Deshaun Watson started as a freshman. So did Lamar Jackson. Dalvin Cook rushed for 1,000 yards in his first season.

Which of the incoming ACC freshmen will make major contributions for their team in 2017? The ACC blog picks the recruit most likely to make the biggest impact for each team.

Team: Virginia Tech

Recruit: S Devon Hunter, No. 126 on ESPN 300

Why he will make an impact: Hunter was the highest-rated player to sign with the Hokies, and his arrival is crucial for a variety of reasons. First, Virginia Tech needs help at safety, where starter Chuck Clark is gone (so is backup Der'Woun Greene). Defensive coordinator Bud Foster is not shy about playing true freshmen, and if Hunter is as good as advertised, he will have a tremendous opportunity to become a starter right away. At 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, he already has safety size before hitting a college weight room (he is slightly bigger than Clark). In high school, Hunter played running back and safety and made it to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He impressed scouts and coaches with his size and speed, and his ability to be aggressive and physical. These are all key attributes in Foster's scheme, especially since safeties are required to do so much.

The other reason Hunter is so important to this class is because he comes from the all-important Tidewater region in Virginia. It is increasingly paramount to keep the top players in Virginia home, so having Hunter choose Virginia Tech over Florida, North Carolina, Auburn, Alabama and Ole Miss was huge. This is a player who first received an offer while he was in middle school and Frank Beamer was still the coach. So getting Hunter into the fold after recruiting him for so many years has to be especially gratifying for Foster.

Coach's quote: "Just a dynamic football player," Foster told local reporters. "He’s a guy we’re counting on to be an impact football player right way at one of our safety spots. He’s a big, physical kid. He’s already ahead of the game physically."