No. 3. Duke Johnson, RB, Miami
Previous ranking: No. 11
Making the case for Johnson: He had what was arguably the greatest freshman season in school history. Still need more? Johnson, who was named the ACC’s overall and offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012, was one of the ACC’s most electric kick returners, and he set the school single-season record with 892 kick return yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a freshman-record 947 yards and 10 touchdowns. His 2,060 all-purpose yards were the second-most in program history.
Johnson played in all 12 games last year and made five starts. He also had six games with 200-plus all-purpose yards and four 100-yard rushing games. He was named the ACC’s Rookie of the Week a league-best five-times. It’s possible Johnson could be even better this fall, as all five starters return on the offensive line, and the Canes have one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Stephen Morris.
No. 25 Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech
No. 24 Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina
No. 23 Nikita Whitlock, NG, Wake Forest
No. 22 Jerome Smith, RB, Syracuse
No. 21 Jamison Crowder, WR, Duke
No. 20 Devin Street, WR, Pitt
No. 19 Kareem Martin, DE, North Carolina
No. 18 Rashad Greene, WR, Florida State
No. 17 Jack Tyler, LB, Virginia Tech
No. 16 Ross Cockrell, CB, Duke
No. 15 Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State
No. 14 Alex Amidon, WR, Boston College
No. 13 Michael Campanaro, WR, Wake Forest
No. 12 James Gayle, DE, Virginia Tech
No. 11 Christian Jones, LB, Florida State
No. 10 Aaron Donald, DT, Pitt
No. 9 Lamarcus Joyner, DB, Florida State
No. 8 Jeremiah Attaochu, DE, Georgia Tech
No. 7 Bryn Renner, QB, North Carolina
No. 6 Stephen Morris, QB, Miami
No. 5 James Hurst, OT, North Carolina
No. 4 Stefon Diggs, WR, Maryland