It is never too early to make predictions, and with the season less than three months away, we are seeking your input on who you think will take home some of the ACC's top honors at the end of the 2014 season.
We'll start today with offensive player of the year.
QB Jameis Winston, R-So., Florida State: The reigning winner of this award has to enter 2014 as the favorite to do it again. The quarterback for the defending national champions and the likely preseason No. 1 team, Winston is coming off a redshirt freshman season in which he threw for 4,057 yards with 40 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, winning the Heisman Trophy.
RB Duke Johnson, Jr., Miami: In just more than seven games last season, Johnson ran for 920 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 6.3 yards per carry. The dynamic back was the engine that made the Hurricanes' offense go, something that became all the more evident after he suffered a broken right ankle in a loss at Florida State. With Johnson, Miami was 7-1 and averaged better than 36 points per game. Without him, the Hurricanes were 2-3 and averaged less than 30 points per game. As long as he's healthy, Johnson should be right in the thick of this race throughout 2014.
WR Jamison Crowder, Sr., Duke: Perhaps no player means more to his team than Crowder does to the Blue Devils. He was targeted on 37 percent of Duke's passes last season, catching 108 balls for 1,360 yards and eight touchdowns, as he helped lead the way to a Coastal Division title. With quarterback Anthony Boone back throwing him passes again, Crowder stands to have a strong senior season for a Duke team that shouldn't be sneaking up on anyone anymore.
WR DeVante Parker, Sr., Louisville: The biggest question marks surrounding Parker's candidacy are obvious ones: How will he fare without first-round pick Teddy Bridgewater throwing him the ball? How will he perform for new coach Bobby Petrino and staff? How will he adjust to stiffer competition in the ACC? If Parker's 55-catch, 885-yard, 12-touchdown season from 2013 is any indication, the answers will probably be positive ones for the Cardinals senior, whom the program is already touting as it enters the ACC era.
Others: Pitt's Tyler Boyd made a splash as a rookie last season and will only get better. Rashad Greene is set to get more targets after losing two of his fellow FSU receivers. And, of course, Winston won this award last season in his first year playing, meaning that there could be a new face in the ACC who makes an immediate splash. Be sure to share your thoughts.