?

The Seminoles looked strong last week at Virginia, especially on defense. Their secondary is extremely young but also very talented. Jacory Harris continues to struggle with his decision-making, but thankfully the Miami defense has played lights-out (leads the ACC allowing just 15 ppg).

Miami has the better combination of talent and experience, but Florida State has a more reliable signal-caller. It’s a tough call, but I think Miami’s defense does just enough to lead the ‘Canes to victory.

Miami 31, FSU 28

2. Boston College at North Carolina State

The Eagles will start a banged-up true freshman at quarterback in Chase Rettig, who looked good in limited action last week against Notre Dame. North Carolina State, meanwhile, is still licking its wounds after a monumental collapse against Virginia Tech.

The Wolfpack’s woeful run defense was exposed last week, allowing 306 yards on the ground to the Hokies. Boston College has a great running back in Montel Harris, except he’s struggled to get the ball rolling in 2010. So far, he’s averaging just 84 yards per game and has scored only one touchdown, and hasn’t exactly come against a who’s who of good defenses.

The Eagles’ secondary is average at best. They have allowed 230 passing yards per game, including 277 in the season opener to Weber State. While the group as a whole has matured over the past month, they’ve seen nothing like the passing attack that State will bring with Russell Wilson.

NC State will put up big numbers through the air and rebound from last week’s stunner.

NC State 35, Boston College 17

3. Central Michigan at Virginia Tech

The Hokies return home for a full month of games inside Lane Stadium, the first of which against the downtrodden Chippewas. The Hokies have yet to lead by more than seven points at halftime in any of their five games, but they’d love to do just that on Saturday.

CMU leads the MAC in scoring defense, giving up just 17.6 points per game. However, the most explosive offense they’ve faced belonged to Northwestern.

Ryan Williams is out for the third straight week for Tech, but it shouldn’t matter, as Darren Evans is back to his 2008 form after a 160-yard, two-touchdown showing last week.

The Hokies learned from the James Madison debacle not to overlook anyone, so expect a big win for the home crowd.

Virginia Tech 49, Central Michigan 14

4. Virginia at Georgia Tech

The Groh Bowl, as fans are putting it, pits former Cavaliers’ coach and current Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Al Groh up against his old team in a must-win game for both sides.

Virginia was embarrassed last week in a home loss to Florida State, while Georgia Tech has looked nothing like the team everyone expected to contend for the ACC title.

UVA coach Mike London is former assistant of Groh’s and has spent countless hours studying his style of defense. If you want to know whether or not that matters, look no further than Steve Sarkisian’s success at Washington against USC the past two seasons.

The Wahoos have a severe lack of playmakers offensively, but right now the Yellow Jackets can’t stop much of anything. Groh should throw some new wrinkles in the gameplan this week to try and rejuvenate his bunch.

Meanwhile, London may have trouble scheming against Paul Johnson’s triple option in his first try. It may not be pretty, but the Yellow Jackets move to 3-1 in the conference.

Georgia Tech 24, Virginia 20

5. Clemson at North Carolina

The Tar Heels get back another of their star defenders this week, safety Kendric Burney. Linebacker Quan Sturdivant is listed as questionable heading into the game.

Clemson looked as ugly as could be last week against Miami, yet the Tigers were a fourth-down conversion away from possibly winning that game. North Carolina has played so remarkably well in the absence of a multitude of starters that it’s starting to get hard to pick against them.

The play of Tar Heel quarterback T.J. Yates has been outstanding. The senior has completed 68 percent of his passes this season while throwing seven touchdowns and just one interception.

Kyle Parker threw three interceptions last week in what coach Dabo Swinney called the worst game of his young career.

I can’t help but to think that North Carolina will keep Clemson’s offense at bay again this week. The Heels are giving up just 2.8 yards per carry in the past two games.

At home, the Heels pull off another improbable win and nab their first conference win.

North Carolina 20, Clemson 13

6. Navy at Wake Forest

The Midshipmen are in a world of hurt right now after losing their first game to another service academy in seven years. Wake Forest lost in demoralizing fashion last week to Georgia Tech, when Joshua Nesbitt’s touchdown pass with 15 seconds left sealed the Deacons’ fate.

Tanner Price will start at quarterback for Wake Forest, after injuries to Ted Stachitas and Brendan Cross have depleted the Deacs’ supply of healthy arms.

Price has appeared in four games this season as a true freshman while completing 48 percent of his passes. He did not play in the loss to Georgia Tech last week, but Jim Grobe has confirmed Price will get a majority of the snaps on Saturday.

Wake’s opponents this year average 4.85 yards per carry, but they did hold Georgia Tech to just 4.3 yards per rush last week.

Facing the triple option after just playing against it the week before is a huge benefit that most teams never have. Navy is reeling right now, and despite the fashion of last week’s loss, Wake Forest took comfort in the fact that their young team hung with the defending ACC champions.

Wake holds on at home in a nail-biter.

Wake Forest 17, Navy 14

On the Docket – Week One Preview

Two games on Monday: Boise St. – Va. Tech and Navy-Maryland, will be previewed later in the week.

Presbyterian at Wake Forest, Thursday 6:30 p.m. (ESPN3)

Why it matters: It really doesn’t. The Deacs will need a miracle to even dare competing for the ACC this year, and Presbyterian might need a bigger miracle to win this game. Presbyterian went winless in 2009 without playing a single FBS team. Wake Forest begins a year where they simply need an identity post-Riley Skinner.

Player to watch: Ted Stachitas, the redshirt sophomore dubbed Skinner’s replacement at quarterback. Stachitas won a four-way battle in August for the job. He’s a dual-threat option who led Nease High School from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. to three straight state championship appearances as a starter. The Deacs figure to operate mostly out of the shotgun in a spread option look. Expect to see Skylar Jones line up in the Wild Deacon formation some, too. This game is a good introductory level course in replacing a legend for Stachitas.

Who has the edge?

To call this a scrimmage might be insulting. The Deacs starters could play a game against the backups and third-stringers and it might be more competitive. This is simply a chance to give Stachitas as many reps as they can in a live situation and try and work out the kinks across the board.

Prediction: Wake Forest 41, Presbyterian 0

Florida A&M at No. 13 Miami, Thursday 7:30 p.m. (ESPN3)

Why it matters: Once again, this won’t be much of a contest. Like many of these creampuff season openers, this is a great chance for Miami to unleash some of its younger, unproven talent and see if anyone emerges. The Hurricanes are very deep across the board, and they can get those young backups some important reps in this game.

Player to watch: Sean Spence and Graig Cooper are two prominent players from who are recovering from injuries. Cooper’s is of a more serious nature (torn ACL), while Spence dealt with nagging injuries last season before missing three entire games late in the year. Cooper figures to get some carries at running back, but it will be interesting to see how much action he gets in a backfield loaded with talented ballcarriers.  Spence needs to be healthy this season and return to his stellar 2008 form at linebacker.

Who has the edge?

Miami will name the score in this game. ‘Nuff said.

Prediction: Miami 45, Florida A&M 10

Samford at No. 20 Florida State, Saturday 12:00 (ESPNU)

Why it matters: This will be the first time in 35 years that somebody not named Bobby Bowden will coach the Florida State football team. The Jimbo Fisher Era begins, and he hopes to bring a new energy to Doak Campbell Stadium. I’m looking to see what the environment is like for Fisher’s first game. If the fans come out hard for the Samford game, it will speak volumes for the support Fisher has from the fan base.

Player to watch: This could be a great way to pad the stats early for FSU quarterback Christian Ponder in his trek for the Heisman Trophy. He figures to play the first half, and maybe some of the third quarter, but that’s still enough time for close to 300 yards and three or four scores.

Who has the edge?

This won’t remind people of last year, when Florida State escaped a scare Jacksonville State at home. The ‘Noles will cruise as they try and smooth the wrinkles before traveling to Norman next week to face the Sooners.

Prediction: Florida State 52, Samford 7

Weber State at Boston College, Saturday 1:00 p.m. (ESPN3)

Why it matters: See player to watch

Player to watch: Mark Herzlich will play, and that’s the story in and of itself this week. Herzlich, whose story as the 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year-turned-cancer survivor is well-read by now, was hobbled by a broken foot during August. Head coach Frank Spaziani said he wants to get Herzlich on the field this Saturday, and when he does trot between the white lines, I can’t wait to see what the reaction from the crowd is. A true miracle.

Who has the edge?

Boston College needs a crisp performance from David Shinskie, who battled inconsistency last year but managed to win the starting quarterback job again this past month. I expect to see him play most of this game no matter the score, unless he struggles. In that case, I’d be interested to see if Spaziani plugs in Marc Mascovetra to run the show.

Prediction: Boston College 35, Weber State 6

South Carolina State at No. 16 Georgia Tech, Saturday 1:00 p.m. (ESPN3)

Why it matters: The Yellow Jackets begin their defense of the ACC title with a cakewalk. However, they must do it without several key defensive stars from a year ago, most notably Derrick Morgan, now with the Tennessee Titans. I expect the offense to keep on chuggin’, despite the loss of former All-ACC performer Jonathan Dwyer.

Player to watch: Anthony Allen fills in for Dwyer at A-back, and I for one think Allen could have a big year. He’s a physical runner with breakaway speed (see: the first Clemson game last year). With Joshua Nesbitt under center, he will put the ball in the belly of the right runners, and I think Allen could have a sensational year because of that. He might touch 200 yards in this game.

Who has the edge?

Georgia Tech needs to sharpen its defense, which switched to a 3-4 this off-season under new coordinator Al Groh. The Jackets hit the road for the next two weeks after this Saturday to face Kansas and North Carolina. Both games will favor the Jackets, but they need the defense to be on top of its game heading into those contests. This is just a tune-up.

Prediction: Georgia Tech 49, South Carolina State 17

North Texas at Clemson, Saturday 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

Why it matters: Clemson fans get to see Kyle Parker in a football jersey again, which at one point this summer seemed unlikely. Parker will quarterback the Tigers for this season and likely no more, but his return at least gives Clemson hope it can make another run at a division title in 2010.

Player to watch: Andre Ellington replaces C.J. Spiller at running back. Spiller was a legend, perhaps the greatest player to ever wear the Tigers’ uniform. However, Ellington is not too shabby himself. In 68 carries last year, Ellington averaged more than seven yards every time he had the ball. He won’t produce like Spiller, but I think he’ll be better than people expect.

Who has the edge?

At one point earlier in the decade, North Texas was a strong mid-major program (Name-drop: Patrick Cobbs). Now, they are one of the worst FBS programs in the country. Clemson cruises in this one.

Prediction: Clemson 31, North Texas 6

Richmond at Virginia, Saturday 6:00 p.m. (ESPN3)

Why it matters: Virginia breaks in new coach Mike London, against the team they pillaged for him – and also the one he led to an FCS national title two years ago. London built the foundation strong program in two years at Richmond, and it’s feasible that the Spiders are more talented at several positions than the Cavaliers. Virginia can not afford a second consecutive season-opening loss to an FCS opponent.

Player to watch: All eyes are on Marc Verica, who must cut down on his interceptions this season. He has thrown twice as many interceptions (17) as he has touchdowns (eight) in his career. He has a strong grip on the starting quarterback job, but if he struggles against an FCS team in week one, nobody’s job is safe.

Who has the edge? Virginia, but not by much. I’d say the Wahoos are maybe a three-point favorite. Richmond has a former USC Trojan under center in Aaron Corp, and Virginia really has in my opinion the least talented roster in the ACC. This will be the most competitive game of the day in the ACC.

Prediction: Virginia 23, Richmond 20

Western Carolina at NC State, Saturday 6:00 p.m. (ESPN3)

Why it matters: Not much does. The ‘Pack figure to be a non-factor in the ACC chase, and this game should be a snoozer. We’ll probably get a chance to see Mike Glennon, the backup quarterback for State who could probably start for 80% of college football teams.

Player to watch: Nate Irving, like Herzlich, also makes a miraculous comeback after nearly losing his life in a car accident last summer. Irving missed all of 2009 but will be in the starting lineup at middle linebacker for the Wolfpack on Saturday. Another example of a heroic human being. His return should severely help a defense that was downright awful in 2009.

Who has the edge?

The Wolfpack will score at will in this game. Russell Wilson could throw for a career-high number of yards. No chance of an upset here.

Prediction: NC State 48, Western Carolina 14

Elon at Duke, Saturday 7:00 p.m. (ESPN3)

Why it matters: Duke needs to make sure it wins the easy ones as it tries to make its first bowl game in a decade in a half. The Blue Devils are repairing a defense that was terrible last season. Holding Elon under 10 points would be a promising start. They need a dominating performance to build confidence heading into a key week two matchup with Wake Forest.

Player to watch: Sean Renfree has to overcome a repaired ACL and the legend of Thaddeus Lewis. Lewis set every major passing record at Duke, and Renfree tore his left ACL last November, prompting him to miss all of spring practice. Duke has plenty of options on offense, particularly at wide receiver, where Donovan Varner was the leading receiver in the ACC last year as a sophomore. Renfree was a highly touted recruit who has the potential to flourish under head coach/quarterback guru David Cutcliffe.

Who has the edge?

Duke should win handily, but a suspect defense could let in some scores early and make it closer than it should be early.

Prediction: Duke 34, Elon 13

LSU vs. North Carolina (in Atlanta), 8:00 p.m. (ABC)

Why it matters: This was supposed to be the breakthrough game for Butch Davis’ program at UNC. Now, this might be a measuring stick of just how fall the Tar Heels have fallen thanks to the infamous NCAA investigation into improper agent contact and academic fraud. LSU is in a state of flux as well, with questions at quarterback and a coach in hot water. Still, it’s likely that several key players for UNC will sit out the game. If they do, the Heels have no shot.

Player to watch: T.J. Yates enters his senior season as the maligned starting quarterback trying fend off redshirt freshman Bryn Renner. Renner is the more dynamic player, while Yates is the calmer and obviously more experienced prospect. Don’t be surprised to see Renner get some snaps if Yates struggles and/or the game gets out of hand. The coaches are waiting to give Renner his chance.

Who has the edge?

LSU. Even if North Carolina is at full strength, the distractions from the past month and a half must have taken a toll on the team’s focus and preparation. LSU feels the pressure to win this game and contend in the SEC. Speaking of the SEC, it has dominated the ACC in recent years. It won’t stop Saturday.

Prediction: LSU 34, UNC 10

Five ACC players who could contend for Heisman

There is a lot of hope surrounding the ACC this season. Miami and Florida State are relevant again (we think), Virginia Tech has a chance to be a national title favorite with a win in week one, and there is a laundry list of players with a legitimate shot at the Heisman Trophy.

The last Heisman winner from the ACC was Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke in 2000. There is a breadth of talent at several positions that could produce the next winner from right here in the ACC.

Here is the list, in order.

1. Christian Ponder, Florida State QB

Ponder is not just the symbol of hope for the ACC. He’s carrying the pressure of resurrecting the Seminole program. If he’s able to return FSU to glory, there’s no doubt he’ll be on the short list for the award. If he stays healthy, there’s little doubt he’ll put up close to 4,000 passing yards and approach 40 touchdowns.

2. Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech RB

Williams would likely get more attention for this award if people weren’t skeptical that Darren Evans will steal too many of Williams’ carries. It’s not going to be an issue. Williams will touch the ball between 20-25 times per game at least, which is plenty to put up Heisman-worthy numbers. The coaching staff knows Williams is a game-breaker, while Evans is much more suited to be a supplemental back. If the Hokies make a run at the national title, Williams will be the biggest reason why.

3. Jacory Harris, Miami QB

Harris knows something that nobody else in the ACC does. He knows what it’s like to be the Heisman favorite, albeit very briefly. Harris was the center of attention last September thanks to two prime-time performances against Florida State and Georgia Tech. This year, he’ll need to string together more than just two great games if he wants to finish the year in the mix for the award. Wins over Ohio State and Pittsburgh would be a good start. He needs to cut down on his turnovers, improve his decision-making and hope his offensive line protects him better than it did at the end of last year.

4. Joshua Nesbitt, Georgia Tech QB

Nesbitt is the darkhorse of the national Heisman race. He’s been largely discounted for the award because of the option he operates in. Do people forget what Eric Crouch did nine years ago? If the Yellow Jackets are in the national title hunt, or at least in the top 10 when the season ends, and Nesbitt dominates like many expect him to, there’s no reason his name shouldn’t be mentioned for the Heisman. He’s one of the best college football players in the country.

5. Montel Harris, Boston College RB

Harris is the best running back nobody has ever heard about (apologies to Kansas State’s Daniel Thomas). Harrs carried the Eagles last season when no quarterback could. He might have to do the same this year, but he’s up to the task. He was handed the ball 308 times last year, and that might touch 350 this year. He has no backup, and the receiving corps is thin. Basically, Harris could put up unavoidably impressive numbers. The Eagles aren’t going to be a national contender, and Harris isn’t going to be a future NFL star, but he’s going to get so much action that he just might make some noise in the Heisman race (see: Larry Johnson).

ACC goes deep in 3 key places

One thing every team faces questions about in the pre-season is depth. There are always battles in fall camp to try and solidify the rotation at a variety of positions, whether it be in the starting group or fostering younger players in backup roles.

If you formed an All-ACC roster, the depth would be tremendous. It came to my attention after the All-ACC selections were made of just how many bona fide star players did not make the cut. There are several positions that are loaded with talent across the board in the league this year, here’s a few in reverse order:

3. Offensive Line

The ACC is tied with the SEC for the most players on the Outland Trophy watch list with 11 each. Eight of those are on the offensive line. Anthony Castonzo, a four-year starter at left tackle for Boston College, leads the way and figures to be a front-runner for the award. The 2009 first team all-conference selection allowed just one sack in 650 snaps last season, which came against Robert Quinn of North Carolina.

Florida State could have had their entire line named all-conference it seems. Highly praised coach Rick Trickett has built a spectacular core on the line as he enters his fourth year with the Seminoles. Senior guard Rodney Hudson is ready to become the first player in conference history to be earn first-team honors four times. He is a consensus preseason All-American and might be Castonzo’s toughest competition for the Outland Trophy.

The ‘Noles starting center is Ryan McMahon, a redshirt senior who’s started every game in his college career. He graded out as a blocker last season at 80.6 percent, second on the team only to Hudson.

Both Hudson and McMahon are four-year starters, but the experience drop-off is slim among the three other linemen. Andrew Datko (LT), David Spurlock (RG) and Zebrie Sanders (RT) are all entering their third year as starters. There are entire conferences that don’t have the combination of talent and experience on the line like Florida State.

Georgia Tech center Sean Bedford returns after earning first-team honors as a junior. He anchors a Georgia Tech line that must replace three starters. If the Yellow Jackets want to dominate the point of attack like they have the past two seasons, it starts with Redford leading the way.

Even Wake Forest, picked to finish near the bottom of the league, has a few studs up front. Despite serious question marks at both tackles, left guard Joe Looney and center Russell Nenon have All-ACC potential.

Best unit: Florida State

Best player: Anthony Castonzo, Boston College

2. Linebacker

There are more than a handful of teams with a premium duo of linebackers. North Carolina has Quan Sturdivant and Bruce Carter, two of the most athletic players you’ll find at that position in the country. Sturdivant was a Butkus Award semi-finalist last season, and has led the Tar Heels in tackles the past two years. Despite a late summer arrest on drug charges, coach Butch Davis said Sturdivant will not face any suspension from game action. Bruce Carter has 4.45 speed in the 40-yard dash, a number only the most elite outside linebackers in the NFL can even think of.

Up north in Boston, the Eagles hope that Mark Herzlich can regain some or all of the form that made him the most feared linebacker in all of college football two years ago. In his absence, all Luke Kuechly did was come out of nowhere as a freshman to lead the ACC in tackles by a mile. He’s added close to 20 pounds of bulk since the end of last season as well. If he can avoid the sophomore slump and Herzlich’s leg (and mind) holds up, they will be quite a force.

Miami’s Sean Spence and Colin McCarthy are another pair of slobber-knockers that have the experts picking Miami to do big things this year. McCarthy returned in 2009 from a season-ending shoulder injury the year before to make second-team all-conference with 95 tackles. Spence didn’t live up to lofty expectations in 2009 after being one of Randy Shannon’s most consistent defenders as a true freshman in 2008. He missed three games last in the season with injury, but his 36 tackles were fifth-most on the team. If he’s healthy, he’s another speedy outside ‘backer that is a big play machine.

As much grief as Maryland’s received over last season’s abysmal 2-10 season, the Terps sure have a solid group of linebackers. Alex Wujciak is a wild child in the middle. He is one of just two players nationally to have at least 130 tackles in each of the past two seasons. Adrian Moten lines up on the outside, and he led the team with nine tackles for a loss and six sacks last year. Demetrius Hartsfield might have gotten more recognition for an outstanding freshman campaign in 2009 if it weren’t for his team’s record or Kuechly’s huge year. Hartsfield missed two games, but still made 64 tackles. Also, the three top reserves for Maryland at linebacker return, making this the deepest unit of any team in the league.

One other notable player in the league include FSU’s Nigel Bradham, a former super blue-chip recruit who led the team with 93 tackles last season as a sophomore in 2009.

Best unit: North Carolina

Best player: Alex Wujciak, Maryland

1. Quarterback

The buzz during ACC Media Days was all about the volume of talented and experienced quarterbacks throughout the league. There were three players not named to the all-conference preseason team that would likely be among the first 20 players mentioned as Heisman Trophy candidates.

The man who did manage to earn all-conference was Florida State’s Christian Ponder, who is the best quarterback to come through that program since Chris Weinke a decade ago. Ponder suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in game ten last year versus Clemson, but still was the only ACC quarterback to average 300 yards passing per game.

His replacement after the injury was E.J. Manuel, a former five-star recruit who turned in the MVP performance in the Gator Bowl victory over West Virginia. If Ponder goes down, the Seminoles are more than comfortable with Manuel.

As the season draws nearer, however, Ponder is gaining more and more acclaim as a cream of the crop quarterback and elite NFL Draft prospect. If Florida State returns to glory this season, he’ll get as much attention as his rookie head coach, Jimbo Fisher.

Just down the road at Miami, Jacory Harris is oozing potential. After a red-hot start to the 2009 season put him in the immediate discussion for the Heisman, Harris struggled down the stretch and finished with 24 touchdowns to go with 17 interceptions.

“Most everybody thinks when a quarterback has turnovers, it’s him not reading his keys,” coach Randy Shannon said, “It could be the receiver running routes too short…it could be Jacory forcing the ball…or it could be pressure. We’ve just got to calm him down in the pocket.”

Whatever the problem was, Harris showed flashes of brilliance last season, including a gutsy fourth-quarter performance in the season opener against Florida State, which the Hurricanes won 38-34. His receivers are a year older, his line is expected to be tremendously improved, and according to Shannon, his poise and understanding of the offense is markedly improved.

At Virginia Tech, the Hokies believe they have what could be their best offense ever. A big reason for that is the return of Tyrod Taylor, who has been starting since his freshman season and has a 23-5 career record under center. Taylor led the ACC in passing efficiency last season in a breakout season. In his first two years, his career touchdowns-to-interceptions numbers were 7-10 and had just 1,963 career passing yards. In 2009 he eclipsed that mark with 2,311 yards and 14 touchdowns with just five picks. He has his entire receiving corps back for the third straight year, not to mention a pair of former 1,000-yard rushers behind him in Darren Evans and Ryan Williams.

If it’s not enough to have one of the most talented quarterbacks in the ACC, NC State has two. Russell Wilson is consistent, accurate and mobile. Wilson’s streak of 379 consecutive passes without an interception is an NCAA record. His 31 touchdown passes were the fourth most in the country last season. There aren’t many times a player posts numbers like that and still has to fight off competition in fall practice. After missing spring ball to play baseball, Wilson’s absence allowed Mike Glennon to shine. Glennon threw for nearly 500 yards in the spring game. He was recruited to be the quarterback of the future for Tom O’Brien, but Wilson’s emergence has kept Glennon on the sideline. There are 80 schools in America that would love to have Glennon under center.

The guy who has arguably been the most successful yet gets little attention is Joshua Nesbitt at Georgia Tech. The reigning first-team all-conference quarterback got rave reviews by teammates and coach Paul Johnson about his competitiveness and work ethic. Pound for pound, he may be the strongest player on the Yellow Jackets’ roster. He also enters his third year running the triple option offense for Johnson. Every offense relies heavily on execution, but the Tech offense requires a quarterback who is adept with the timing and execution of the option. He needs 703 yards to top Woodrow Dantzler’s mark for career rushing yards for an ACC quarterback. Odds are Nesbitt reaches that after gaining 1,037 yards on the ground in 2009.

Best unit: Florida State

Best player: Christian Ponder, Florida State

ESPN’s Bruce Feldman Talks ACC Football

The landscape of sports journalism is littered with, more or less, nerds and geeks who have a lifelong passion for whatever sport they cover.

Not so for one distinguished character in the college football sector. Bruce Feldman was an art major in college, before a part-time job covering high school sports at the Miami Herald turned him onto journalism.

Fast-forward to 2010, and Feldman is a senior college football writer for ESPN the magazine and also has a daily blog on ESPN.com Insider.

He’s the author of two books, Cane Mutiny and Meat Market: Inside the Smashmouth World of College Football Recruiting. Over the course a week earlier this summer, I read Meat Market, which Feldman wrote after spending one year with all-inclusive access to the Ole Miss coaching staff in 2006 under recruiting guru Ed Orgeron.

Feldman basically took the Hubble Telescope and pointed it at the Rebels’ program, specifically the aspect of recruiting. What it showed was a coach who gave up an addiction to alcohol for an addiction to recruiting (and Red Bull Energy Drink), while also depicting just how time-consuming, complicated, and out-of-this-world stressful recruiting in the Deep South can be.

Feldman was kind enough to speak with ACC Mania one evening last week, and he had plenty to opine about the current environment within the conference.

ACC Maniac: Between Jacory Harris, Ryan Williams, Christian Ponder and Joshua Nesbitt, who has the best shot at the Heisman Trophy?

Feldman: I’d say it’s probably Ponder over Harris. I think Ponder is more consistent. Quarterbacks always have the best shot, especially when they can put up good passing numbers. I think Nesbitt is as tough a guy as there is in college football, but I’m not a guy on that bandwagon.

I’ve seen Miami this spring, and I was really impressed by how they look. I think Ponder has been more consistent, but at this point I’d say him, but it wouldn’t shock me if Harris were in the Heisman hunt.

ACC: Do you place any value in Heisman campaigns at places like Florida State?

Feldman: Those programs are so big. I think it would help if you were the Maryland quarterback, or another school that feels like more of a mid-major level.

I’ll use Carson Palmer as an example. Palmer had been a pretty inconsistent quarterback for most of his career. People knew his name, but until his senior year, he really didn’t get cranked up. He really didn’t get mentioned as a Heisman guy until really about Halloween (in 2002). It helped that guys said he had NFL size and an NFL arm. Having the NFL Draft guru approval certainly doesn’t hurt.

I have a feeling if Boise State beats Virginia Tech and Oregon State, people may talk about Kellen Moore. But there is going to be another side that’s going to ask “how good can this guy be?” He’ll be a free agent in the NFL one day, and whatever. I don’t think that helps a Heisman candidacy, but you can spend all the money you want on posters and pins and whatever, but if your guy doesn’t win big games it’s not going to matter.

If Ponder’s team wins the ACC and plays for the BCS title, people are going to find out about his story; they’ll know. He’ll be in enough big games where he’ll be talked about on College Gameday all the time and featured in magazines. People will constantly be talking about him, and why FSU – a program that had dropped – all of a sudden is back up and look who is the reason why.

There is no elaborate Heisman campaign that got everyone fired up about Mark Ingram. It was just about playing well in big games on national TV that does it.

You don’t beat out a guy because your Heisman campaign was better orchestrated than his. It might help you win a Butkus…it’s too scrutinized

ACC: You wrote a book on recruiting; who do you think is the best recruiter in the ACC?

Feldman: I’m tempted to say Eddie Gran, The running back coach at Florida State. He pulled a lot of kids out of south Florida when he was at Auburn and Tennessee and definitely did the same when he got to FSU. I think he is a really, really good recruiter. He’s a fairly low-key guy.

(UNC defensive line coach) John Blake has a big reputation as a recruiter, too, but I just don’t know. I think Graham might be a bit of an upset, but I’ll say him.

ACC: Virginia Tech just lost two huge recruits to UNC in Landon Turner and Marquise Williams. Tech needed Williams a lot more than UNC. Also, with Mike London raising UVA’s profile in-state, Tech is losing some ground in the state quickly. Williams was from North Carolina, but Turner was from Harrisonburg. Butch Davis is doing a good job.

Feldman: He’s a good evaluator. Let’s see how this NCAA probe may impact them. One of the little side cushions of the USC hit is that I wonder how much recruits will be gunshy when they hear “NCAA probe” than they were a while back.

ACC: What is the best stadium you’ve been to in the conference?

Feldman: I’m going to sound like I’m pandering, but I’m going to say Lane Stadium. I‘ve been there for a lot of games. I don’t like heavy metal or anything like that, but even when you just start hearing Enter Sandman that whole place rocks.

Every year, ESPN has a preseason seminar where everyone that works with college football comes in. One year they were playing the open to Virginia Tech-Miami in 2005. I remember just sitting there getting goosebumps. I remember being at that game. There is something there that is great.

It’s a really scenic part of the country. I’m kind of partial to that place. I have not been to Clemson for a game and I’ve heard great things about there. Otherwise I’ve been to pretty much every place in the ACC.

There is just something at Virginia Tech that I am in to.

ACC: Are you surprised that Tom O’Brien has not had more success at NC State?

Feldman: A little, given his track record. For as much as people take shots at the league, it’s not that easy to all of a sudden (improve). He has a good quarterback. Chuck Amato recruited pretty well, and he didn’t really win either. I’m not saying NC State is as tough as Duke to win at.

In a way, at Boston College you’re little more on an island and it has its charms to it. NC State is a little trickier spot. I’m not saying you can’t win there. I didn’t go in thinking oh he’s going to turn that place into the next Virginia Tech seasons. I expected 7-5 and the occasional 8-4 season. But I thought he’d be more along the lines of what Al Groh was able to do at Virginia.

I think people underestimate BC a little bit. They always have good offensive linemen. They also recruit New Jersey very well. New Jersey football is actually very good, and that is the Eagles’ lifeblood. As long as you have a really good line and mix in some other good players, you’re going to be good. It’s always been a well-coached program. They’ve never been bad. I don’t think you all of a sudden go to a different league and just fall apart.

ACC: Who is the best coach in the ACC?

Feldman: I think a lot of people would say Jim Grobe (at Wake Forest). Paul Johnson has done a lot at Georgia Tech. Beamer has obviously elevated Virginia Tech to an unthinkable level. I’d say it’s one of those three. I feel like Grobe probably gets the most out of the least, and Beamer takes it to another level. He’s had guys on his staff for a long time, there’s a lot of loyalty there.

ACC: Not a lot of people expected Paul Johnson’s offense to succeed in the ACC. I think a lot of his success predicates on how unique it is and how different it is to prepare for. When facing it, you have to completely change everything. Do you think Tech can maintain this, and do you think the triple option could show up at more schools in the future?

Feldman: I think they can maintain it. I don’t think it’s going to show up at so many other places, because coaches coach what they know. That is such a radical departure from places like the Big 12 where there are all these variations of the spread, but are pass-happy offenses.

Johnson is a good coach. Whatever system you run, it’s about how well you execute it. I just don’t think you’re all of a sudden going to see Norm Chow say, “I’m going to become an option guy,” or Mark Whipple or Jimbo Fisher either.

I think watching what Navy has done over the few years, what they’ve done is good. I just don’t think it’s going to be widespread, it’s not a part of other coaches’ DNA right now, offensively.

ACC: Who wins the ACC this year?

Feldman: There are four schools in the mix: Virginia Tech, Miami, North Carolina and Florida State. The more this investigation talk starts to bubble up, it doesn’t help UNC. You worry about chemistry.

I think Virginia Tech is a proven commodity, which definitely helps them.

FSU and Miami are both similar to me. Both programs have been really good, and now are trying to get rebuilt under new leadership. They have a lot of firepower. I think Miami has more talent on defense.

I feel like it comes down to Virginia Tech having to go to Miami this year. I think that game is going to determine the best team in the league.

Talkin’ ACC football with Sports Illustrated’s Stewart Mandel

It’s been 11 years since Stewart Mandel started covering college football for Sports Illustrated.

Nearly fresh out of college himself (Northwestern ’98) at that time, Mandel has been one of the most prominent writers in the sport over the last decade. His book, Bowls Polls and Tattered Souls, was published in 2007 (later updated in 2008), covered everything from the chaos of the Bowl Championship Series to the crapshoot that is the NFL combine.

It is a great book for both the avid college football die-hard and the casual fan that only follows his or her alma mater. It’s informative and precise, but written simply enough that just about anyone can follow.

I was scheduled to talk to Mandel on Wednesday afternoon – in the middle of what was expected to be a “slow week.” Turns out, Vanderbilt head coach Bobby Johnson surprisingly retired, and our conversation was pushed back until Thursday.

We talked about his career as a journalist, which I humbly admire, and also much about his book.

At the end of the conversation, we started talking ACC football, and he had some very interesting thoughts on the upcoming season.

That conversation went as follows:

ACC Maniac: Who’s closer to being “back”, Florida State or Miami?

Mandel: Miami. They got a head start…both programs kind of went in the tank at the same time, (but) the difference was that Miami made a coaching change and brought in Randy Shannon, who’s had three years to install his system and recruit his players. Even though Jimbo Fisher was there on the staff, it really wasn’t his program until Bobby (Bowden) retired – or was forced to retire.

I may be wrong, but I don’t agree with these prognostications that say they are going to be a top 15 or 20 team. Their defense was just so bad last year. I think it will take them a couple years to get the talent level back up to where they need it to be, where as Miami seems to be right on the brink.

ACC: So you’re not on the (Newly hired FSU defensive coordinator) Mark Stoops bandwagon I guess?

Mandel: No I mean, I’m sure it will help, but Mickey Andrews was the old defensive coordinator, and they were great on defense every year until last year. I don’t think that can be attributed entirely to coaching.

ACC: Between Jacory Harris, Ryan Wiliams, Christian Ponder, and I’ll throw Joshua Nesbitt in the mix…who has the best chance at winning the Heisman?

Mandel: The Heisman is based as much on how your team does. If Miami competes for the national title, Harris will be in the mix. If Virginia Tech competes for the title, Ryan Williams will be in the mix. I do think Ponder will get a lot of acclaim because he’s considered a top NFL prospect, too.

So…I would go with Ryan Williams, with my only concern that with (Darren) Evans back maybe it will cut into Williams’ yardage. If he can put up another season like last year or better, and if Virginia Tech turns out another great season, he’s got the best chance.

ACC: I wrote a story last week about how Christian Ponder didn’t need his Heisman campaign website…

Mandel: People know how good he is. How you distinguish him from Ryan Mallett (Arkansas), Jake Locker (Washington)…any number of quarterbacks who will compete for it this year will depend on how their team does.

ACC: What do you think Mike London will do at Virginia over the long haul?

Mandel: It’s hard to say; I don’t know that much about him. I know he did very well when he got to Richmond. Having not really dealt with him, I don’t know what to predict, other than it seems like on paper he has great credentials. And Virginia is a sleeping giant. They should have done better under Al Groh and there is some history there. So there is no reason London can’t get them eventually competing for ACC titles.

ACC: London seems more likable than Groh, but looking at London’s first real recruiting class and Groh’s early classes…they are similar. But Groh couldn’t win, and the great recruiting classes stopped.

Mandel: In the recruiting chapter in my book, my theory about first-year coaches and their second recruiting class being their first full class is…almost always at a major school the class is highly ranked. That’s when the excitement is at its highest, because they haven’t played a game yet. New coach, full of energy…I’ve seen that story over and over again…you’ve got to start winning. Minnesota had a great class a few years ago (when Tim Brewster took over as head coach in 2007), but that’s not happening anymore.

ACC: Who is the best coach in the ACC?

Mandel: I’m going to go with Paul Johnson…no…Frank Beamer deserves it.

Johnson is the more recent guy. He might be the next best coach, but Beamer has done more overall over time. Beamer is probably under respected in that he’s not obviously talked about like Bob Stoops, Mack Brown or Urban Meyer because they’ve all won national titles.

Beamer has never done that, and obviously it’s been…gosh, 11 years since they played for one. But in time, he’s not at a school that’s expected to do that. Those guys are at programs with great history, where as Tech’s history started with Frank Beamer. The consistency he’s shown over the years…is a remarkable accomplishment.

ACC: What happens to Virginia Tech when he leaves? Can they sustain this success?

Mandel: It’s hard to say. One thing Tech has benefited from since they joined the ACC is the fact that FSU and Miami have been down. If those programs get back to what they were, it becomes a lot harder for Tech to stay at that level, with or without Beamer.

I think the ACC is becoming more competitive. It was kind of a laughing stock during the first few years of the 12-team league. You can see each year that Georgia Tech is now a factor, and UNC with Butch Davis is a factor.

Because of that, it’s going to be hard for Virginia Tech to sustain this level, and if you lose your coach it depends on who the next guy –whether it’s Bud Foster or somebody else – has the CEO skills. Tech has X’s and O’s down and they’ve kind of patented the defense/special teams mantra.

But can Foster, or whoever else, run a program? We’ll have to see.

ACC: I’ve seen first-hand what Foster has done, and he has as much respect from the fans, players, boosters, and fellow coaches as Beamer. I don’t know any other program where you see that.

Mandel: Yeah, it’s stunning that he hasn’t gotten a head-coaching job to this point. He might not have been appreciated as much outside Virginia Tech, but they are going to be a top 10 team this year despite losing so many big players on defense, now people just expect that they’ll reload and put out another great defense. But that’s what Bud Foster does.

ACC: What is your favorite stadium to visit in the ACC?

Mandel: I’ve never been to Clemson’s stadium, which I’ve heard is great. But of the ones I’ve been to, it’s Lane Stadium. It’s so loud. I just happened to see the other day that the capacity is 66,000 (Actually 66,203)?

It’s just as loud as an 80,000-seat stadium somewhere else. It’s a little hard to get to, but once you’re there it’s a great stadium.

ACC: I talked to Tom O’Brien when he was at Boston College, and he said that Lane Stadium blew Penn State’s Beaver Stadium (Capacity: 107,282) out of the water.

Mandel: It’s loud. I can name louder ones, like LSU, Florida and Oregon actually, but it’s up there. The Penn State thing is not entirely surprising to me. Penn State’s stadium looks cool. I went to a game where they did “White Out,” and it looked really cool. Then the game started, and it wasn’t that interesting to me.

ACC: Who wins the ACC this year?

Mandel: This is the most competitive that it has been. There are four teams in the same division (Coastal) that could win it. I like Virginia Tech. It’s not because of the defense for once, but the offense. It’s finally, after years of having to watch those struggles to move the ball; I think it’s going to be exciting this year.

I mentioned Ryan Williams (as a Heisman candidate), but I wonder if Tyrod Taylor will get himself in the mix, because people love those dual-threat quarterbacks, and he could put up big numbers this year.

I give Tech the slight edge over North Carolina, who I think will rise up this year and contend for the title, because they could have an epic season.

I’m confident to pick them to win the ACC, but I have no idea to pick the Boise State game. I’ll probably not know until the day of the game.

ACC: Were you at the game against USC (at FedEx Field) in 2004? Virginia Tech was in that game until the very end. I don’t think Boise State is 2004 USC and I think this Tech team is better than in 2004. I know it’s apples and oranges, but…

Mandel: The ’04 Tech team was a surprise. They weren’t picked to do much, and I was really surprised when they hung with USC. I don’t know if the crowd will be a factor; Boise State has won at places like Oregon and big bowl games. It’s more a question of how Boise handles the expectations of a 9-month build-up and how big this is for them.

Virginia Tech comes into the game knowing they can still win the ACC and even contend for the national title with a loss, but this is Boise’s season.

ACC: Both teams have a lot of pressure, though. Boise’s season is riding on this game, but Tech faces the pressure of finally winning an early season game against a big-time opponent. They’ve got to win one of these games.

Mandel: Tech will definitely feel some backlash, because they have gone out and lost these big opening games. The 2007 team, when all hell broke lose and they actually finished third in the BCS standings, I said there was no way they were the third best team in the country, I watched them get humiliated by LSU. They need to step up and win one of these big non-conference games.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tell it like it is, Stewart. So there you have it, he thinks Virginia Tech will win the ACC, and he loves coming to Lane Stadium (though he’s never been to Death Valley).

It sounds like he’s high on the Hokies this season, and he’ll be in Landover on Labor Day to watch the Boise State showdown.

It was a pleasure to talk to Mandel, and if the ACC eventually gets back to the forefront of college football like he thinks it might, fans all along the coast will surely be reading much more from one of the sport’s most distinguished journalists.

Athlon/Lindy’s preseason magazines released

Got my hands on copies of Athlon and Lindy’s college football preview magazines this evening. While we all eagerly await the June 8 release of Phil Steele’s magazine, these two publications are always very, very good.

Here’s a look at how each projected this year’s conference standings:

	Atlantic	Coastal
ATHLON	Florida State (13) Clemson (25) Boston College (34) NC State (61) Maryland (67) Wake Forest (68)	Virginia Tech (10) Miami (14) North Carolina (19) Georgia Tech (28) Duke (70) Virginia (81)
LINDY’S	Florida State (26) Boston College (36) Clemson (37) NC State (45) Wake Forest (65) Maryland (76)	Virginia Tech (8) North Carolina (13) Georgia Tech (17) Miami (20) Duke (70) Virginia (74)

Here’s my first impression of Lindy’s:

What they got right:

• I like Georgia Tech at 17. A lot of people are down on Paul Johnson and crew this year, citing the departures of Derrick Morgan, Demaryius Thomas, Jonathan Dwyer and Morgan Burnett as too much to overcome for a title defense. Only Burnett and Morgan’s departures will have a big impact on this team, though. Thomas was a big deep threat, but watch out for Stephen Hill, a 6’4’’ sophomore, to fill his void just fine. Also, Anthony Allen and Roddy Jones are back to carry the load, and both are primed for big years. Georgia Tech will challenge for the Coastal title all the way until the end of the year.
• I love distinguishing between “best” and “most valuable” players. Lindy’s says Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor is the most valuable player in the league, and that is absolutely true. Without Taylor, the Hokies would be struggling to win seven games. Lindy’s also says Christian Ponder will be the Offensive Player of the Year. This is a good choice, and there are several other candidates nipping at his heels. However, I liked the distinction they made between who is the best player and who is the most valuable. Most everyone would agree Ponder is a better quarterback than Taylor, but the Hokies need Taylor more than the Seminoles need Ponder.
• They went out on a somewhat sturdy limb by assuming Bryn Renner would get a majority of the snaps at quarterback for North Carolina. Lindy’s picked Renner to be the Newcomer of the Year in the ACC. He is more of a playmaker than incumbent senior T.J. Yates, and if the Tar Heels want to make a push this season for the ACC championship, Renner might just be the missing part to that effort. They have the Heels at 13^th overall, which is a good estimate if Renner plays like he did in the spring. That defense is too nasty and Butch Davis is too good of a coach. Since Davis has come to Chapel Hill, the Heels rarely beat themselves, and have yet to underachieve. It’s a lot easier to underachieve when expectations are much higher, though.

What they got wrong

• Jacory Harris as the premier Heisman contender in the league. Harris had a bad case of interceptionitis last year and after a strong September, was considerably average. Christian Ponder has a veteran offensive line protecting him, something Harris can not claim, and Ryan Williams has more than 1,655 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns under his belt in just one year. Pittsburgh’s Dion Lewis, who had an eerily similar year to Williams in 2009, is listed as a favorite, but not Williams. It’s understood that Darren Evans will take some carries away from the sophomore standout, but he should still be in the mix. Ponder could be in the thick of the discussion by the end of the year on two conditions: 1) Florida State wins and 2) he stays healthy. Ponder has the best arm in the conference, and could put up some gaudy numbers if those two stipulations are met.
  
• Maryland running back Da’Rel Scott on the second team All-ACC instead of Anthony Allen. Scott ran for only 425 yards, averaging five yards per carry and just four touchdowns in 2009. The Maryland offense will run on generic batteries while most of the other teams in the league will have Energizer. Scott won’t put up numbers to validate this pick. Allen, on the other hand, will be the feature back in the run-heavy Yellow Jacket offense. He’s almost guaranteed to top the 1,000-yard mark, which is usually enough to make at least the second team.

This is what I have to say about Athlon’s picks:

What they got right:

• North Carolina’s defense might be better than some professional units. In it’s annual Athlon Awards – given to the teams with the best positional units in the country – the magazine says the Tar Heels’ linebackers and defensive backs are unmatched. Not only that, but their defensive line was rated second only to Iowa. Robert Quinn and Marvin Austin form a ferocious inside-outside tandem on the line, while Quann Sturdivant and Bruce Carter both have All-American potential. The defensive backfield will pick off loads of passes, just as it did a year ago. Deunta Williams and Kendric Burney intercepted 11 passes and returned them for 314 yards. That’s a dangerous thought for opposing offenses. The Heels’ defense is unquestionably the most talented in America.
• Christian Ponder as the All-ACC quarterback. Ponder, Joshua Nesbitt, Taylor and Harris are all viable candidates for this role, but Ponder is the best pure quarterback in the bunch, and has the best chance to put up big numbers. He doesn’t turn the ball over at a rate like Harris, and he will simply throw more than Taylor and obviously Nesbitt. For Nesbitt to earn this spot, he’d have to be a much more efficient passer. He can run the triple-option to perfection, but it’s hard to give him the nod unless he completes more passes than he did a year ago.
• Will Snyderwine, not Casey Barth, as the second-team kicker. Snyderwine has a stronger leg than Barth and is just as accurate. With no more Thaddeus Lewis, the Blue Devils won’t score touchdowns like they did a year ago, but should still set up Snyderwine for plenty of field goal opportunities. He was 17-20 last season, including 5-for-5 from between 40-49 yards. Barth will play a larger role on his team, because North Carolina will need as many points as it can get and will be in more close ball games, but Snyderwine is the better kicker.

What they got wrong:

• Athlon thinks Virginia Tech’s receiving corps is only the eighth-best in the league. That’s a slap in the face to a unit that has not graduated a contributor in two years. Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale are both big-time possession receivers while Dyrell Roberts is the speedster who can make huge plays after the catch. The coaching staff has high hopes for redshirt sophomore Marcus Davis, who is one of the fastest players on the team. A unit as experienced and talented as this one is much closer to the top of the league than the bottom.
• Florida State at 13 is much too optimistic. It’s ironic that Jimbo Fisher is replacing Bobby Bowden as head coach, but new defensive coordinator Mark Stoops might be under more pressure to do a good job in 2010. Florida State’s defense was nothing short of pathetic a year ago, and it’s Stoops’ job to fix that. If the defense is strong, the ‘Noles could finish near the top 10. However, to give Stoops enough credit for this massive overhaul and put Florida State so high is a little generous. A ranking closer to 20 would be fairer.

The ACC’s most irreplaceable players

The theme this week on ESPN.com and ESPN’s College Football Live is irreplaceable players for the upcoming season.

This spurred me to think of several guys in the ACC whose teams could fall apart without them.

There are as many as seven teams with legitimate belief they could win the conference title. But as history has shown, things rarely go according to planned as the season unfolds.

Injuries happen, as do suspensions. Both are tough to swallow for the throngs of fans who scour message boards in their cubicles during the week; that thrive on the “what if?” discussions that make the off-season survivable.

Those same fans hold their breath every Saturday that certain players don’t roll over a heap of players the wrong way, or take an opposing helmet in exactly the wrong spot on their body.

Last year’s national title game was exhibit A of the importance of preparing backup players for unsuspecting moments. Garrett Gilbert had no idea, nor intention for that matter, to play all but six plays against Alabama after Colt McCoy’s shoulder left him hopelessly on the sideline.

There are plenty of guys in the ACC who fans will be equally as apprehensive about a potential sidelining this fall.

Tyrod Taylor, QB, Virginia Tech

There’s no way Virginia Tech can compete for the ACC title, let alone the national championship without its senior quarterback. Taylor enters his fourth season as the starting quarterback for the Hokies, third in a full-time role. His numbers as a passer took a substantial leap in his junior season, but more important than his stats were his complete grasp of the team.

There are other offensive stars – Ryan Williams and Darren Evans specifically – but the entire team looks up to Taylor as its face. He earned the complete respect of his teammates when he led an 88-yard drive to beat Nebraska last season.

The expectations in Blacksburg are as high as they’ve ever been, and it all hinges on Taylor being under center. His backups are Logan Thomas and JuJu Clayton, listed as co-no. 2’s on the depth chart. Neither is ready to be handed the reins to a Division I offense yet. Thomas is a freak athlete who reminds many people physically of Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor. Clayton is an undersized product who has neither the arm strength nor the grasp of the offense to keep the Hokies afloat in Taylor’s absence.

Montel Harris, RB, Boston College

There’s been a long line of great running backs in the Eagles’ program this past deacde, going back to William Green, Derrick Knight, Andre Callender and more. Harris is a special back who carried the ball 308 times last season for 1,457 yards. Besides Harris, the rest of the team combined to rush for 323 yards on 164 carries, less than a two yard-per carry average.

Harris is a diminutive back – he’s listed at a trim 5’10’’, 190 lbs. – but that doesn’t mean he’s not a between-the-tackles runner. Harris will put his facemask in the teeth of any front seven, and a single defender rarely tackles him. He is shifty in the open-field, but not so much that he can rely on his agility on most carries.

With the uncertainty surrounding the quarterback spot for the Eagles, as well as an inexperienced group of wide receivers, Harris will be the focal point of the offense. He should enter fall camp with a chunk of meat added to his frame, because teams aren’t going to pull any punches on him this time around.

There is nobody behind him with any experience, and if Harris goes down, it’s hard to fathom just how this offense can generate points. The Eagles seem to be a sleeper in the ACC, but even with a very good defense, they’ll need Harris to duplicate his 2009 performance – and maybe even improve on it, if that’s possible – to challenge Clemson and Florida State for the Atlantic Division title.

Torrey Smith, KR, Maryland

Most places, kick returners are as hard to replace as wastebaskets. There are exceptions to the rule of course; C.J. Spiller and Devin Hester come to mind. It won’t be long until the country knows the name Torrey Smith. There hasn’t been much attention paid to Smith so far in his career, but he is a crucial component for Maryland.

The Terrapins offense will sputter in first gear more than it will be on cruise control this year. One of the best ways they can reach scoring opportunities is for Smith to hand the offense tremendous field position.

In 2009, Smith averaged more than 25 yards per kick return, and returned two kicks for touchdowns. He is clearly the most dangerous return man in the ACC, and he could emerge as the best in the country as the season unfolds. Maryland will have a hard time winning many ballgames, but without Smith, the number of times the Terps will even cross midfield could be limited.

Kyle Parker, QB, Clemson

Prior to spring practice, Clemson fans knew Parker could very well never return to the football field in pursuit of a professional baseball career. As the college baseball season draws nearer to a close, Parker is still undecided whether he’ll come back to play quarterback for coach Dabo Swinney.
The only thing that could have happened this spring more discouraging to Tiger fans would have been if Steve Spurrier broke into Memorial Stadium and stole Howard’s Rock. Parker destroyed pitchers on a daily basis en route to an All-ACC season, while the search for his potential replacement at quarterback was a disaster.

Tajh Boyd handled the Lion’s – errr, Tiger’s – share of snaps under center in Parker’s absence, and the coaching staff hoped he could progress enough so he’d be ready if Parker does not return. Boyd did nothing in the spring game to prove that notion, completing just eight of 25 passes.

The Tigers’ running game will be strong, with Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper pairing up in the backfield. Clemson has the chance to be a dangerous team if it has an experienced elite-level signal caller.

Boyd was highly recruited out of high school, and has plenty of potential, but if Clemson wants a shot at 10 wins – a feat it has not accomplished since 1990 – it needs Parker, not Boyd, calling the shots.

Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia

The Cavaliers’ road back to the top of the ACC is longer than from Charlottesville to Portland. The offense is putrid, and the defense is retooling under its new coaching staff. Dowling has garnered plenty of preseason hype as one of the best defensive backs in America.

Like 99 percent of football teams, the defense is going to be better prepared than the offense when the season begins. That gap is usually even greater when a team is under a new coaching staff.

Virginia will need its defense to not only stop its opponents from scoring, but also be opportunistic as well. If there is one game-changer on that defense, it’s Dowling. His three interceptions in 2009 were returned for an average of 23.3 yards. That’s the definition of a momentum swing.

Without its lockdown corner, Virginia will find it hard to contain the offenses of the ACC in a year in which the league is full of good ones.

Joshua Nesbitt, QB, Georgia Tech

This goes against my philosophy that Paul Johnson is better at plugging in new faces to his offense than Kenny Chesney is at writing summertime hits. Nesbitt is the essence of irreplaceable, though. In his third year operating the triple option, Nesbitt’s experience will turn this offense from a cheap liquor to a smooth-drinking vodka.

It’s probably unfair to refer to the last two editions of the Tech offense as not smooth, but wait until this fall and observe the fluidity and confidence Nesbitt will exude under center.

Tevin Washington firmly staked his claim as Nesbitt’s backup, and word out of Tech camp is that Washington could be as good as the current starter by the end of his career. Still, in an offense that relies so heavily on timing and feel by the quarterback, you cannot replace a third-year starter without a significant drop-off.