|
All this week, we’re taking a fresh look, position by position, at how ACC team stack up -- from the best of the conference to the units that might surprise to the positions that will prove to be an Achilles heel for some teams’ 2017’s title hopes. First up: Quarterbacks Best overall: Louisville. It is hard to rank any other team No. 1 when Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson returns for his junior season. To be sure, there are many areas where Jackson must improve, especially after the team lost its final three games to end the season. Louisville has revamped its offensive line, but Jackson also must improve his accuracy, especially down the field (Jackson only completed 56.2 percent of his passes overall last season, and that was a career high). Still, he did gain over 5,000 yards and remains one of the most dynamic players in college football. Veteran backup Kyle Bolin returns, and so does redshirt freshman Jawon Pass -- the future at the position. Runner-up: Florida State. Deondre Francois threw for over 3,000 yards as a redshirt freshman a year ago and returns to much higher expectations, not only for himself but for his team. The Seminoles already are a popular choice to make it into the College Football Playoff, and Francois' potential in 2017 is a big reason why. Despite getting sacked 36 times and knocked down many more, Francois proved himself time and again. Another year, and he should be even better. The biggest concern here is a lack of depth at quarterback. With Malik Henry deciding to transfer and Sean Maguire out of eligibility, Florida State is left with J.J. Cosentino and early enrollee Bailey Hockman as the only other scholarship quarterbacks available in the spring. Potential sleeper: Clemson. Clemson? Sleeper? Not the team, but whomever starts at quarterback. With Deshaun Watson gone, all eyes will be on the player who wins the starting job. Though Dabo Swinney has said he is not opposed to playing multiple quarterbacks, that scenario did not play out all that well in 2014 when Cole Stoudt and Watson both played to start the season. There is a plethora of talent waiting: Zerrick Cooper is a former ESPN 300 player who just took a redshirt; Kelly Bryant has played some as a backup to Watson; and Hunter Johnson comes in as the top quarterback prospect in the 2017 class. Clemson has gotten the quarterback position right nearly every season since Swinney was elevated to head coach in 2008. If the Tigers get it right again, then why not think playoff? Potential sleeper 2: Miami. Brad Kaaya is gone, but there is an excellent foundation for the next Miami quarterback -- what should be a top 10 defense, an improving offensive line and standout skill players in Mark Walton and Ahmmon Richards. Backup Malik Rosier is set to compete with Jack Allison, Vincent Testaverde Jr. and Evan Shirreffs, while true freshmen N'Kosi Perry and Cade Weldon hope to join the mix. Potential sleeper 3: Pitt. The Panthers have relied on their fair share of graduate transfers, and this season could be no exception with USC transfer Max Browne set to compete in spring practice. New offensive coordinator Shawn Watson has made his name developing quarterbacks, and Browne showed tons of potential as a former ESPN 300 recruit. With depth at running back and what should be a better defense, Pitt could make a Coastal run if it can get the most out of its next quarterback. Achilles’ heel: North Carolina. Before last season began, it was hard to envision a scenario where Mitch Trubisky would not be a two-year starter. Yet after a junior season in which NFL scouts started cluing into his potential as a pro quarterback, Trubisky is gone and the Tar Heels do not necessarily have a viable succession play. Coach Larry Fedora must now turn to his third different starting quarterback in as many seasons. The options: Nathan Elliott, Logan Byrd and Chazz Surratt. Between them, only Elliott has attempted a pass in a game. Nine, to be exact. What's more, North Carolina did not sign a quarterback in the 2017 class. The Tar Heels could be looking at the graduate transfer route depending on who becomes available. If not, this could end up being a developmental year in more ways than one. Our Top 5 overall: 1. Louisville: All about Lamar Jackson. 2. Florida State. Deondre Francois makes the Seminoles the early ACC favorite. 3. Syracuse: Eric Dungey showed potential in Dino Babers' offense before getting injured last season. With ESPN 300 quarterback Tommy DeVito now in the mix (along with redshirt freshman Rex Culpepper and experienced backup Zack Mahoney), the Orange could have the deepest quarterback group in the conference. 4. Duke: Daniel Jones showed tremendous promise as a redshirt freshman a season ago when he took over for injured Thomas Sirk. With that experience, he makes quarterback a position of strength for the Blue Devils going into the season. 5. NC State: Ryan Finley quietly became a 3,000-yard passer last season and goes into his redshirt junior year with a solid offensive line behind him and what should be a talented backfield, even with Matt Dayes gone.
|
