Most people expect Florida State to dominate again, but what about the rest of their division?
2014 NCAA Football Season: ACC Atlantic Preview
Boston College Eagles
Just three starters return from last year’s offense. Unfortunately for the Eagles, 2,000-yard rusher Andre Williams is not one of them. Neither is quarterback Chase Rettig, nor last year’s leading wide receiver Alex Amidon. To add insult to injury (or in this case, injury to insult), returning wide receiver Harrison Jackson is out for the year after tearing his ACL in the spring. That leaves precious little experience at the wideout spot, which won’t make things any easier for quarterback Tyler Murphy. Murphy, a senior, transferred from Florida, where he went 2-4 as a starter after Jeff Driskel got injured last season. The Eagles will likely go with a committee at running back, led by sophomore Myles Willis. The center and both guards return on the offensive line.
Six starters on back on the defensive side of the ball, including all four from the secondary. That experience should help BC to finish higher than last in pass defense this season. Only two starters return in the front seven, but there is a decent amount of talent there. Some of the guys have shown flashes, but they need more consistency. Senior linebacker John Keyes, who while not a returning starter has quite a bit of experience, should help solidify that unit, along with junior and 2013 starter Steven Daniels.
Kicker/punter Nate Freese is gone, and will be replaced by another kicker/punter, junior Alex Howell.
Prediction: With this amount of turnover, it’s easy to pick out a handful of games that are definitely winnable and a handful that almost certainly aren’t. That still leaves several in between that are a crapshoot. I don’t think a bowl game is out of the question, but I think a 5-7 record is more likely.
Clemson Tigers
Make no mistake, the Clemson offense will missing quarterback Tajh Boyd this season. However, senior Cole Stoudt played fairly well in backup/mop-up duty last season. He’ll be pushed by freshman DeShaun Watson. As for their targets, someone will have to step up after the Tigers lost their top two receivers, Sammy Watkins and Martavis Bryant, to the NFL. Senior Adam Humphries, the lone returning starter at wideout, will lead a young and fairly inexperienced receiving group. There are multiple options in the backfield to replace 2013 starter Roderick McDowell; someone will have to emerge as a true, or at least good, number one. Last year’s starting center and both guards will be blocking for whoever starts.
Six starters return on defense, including stud junior defensive end Vic Beasley, who had 13 sacks last season. He’s one of three returning starters in the front four, so that unit should be in excellent shape. The Tigers will miss linebacker Spencer Shuey, but senior Tony Steward should replace him capably, and Shuey is the only starting linebacker who isn’t returning. There are a few questions in the secondary, as Bashaud Breeland left early for the NFL and only one starter is back. There are a few upperclassmen in the backfield, and some highly-regarded young players, so the pass defense shouldn’t take too big a step back.
Kicker Chandler Catanzaro graduated as the second-ranked single-season scorer in ACC history and will have to be replaced. Junior Bradley Pinion returns to handle punting duties.
Prediction: Clemson has road games at both Georgia (season opener, no less) and Florida State, plus in-state rival South Carolina at home. Everything else on their schedule looks basically winnable. 9-3.
Florida State Seminoles
Last year’s BCS Champions have seven starters returning to what was a dominant offense last season. Quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston is, of course, a key cog in the Seminoles’ machine, and not only does he return but his top two pass catchers do as well in senior wideout Rashad Greene and senior tight end Nick O’Leary. Greene led the ‘Noles in receiving last season, and O’Leary was a finalist for the John Mackey award, given to the nation’s top tight end. Several senior non-starters are back in the receiving corps as well. In the backfield, converted safety Karlos Williams begins his first full season as a running back after changing positions early last fall and rushing for 730 yards and 11 touchdowns and the third back on the depth chart. He’s surrounded by several untested but talented underclassmen.
Five members of the Florida State defense have departed- in fact, there may not be a single senior starting for the Seminoles on defense this season, despite six returning starters- but Jimbo Fisher has been stockpiling defensive talent at every position. Linebacker is the only real concern, with just one starter back, and several underclassmen on the two-deep; the coaching staff is going to have to hope for some freshmen and sophomores to contribute right away. Two starters are back on the defensive line, and the secondary should be in excellent shape with three standout starters returning.
Kicker Roberto Aguayo won the Lou Groza Award winner as a freshman. Punter Cason Beatty was inconsistent last season and that trend reportedly continued in spring practice. It’s possible someone will be brought in to compete with him.
Prediction: Despite their personnel losses, this team is stacked. I don’t see anyone on the schedule who’s likely to best the Seminoles. 12-0.
Louisville Cardinals
It looks as though sophomore Will Gardner is going to be the replacement for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, now a Minnesota Viking. Gardner is a rangy 6’5″ and has reportedly picked up new (sort of) head coach Bobby Petrino’s offense quickly. Petrino, of course, returns to Louisville after stints with the Atlanta Falcons, Arkansas, and Western Kentucky. Former head coach Charlie Strong, now at Texas, was an excellent recruiter and the Cardinals aren’t lacking depth anywhere on offense. There are several talented receivers available, including blazing-fast DeVante Parker. Running back is in good shape too, with seniors Dominique Brown and Auburn transfer Michael Dyer atop the depth chart. Blocking for them will be four of last year’s starters on the offensive line.
Things are a bit less cut-and-dried on the defensive side of the ball, where just four starters return from last year’s squad, which ranked first in the country in total defense and second in scoring defense. Petrino told Athlon Sports that he feels good about the front seven. It’s the secondary where there are questions, more specifically at safety, where Petrino and new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham could be forced to start a freshman. It’s the one position on the Cardinals’ roster that lacks depth.
Louisville has a strong kicker and an equally good punter in returning starters John Wallace and Ryan Johnson.
Prediction: Moving to a much stronger conference and having a new quarterback make it unlikely that Louisville comes anywhere near last year’s 11-1 record, but I feel confident saying that they could go 8-4.
North Carolina State Wolfpack
There are a lot of question marks on offense for the Wolfpack. Florida transfer Jacoby Brissett, now a junior, is eligible after sitting out last season. There are no returning starters and just one upperclassman in the receiving corps, however. Sophomore David Grinnage is a returning starter at tight end. The ground game should be solid, with junior Shadrach Thornton returning and three returning starters on the offensive line, as well as senior left tackle Rob Crisp, who missed most of last season with a concussion.
Linebacker has been a weakness for NC State the last few seasons, so the coaching staff is reportedly switching to the nickle package as their base D. Up front, there aren’t many returning starters but there are several upperclassmen. Same for the linebackers. Three of the five starters in the secondary were starters on last season’s squad, and the two freshman safeties apparently played very well in the spring.
Four-year starters return at both kicker and punter. The return game was questionable last season; the Wolfpack will need someone to solidify that position.
Prediction: After finishing 3-9 last season, there’s really nowhere to go but up for NC State. A 6-6 record and being eligible for a bowl would be a nice step forward, and I think it’s a realistic one.
Syracuse Orange
Calling the performance of the 2013 Syracuse offense “up-and-down” would be an understatement. Twice the Orangemen put up 50 or more points; six times they were held under 20. Having a year of experience in offensive coordinator George McDonald’s system should help, as should the fact that junior quarterback Terrel Hunt was inserted as the starter about a month into last season, giving him some valuable playing time. Hunt is a dual-threat who put up respectable numbers both passing and rushing. He may have to do a lot himself early on, because only one starter returns at wideout, and there’s precious little experience there. Senior Prince-Tyson Gulley returns at running back, and four starters return on the offensive line.
The defense was no more consistent than the offense a year ago, blanking two opponents and holding five others to no more than 17 points, but also allowing 48 or more four times. (Seriously, what the hell?) Seven starters return on the defense, but some big contributors are gone. Defensive tackle, with Jay Bromley gone to the NFL, is one area of concern, although the end position is in good shape. Middle linebacker Marcus Spruill is gone as well, but both outside ‘backers are seniors and returning starters. There’s good depth in the secondary, and Durell Eskridge returns after leading the Orange in picks (four) and tackles (78) last season.
Kicker Ross Krautman is apparently still dealing with a hip injury despite surgery, and will not play this season. The other main players from last year’s special-teams units all return.
Prediction: Head coach Scott Shafer told Yahoo Sports that he’s aiming for eight victories this season. While I completely understand why the head coach would set his sights that high, I think eight wins is a stretch. I think the Orange finish 6-6 again this year.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
New head coach Dave Clawson made a surprising announcement earlier this month by naming freshman John Wolford the starting quarterback over junior Kevin Sousa (a high school quarterback who plays receiver for the Deacons) and sophomore Tyler Cameron. The departure of Michael Campanaro, the school’s career receptions leader, leaves a gaping hole at the receiver position, but there are several inexperienced guys on the roster who could step up. The story at running back is a little different. Just one experienced back, Dominique Gibson, is back from last year’s team- or he would have been, had he not been suspended for an undisclosed violation of team rules. Senior Orville Reynolds will have to step up.
Defense has similar holes, starting with the front seven. Five starters are gone, but upperclassmen will step in in several spots, and even the underclassmen replacements are reported to have looked good in the spring. Moving from a 3-4 to a 4-3 has necessitated a couple of position changes in the front seven as well. The secondary looks to be strong, with three returning starters.
Junior punter Alex Kinal holds the ACC record for punts in a season and could easily hold the career record by the time he graduates. Junior kicker Chad Hedlund returns as well.
Prediction: With a new coaching staff and so many new players on offense, it’s tough to see this team winning many games. I’ll say they win four games, and frankly I’m not sure the fourth win happens.
Predicted Order of Finish:
1. Florida State
2. Clemson
3. Louisville
4. Syracuse
5. NC State
6. Boston College
7. Wake Forest
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