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| Trevor Lawrence (SI.com) |
Syracuse is out to show that last year's 10-win campaign was no fluke, and if QB Tommy DeVito can play anywhere close to as well as Eric Dungey did, the Orange could once again cause problems.
Year one did not go well for Willie Taggart at Florida State, though there is no hot seat because Jimbo Fisher left the program on a downslide before scurrying off to Texas A&M. The Noles should be very good on D, but will need to make huge strides at QB (where James Blackman and Alex Hornibrook are vying for the job) and along the offensive line if they want to begin a return to prominence.
It looks like a rebuilding year for Dave Doeren and NC State, which loses QB Ryan Finley and top wideouts Kelvin Harmon and Jakobi Meyers. The offense could struggle early, but the defense may be good enough to keep them in a lot of games. Watch for rush end James Smith-Williams to become the latest Wolfpack end to attain stardom, and there is depth -- albeit young -- up front thanks to a solid recruiting class.
A spirited quarterback battle will take shape at Wake Forest, and whether the job is won by Jamie Newman or Sam Hartman (we are going with the latter), there are enough weapons on hand to keep defenses honest. The defense loses six starters, though LB Justin Strnad and CB Essang Bassey are underrated talents.
Boston College could end up being better than its record indicates as the schedule is brutal -- road trips to Clemson, Syracuse, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh in the last five weeks of the season, and a late home game against what may be a rejuvenated Florida State squad. The Eagles may take a step back this year, though should be very good on offense. RB AJ Dillon is a Heisman Trophy candidate.
There is nowhere to go but up for Louisville, which won just twice a year ago and fielded one of the most anemic offenses in America (20 ppg). The defense didn't help matters, allowing 44 per contest, but nearly everyone returns and the slate is wiped clean with a new coaching staff. The transfer of DE Ty Tyler from Marshall will help the pass rush and make the defense somewhat improved.
While the Atlantic has zero drama, the Coastal should be a fun race between bitter rivals Virginia and Virginia Tech. The Cavaliers surged last year and could be even better this time around, while the Hokies finished 6-7 but own the nation's longest bowl streak, 26 years and counting. Virginia will ride a balanced offense and a smothering defense to a possible divisional crown. Tech has 10 starters back to erase the memory of last year's porous unit (31 ppg allowed), and the offense should be better with a bunch of holdovers.
Miami has loaded up the talent thanks to liberal use of the transfer portal, and the defense could be among the best in the nation despite losing stars Jaquan Johnson, Joe Jackson and Gerald Willis. The Hurricanes still haven't solved their quarterback problem -- we're leaning toward N'Kosi Perry to win the job, and he has weapons but needs improved play from the O-line if he wants to accomplish anything. If the defense can once again lead the nation in TFL's and repeatedly bring out the turnover chain, Miami will be solid.
Despite losing quarterback Daniel Jones to the NFL, Duke could still contend in the division. Eight starters are back on defense, with secondary stars Mark Gilbert and Drew Singleton showing the way. The Blue Devils finish with three of their last four at home, though it's a tough stretch -- Notre Dame, Syracuse, at Wake Forest and the home finale against Miami.
Pittsburgh did not look like a Pat Narduzzi team last year, surrendering 30+ points six times and also putting up 30+ a half dozen times on offense. The offense loses a bunch and the defense, while showing some star power in the form of DE Rashad Weaver and S Damar Hamlin, may take a step back. A bowl berth might be the ceiling for the Panthers.
Everything old is new again in Chapel Hill as North Carolina welcomes back Mack Brown for a second stint. Young is the buzzword for the Tar Heels, especially on offense, but the talent has been upgraded thanks to a solid recruiting class. The D should improve under ex-Army DC Jay Bateman.
Who knows what to expect from Georgia Tech under first-year head coach Geoff Collins. The only definite is that the option is gone, and if history is an indicator the Yellow Jackets will become very physical on offense with more of a pro style look. At least that's how Collins did things at Temple. With players recruited to run a different style, Tech could be looking at a difficult year. But Collins has been enthusiastic about the new gig, and he's in a fertile recruiting area, so long-term success is definitely not out of the question.
Aside from Clemson's inexorable march to another ACC crown are a few other storylines -- new coaches at Louisville, Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Miami, all programs in different levels of rebuilding. Can Florida State overcome all of the outside noise and become a powerhouse again? The league is better when the Seminoles can challenge Clemson for surpremacy, and while they should be improved in 2019, there is a lot of work to do to get back to the level to which they are accustomed.
ACC PREDICTIONS
2 Syracuse (9-3, 5-3)*R
3 Florida State (8-4, 5-3)*R
4 NC State (8-4, 4-4)*
5 Wake Forest (7-5, 3-5)*
6 Boston College (5-7, 2-6)
7 Louisville (3-9, 1-7)
COASTAL
1 Virginia (9-4, 6-2)*R
2 Virginia Tech (8-4, 5-3)*R
3 Miami Fla (7-5, 5-3)*
4 Duke (6-6, 4-4)*
4 Pittsburgh (6-6, 4-4)*
6 North Carolina (4-8, 3-5)
7 Georgia Tech (4-8, 1-7)
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Clemson over Virginia
* Bowl participant
R CFB Focus Top 40 team
ALL ACC
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB Trevor Lawrence/Clemson
RB Travis Etienne/Clemson
RB AJ Dillon/Boston College
WR Justyn Ross/Clemson
WR Tee Higgins/Clemson
WR KJ Osborn/Miami Fla
TE Dalton Keene/Virginia Tech
OT Tremayne Anchrum/Clemson
OT Mekhi Becton/Louisville
OG John Simpson/Clemson
OG Navaughn Donaldson/Miami Fla
C Sean Pollard/Clemson
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DE Xavier Thomas/Clemson
DE Jonathan Garvin/Miami Fla
DT Marvin Wilson/Florida State
DT Jason Strowbridge/North Carolina
LB Shaq Quarterman/Miami Fla
LB Isaiah Simmons/Clemson
LB Charles Snowden/Virginia
CB Bryce Hall/Virginia
CB Mark Gilbert/Duke
S Andre Cisco/Syracuse
S Jarius Morehead/NC State
FIRST TEAM SPECIALISTS
K Andre Szmyt/Syracuse
P Sterling Hofrichter/Syracuse
RS Joe Reed/Virginia
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB Bryce Perkins/Virginia
RB Cam Akers/Florida State
RB Ricky Person Jr/NC State
WR Damon Hazelton/Virginia Tech
WR Hasise Dubois/Virginia
WR Tamorrion Terry/Florida State
TE Brevin Jordan/Miami Fla
OT Justin Herron/Wake Forest
OT Charlie Heck/North Carolina
OG Rakavius Chambers/Duke
OG Dillon Reinkensmeyer/Virginia
C Jimmy Morrissey/Pittsburgh
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DE Rashad Weaver/Pittsburgh
DE Alton Robinson/Syracuse
DT Eli Hanback/Virginia
DT Nyles Pinckney/Clemson
LB Michael Pinckney/Miami Fla
LB Justin Strnad/Wake Forest
LB Dax Hollifield/Virginia Tech
CB Essang Bassey/Wake Forest
CB Trajan Bandy/Miami Fla.
S Jaiden Lars-Woodbey/Florida State
S Reggie Floyd/Virginia Tech
SECOND TEAM SPECIALISTS
K Christopher Dunn/NC State
P Pressley Harvin III/Georgia Tech
RS Maurice Ffrench/Pittsburgh
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Trevor Lawrence
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Bryce Hall
COACH OF THE YEAR: Bronco Mendenhall/Virginia
TOP NEWCOMER: WR Frank Ladson/Clemson
TOP FIVE GAMES (NONCONFERENCE)
Florida vs Miami Fla (Orlando) (Aug. 24)
Boise State vs Florida State (Jacksonville) (Aug. 31)
Texas A&M at Clemson (Sept. 7)
Florida State at Florida (Nov. 30)
Clemson at South Carolina (Nov. 30)
TOP FIVE GAMES (CONFERENCE)
Clemson at Syracuse (Sept. 14)
NC State at Florida State (Sept. 28)
Virginia at Miami Fla (Oct. 11)
Miami at Florida State (Nov. 2)
Virginia Tech at Virginia (Nov. 29)
TOP FIVE INCOMING FRESHMEN
WR Frank Ladson/Clemson
CB Akeem Dent/Florida State
QB Sam Howell/North Carolina
DE Savion Jackson/NC State
WR Joseph Ngata/Clemson
TOP FIVE TRANSFERS
S Bubba Bolden/Miami (USC)
DE Antonneous Clayton/Georgia Tech (Florida)
DE Trevon Hill/Miami (Virginia Tech)
CB Cam'Ron Kelly/North Carolina (Auburn)
DE Ty Tyler/Louisville (Marshall)
TOP FIVE JUCO TRANSFERS
DT DaShawn Crawford/Virginia Tech
LB Monty Montgomery/Louisville
OT Jay Williams/Florida State
DE Raymond Vohasek/North Carolina
OG Darius Tisdale/Syracuse
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