ESPN College Football

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- No, North Carolina coach Larry Fedora was not wearing his Coastal Division championship ring during the ACC spring meetings.

Yes, he did expect the backlash that followed after it was revealed his players got those rings despite being ineligible for the postseason.

"I knew there would be but that’s not why it was done," Fedora said. "I didn’t do it for the backlash. It was done for those seniors and those kids that accomplished everything they could accomplish. They had nothing to do with what happened so they were paying the price. I felt like they deserved it."

North Carolina would have played for an ACC title last year had it not been serving a postseason ban for NCAA violations committed well before Fedora and his players arrived on campus. The way Fedora explains it, he was looking for any source of motivation to give his players, who had no championship or bowl game to play for last season.

"I was searching for any reward that I could give them because I was proud of what they did," he said.

When it was revealed a few weeks ago that the players received rings, a firestorm erupted, and a great debate ensued. Was it right to hand out rings proclaiming yourselves champions when Georgia Tech ended up representing the Coastal Division in the ACC title game against Florida State?

None of that much mattered to Fedora, who was only looking out for his players. Fedora actually was not in town when the rings were handed out shortly before players finished up the semester. He does have his ring, but as is his custom, Fedora never wears any of the championship rings he has won.

And for the record, the ACC does not officially recognize North Carolina as Coastal Division champions.

Here we go ...

John in Greenville, N.C., writes: Thanks for a great blog! Read it everyday and love the info you provide. What do you think UNC's chances are of winning the coastal?

HD: As good as Virginia Tech's. As good as Georgia Tech's. As good as Miami's. You get the idea. Look, I picked the Canes to win the division, but anyone who follows this league knows it's wiiiide open. Nobody has truly separated themselves like in the Atlantic Division with Clemson and FSU. There are a lot of good teams, no great ones yet, but if Larry Fedora can motivate his team to win eight games KNOWING there is no bowl game in sight, I have no doubt he'll have them a contender this year, even with some heavy losses.

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Wes Parcell in Radford, Va., writes: Do you think that UVA has a chance to make a run in the ACC Coastal this year?

HD: Notice the Hoos weren't mentioned in the above answer. It's not because they don't have the pieces in place -- I think Mike London put together one of the best staffs in the country this offseason. It's because I think it's going to take this year to get it all together. With two new coordinators, some questions at quarterback, and a few other positions that simply need to play better, I think they're still a step behind -- and they've also got one of the most brutal schedules in the country. BYU, Oregon, Clemson, at Miami ... good luck.

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Steve in Arlington, Va., writes: Heather, is it a lock that Louisville replaces Maryland in the Atlantic Division, or could a bit of creative realignment be in store? It seems like the ACC is setting up to remove all the drama from the championship game if FSU, Clemson, and Louisville are basically playing for the league title within the Atlantic Division for the foreseeable future...

HD: It's a lock, and no, it's not going to remove the drama from the ACC championship game. You can still have Florida State-Miami in the title game. You can have Clemson-Virginia Tech. I say bring it. It's going to make the ACC's Atlantic Division one big, bad division.

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Mike in Miami, Fla., writes: Rank your ACC heisman candidates. Boyd, Watkins, Morris, Duke Johnson and Stefon Diggs are clearly the top 5.. Tough to rank em. Morris easily can have a fantastic sleeper heisman season with all the weapons and outstanding offensive line.

HD: Mike, I think you got it ... 1. Tajh Boyd, 2. Sammy Watkins, 3. Duke Johnson, 4. Stephen Morris, 5. Stefon Diggs. I think you HAVE to start with Boyd and Watkins simply because they are on the ACC's best team and will be in the national spotlight. Then I turn to Miami because a) I think they will win the Coastal and b) the offensive line returns every starter. The only reason I rank Duke ahead of Morris is because of what he can do in the return game, but I reserve the right to swap them every week during the season. You are smart to include Diggs. He is an outstanding athlete, but he's playing for the Terps in a tough division. Not sure he'll get the credit he deserves.

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Sean in Boston writes: HD, other than not having to suffer through Spazball anymore what should BC fans look forward to? Is a bowl possible this year?

HD: Hate to bust your bubble, Sean, but I'd be really surprised if the Eagles went to a bowl. If I had to do a bowl projection right now, they wouldn't make the cut. It's too early to judge Steve Addazio, but it's not too early to judge recent recruiting classes at BC. As for something to look forward to? How about quarterback Chase Rettig? It should be a smooth transition for him with Ryan Day back on the sideline. It's Rettig's fourth OC in as many seasons, but hey, at least this time it was a familiar face.

Miami or UNC? Who ya got? Virginia Tech, anyone? Buehler?

J in Florida writes: Not so fast with that Miami will win the coastal statement. UNC will have something to say about that. Yes UNC lost Giovanni and Cooper, hard shoes to fill. However Heather the offense will be in their second explosive year with fully capable RBs. The defensive secondary will be better and letsbnot forget UNC lost in the last seconds to Duke and Wake and handled Miami at the U last year. So let's look a little closer at the team that finished, ineligable aside, first in the coastal last year.

HD: Who's going to block for those RBs? It all starts up front, and if you ask me, Miami has the edge there this year.

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Rob Beyma in Pocomoke, Md., writes: Heather,Read your article about Miami being favored for the Coastal division this year. And that the schedule was one of the reasons why. For some strange reason, Miami gets Va. Tech at home for the 2ND straight year. They should be playing the game this year in BLACKSBURG! No wonder Miami has a scheduling advantage. How about the Hurricanes in Blacksburg on a Thursday night!

HD: The last time I saw Miami play at Virginia Tech, it was one of the muddiest games I can remember. And Miami flopped. That tends to happen to the Canes in Blacksburg. No doubt it's an edge this year to have that as a home game again.

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Michael Walker in Charlotte, N.C., writes: I'm a die-hard Canes fan even though I live in Charlotte. My question is this, even though we only had 13 sacks last year and one of the worse defenses in the entire nation, do you really think we've improved that much to win the ACC Coastal. We had trouble stopping the run and the pass, though we had 34 freshmen and sophomores on our roster. The offense is stacked and the receivers are going to be one of the best groups in the nation. I'm still a little concerned with our defense. Virginia, BC, Duke and the Wolf Pack picked us apart passing the ball last year.

HD: You should be concerned about the defense. So should Al Golden. Until proven otherwise, it's the weak link and the biggest reason they won't win the Coastal Division. Miami returns all four starters on the defensive line, though. That experience is a plus, and after last season, you'd think it could only get better. Time will tell.

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Danny Schmal in Winston Salem, N.C., writes: Your thoughts on Wake's chances of winning the ACC. Doesn't seem like anyone is giving Wake a chance against Clemson.

HD: I never count out Jim Grobe. The Deacs gave the entire Atlantic Division a scare two years ago, but they lost to Clemson by a field goal and missed their shot at playing in the ACC title game again. In order to get back to contender status, they have GOT to get healthy up front on the offensive line. That is their biggest issue right now. The other thing is they need another receiver besides Michael Campanaro to step up. Having Tanner Price return at quarterback is a huge plus for the offense, but he needs somebody to divert attention away from "Camp."

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Jayson Shaffer in Crestview, Florida writes: Hey Heather, I was just curious on who you think will step up to replace the losses at the defensive end position at FSU?

HD: You have to start with Mario Edwards Jr., who is the front-runner because he played in 11 games as a true freshman and started the final two games of the year in place of Tank Carradine. There is also Giorgio Newberry and Chris Casher, who is now healthy after a knee injury. Casher will start spring ball on the two-deep depth chart. Dan Hicks, who was Brandon Jenkins’ backup two years ago, had a knee injury and missed all of last season. He had moved to tight end, but was in the rotation at defensive end earlier in his career and could come back.

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Scott in Durham, N.C., writes: Have you heard of any updates on Kelby Brown, LB from Duke? If/When he is at 100%, will he every get back to the tackling machine like he was his freshman year?

HD: Yup, got an update for you. Brown is fully participating in spring practiaces, but only time will tell if he returns to 100 percent. It's important to remember that he’s been banged-up his entire career, playing in just nine games as a true freshman in 2010 (63 tackles, 5.5 TFL, four fumble recoveries) and in 10 games his sophomore season (65 tackles, 7.0 TFL, three PBU). He's fortunate that he did play as a true freshman and had a redshirt year to use last season following his second knee surgery. The Duke coaches are hopeful that he’ll make a complete recovery after missing all of 2012, but how the surgically repaired knee will hold up in full contact drills and games remains to be seen.

Buried beneath pounds of paperwork from the NCAA is the fact that Miami’s depth chart should be good enough to win the Coastal Division in 2013. With so much attention focused on the NCAA investigation, Nevin Shapiro has gotten more ink (unfortunately) than quarterback Stephen Morris. And Morris is going to be very, very good.

As Miami begins spring practices on Saturday, the Canes do so underneath a cloud for the third straight preseason under coach Al Golden. If those within the program, though, can focus on their on-field goals and avoid the distractions once again, Miami should pick up right where it left off in 2012 -- at the top of the division standings. Miami returns 10 starters on offense and defense. Golden and his staff brought in the No. 15 recruiting class in the country, coupled with the experience of 21 freshmen who played in 2012.

This Coastal Division race is going to be tight. Expect every team in the division to be better. Trying to predict the division winner right now is like trying to predict when the NCAA will hand down its verdict. On anything. Miami fans, though, have reason to believe that if the program is eligible to play in the postseason, the pieces are in place to get them to Charlotte.

Here are three reasons why Miami is my way-too-early pick to win the Coastal Division:

1. QB Stephen Morris and running back Duke Johnson: This dynamic duo is going to be a highlight in the ACC. As a true freshman, Johnson had arguably the greatest freshman season in the program’s history. He was named the ACC’s Overall and Offensive Rookie of the Year after racking up 2,060 all-purpose yards and 13 touchdowns in 12 games. And Morris can be good enough to push Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd as the ACC’s best quarterback in 2013. Morris finished 2012 on a hot streak, as he threw for 1,131 yards and 11 TDs – with zero interceptions -- in his final four games. Morris finished the season with a program-record 3,415 yards of total offense, eclipsing the previous mark of 3,412 held by Bernie Kosar.

2. Experience up front: Miami returns all five starters on the offensive line (Malcolm Bunche, started 12 games at left tackle; Jon Feliciano, started 12 at left guard; Shane McDermott started 12 at center; Brandon Linder started 12 at right guard; Seantrel Henderson started seven at right tackle and Ereck Flowers started four at right tackle). Miami also returns all four starters on the defensive line (Anthony Chickillo 12 at defensive end, Curtis Porter the last three at defensive tackle, Olsen Pierre 11 at defensive tackle, and Shayon Green at defensive end). How many schools in the country can say they return every starter on both their offensive and defensive lines? Granted, the defensive line is Miami’s unit most in need of improvement this offseason, but considering the group only had 13 sacks a year ago, it should only be better.

3. A favorable schedule: Miami has an entire month to prepare for league play, as its first ACC game isn’t until Oct. 5 against Georgia Tech. It doesn’t even have to leave the state until Oct. 17, when it travels to North Carolina, and even then the Canes have a bye week to prepare for the Thursday night game against the Tar Heels. Yes, they have to play rival FSU on the road, but they do get Virginia Tech at home. Winning at Pitt on a Friday in November won’t be easy, but getting Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech at home helps compensate for it.

With the release of the ACC schedule comes plenty of fodder ...

• Did the ACC miss a marquee scheduling opportunity?
• Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson doesn't think the league was fair to the Jackets in its schedule.
• Virginia Tech's request for no Thursday night games was granted.
• Andy Bitter gives his take on the Coastal Division schedules.
• James Coley got a recruit to flip from FSU to Miami.
• Here's a breakdown of Georgia Tech heading into spring ball.
• Syracuse is ready to start construction on its $17 million indoor facility.
• Duke has officially completed its coaching staff.
• Maryland's quarterbacks will have no controversy -- and no contact -- this spring.

 

Duke quarterback Anthony Boone said he isn’t nervous about taking over the starting job this spring for former veteran Sean Renfree, who finished his career ranked third on the ACC’s career completions list.

Boone isn’t exactly a novice.

In his first career start, Boone threw four touchdown passes to help the Blue Devils clobber Virginia, 42-17, last October. The previous week, Boone replaced an injured Renfree late in the third quarter against Wake Forest and scored the game-winning touchdown on a four-yard run early in the fourth quarter.

“I’ve played a good bit of football,” said Boone, who played in 11 games last year and completed 51.6 percent of his passes for 531 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. “I feel like the two-quarterback system prepared me for being able to take control of the whole game and lead the team in the right direction and try to win football games and try to win championships.”

Last year, Duke shocked the ACC by being in contention for the Coastal Division title in November, but even with Renfree at the helm, the Blue Devils faded down the stretch and lost their final four regular-season games. Still, the program was lauded for playing in a bowl game for the first time since 1994, and coach David Cutcliffe was named the ACC’s Coach of the Year. Duke’s six wins last year were as many as Duke had had in the entire five years before Cutcliffe was hired. If Duke is going to build upon that success this fall, Boone must adjust quickly to the starting role. While he did make a splash in his first career start, it was also his only start.

Boone said there are some intangibles he’s been working on this offseason to become more of a leader.

“I have to be way more accountable than I was last year, and being vocal in the weight room and on the field, when we did conditioning and agility drills, being more vocal and leading by example,” he said. “I don’t have much room for error. I can’t slack off or be the guy called back for not doing a drill right.”

Boone said this spring he plans to “hop to the front of the line,” and break everything down before going into individual drills.

Duke’s passing game has been its forte under Cutcliffe. Renfree finished seventh on the ACC’s career passing yardage list with 9,465, and those within the program say Boone has a stronger arm and is more of a threat outside the pocket. Last year, Duke set a school single-season record for most games scoring 34 or more points with seven.

Much of the luster of those accomplishments faded with Duke, though, in November. Boone said he is determined not to let that happen again.

“I’ve been preaching to our team throughout winter workouts that our main goal is to finish,” he said. “We lost the last five games. Last year I felt like once we got that sixth win, it was like we weren’t pressing anymore. It was like a relaxed feeling, which we don’t want this year. We want to keep pressing. We want to win eight or nine games this year and put ourselves in position for a nice high bowl game in Florida maybe or in Atlanta, but we’re definitely looking for more than six wins, that’s for sure.”

And the Blue Devils will be looking to Boone to help get them.

DUKE

Spring start: March 4

Spring game: April 13

What to watch:

1. Boone is up. Duke loses three-year starter Sean Renfree, who threw for 3,113 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. Anthony Boone is the next man up, and has plenty of game experience. But coming in for spot duty is vastly different from taking over the starting quarterback job. He has to get a jump on becoming the leader of this offense in the spring.

2. Receiver spots open. The Blue Devils lose the most prolific receiver in ACC history in Conner Vernon, plus the versatile and athletic Desmond Scott. Jamison Crowder is back, but Duke is going to need to find two more starters and several more to step up and help with depth.

3. Handling success. This is the first time since 1994 that Duke goes into a spring with 15 bowl practices already under its belt and a taste of success. That should presumably give the Blue Devils an advantage. But it is much harder maintaining, as many coach will tell you. How does this new success impact the mind-set in spring practice?

GEORGIA TECH

Spring start: March 25

Spring game: April 19

What to watch:

1. Ted Roof takes over. What is the Georgia Tech defense going to look like with Ted Roof in charge? He has not really given out specifics about the type of scheme he wants to use as his base, so it will be interesting to see how he fits his personnel to what he likes to do best. The Jackets do return eight starters to a unit that improved in the second half of the season.

2. Vad Lee time. We saw glimpse of what Lee could do as he began to share quarterback duties with Tevin Washington last season. Now, the show is all his, so we get to see how he develops as a full-time starter.

3. So long, Orwin. The Jackets lose one of their most dynamic playmakers in Orwin Smith, who finished his career ranked among Georgia Tech’s all-time leaders in kickoff returns (76), kickoff return yards (1,624) and career all-purpose yards (4,278). Georgia Tech has to find somebody to replace that productivity.

MIAMI

Spring start: March 2

Spring game: April 13

What to watch:

1. D in Defense? The No. 1 spring priority has got to be improving a defense that was one of the worst in the nation in every NCAA statistical category (No. 112 rushing defense, No. 102 passing defense, No. 116 total defense, No. 82 scoring defense). If Miami is going to be a favorite to win the Coastal, it needs better play out of this group.

2. New OC. James Coley takes over as offensive coordinator, replacing Jedd Fisch. Coley served as offensive coordinator at Florida State before arriving at Miami, but did not call the plays. So he has much more responsibility here, and is charged with taking Stephen Morris from great to next-level great.

3. D-Line improvement. If Miami is going to be better on defense, it has to start up front, where the Hurricanes were extremely young and mostly ineffective for 2012. The Hurricanes had to deal with their share of injuries, but they also were not great at stopping the run or putting pressure on the passer -- with only 13 sacks all year. That is the lowest total since at least 2005, the first year NCAA stats began listing team sack totals.

NORTH CAROLINA

Spring start: March 6

Spring game: April 13

What to watch:

1. Bye bye, Gio. Life begins without All-ACC running back Giovani Bernard, who left school early for the NFL draft. The cupboard is not completely bare, though, as A.J. Blue and Romar Morris both return. Blue and Morris combined for 819 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns last season.

2. Replacing Williams, Reddick. North Carolina returns nine starters on defense. That is the good news. The bad news is the Tar Heels lose their two best players in linebacker Kevin Reddick and defensive tackle Sylvester Williams, two first-team All-ACC selections. We'll see if Ethan Farmer at tackle and P.J. Clyburn at linebacker emerge to win the starting jobs.

3. Replacing Coop. The Tar Heels have a major hole to fill on their offensive line as they say goodbye to unanimous All-America guard Jonathan Cooper, a stalwart who made 47 career starts. Cooper was the unheralded leader of the offense, so filling his spot is a major priority this spring.

PITTSBURGH

Spring start: March 5

Spring game: April 12

What to watch:

1. QB situation. Tino Sunseri is gone, leaving Arizona transfer Tom Savage, redshirt freshman Chad Voytik and junior Trey Anderson to compete for the starting job. Inconsistent quarterback play has been a major issue for the Panthers, so upgrading this position is an absolute must.

2. Adjusting to DC. Pitt is going into the season with its fourth new coordinator in as many years, as Dave Huxtable left for NC State after only one year on the job. Secondary coach Matt House was promoted to coordinator, so at least there will be some familiarity. But he has to get to work on improving this unit's consistency.

3. Offensive line improvements. Is this the year we finally see a vastly improved Pitt offensive line? The Panthers have to replace center Ryan Turnley and guard Chris Jacobson, two key positions to watch during spring practice.

VIRGINIA

Spring start: March 18

Spring game: April 6

What to watch:

1. New coaches. How will the three most high-profile hires Mike London made mesh with the staff and returning players? How will the offense deal with a new scheme under Steve Fairchild? How will the defense deal with a new scheme under Jon Tenuta? How big will Tom O'Brien's role be with the offense? Inquiring minds want to know.

2. QB competition. Fairchild has already said he will open up the quarterback job to a "very spirited competition" this spring. The two front-runners figure to be Phillip Sims and David Watford, who both have game experience. But there will be no shortage of quarterbacks in Charlottesville this year, so there are no guarantees that either of them will win the job.

3. Replacing Greer. The Hoos have some big shoes to fill in the middle of their defense with the departure of linebacker Steve Greer, who ended his career with 376 tackles -- ranking No. 6 in school history. Kwontie Moore, one of nine true freshmen to play in 2012, backed up Greer last season. Will he win the starting job?

VIRGINIA TECH

Spring start: March 27

Spring game: April 20

What to watch:

1. Logan Thomas. All eyes will be on Thomas as he heads into his senior season, especially with new offensive coordinator in Scot Loeffler in charge. How will the two work together, and what will Loeffler do to get Thomas to cut down on his mistakes and capitalize on the immense potential he has?

2. Rushing attack. Item No. 2 on the agenda for Loeffler is to figure out a way to jump start the Virginia Tech rushing game, which struggled in 2012. The offensive line was inconsistent, and so were the running backs. The Hokies could never really settle on a starter or a clear rotation in the backfield, either. Somebody has to emerge as THE guy.

3. Filling in for Exum. Virginia Tech took a serious hit to its defensive backfield last month when emerging cornerback Antone Exum tore his ACL in a pickup basketball game. The Hokies will look to several young players to try and fill his void, including Donovan Riley, Donaldven Manning and Davion Tookes. Fans will have to wait on highly touted cornerback Kendall Fuller, who joins in the summer.

Everyone has a story to tell. It’s simply impossible to highlight all of them on national signing day. After a quick scan of every recruit’s bio in the Coastal Division, there were plenty of notables to revisit -- a Hokie who wants to be a heart surgeon, a Blue Devil whose dad is on the staff at ACC newcomer Syracuse, Yellow Jackets whose pedigree includes the NBA and NFL.

The list goes on, check it out ...

DUKE

• Gabe Brandner, OT: His mother played tennis at West Virginia; His father lettered two seasons (1974-75) as an offensive tackle under Hall of Fame coach Bobby Bowden at West Virginia, helping the Mountaineers to a two-year record of 13-10, including a 13-10 win over NC State in the 1975 Peach Bowl.
• Phillip Carter, S: His cousin, Darnell Jackson, lettered four seasons (2005-06-07-08) in basketball at Kansas, helped the Jayhawks to the 2008 NCAA championship and was selected in the second round of the 2008 NBA draft by the Miami Heat. He also played with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings. His cousin, Adam Jennings, lettered four seasons (2002-03-04-05) in football at Fresno State University, helped the Bulldogs to 35 wins and four bowl game appearances. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL draft by the Falcons and also played with the Lions and Giants.
• T.J. Douglas, ATH: His cousin, Jammi German, lettered three seasons (1994-95-96) as a wide receiver at Miami, and was selected in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft by the Falcons and also played with the Browns. His cousin, Melvin German, plays football at FAU. Another cousin, Joel German, plays football at Western Kentucky University.
• Evrett Edwards, CB: His father played football at Southern University, and his uncle, Benny Guilbeaux, lettered four seasons (1995-96-97-98) as a safety at Notre Dame. Guilbeaux led the team in interceptions as both a sophomore and junior while helping the Fighting Irish to a four-year record of 33-15 with three bowl game appearances.
• Jake Kite, S: His father, Christopher, was a defensive back and wide receiver at Virginia from 1984-87, helping the Cavaliers to a four-year record of 25-19-2 with Peach Bowl and All American Bowl victories following the 1984 and 1987 seasons, respectively.
• Deondre Singleton, S: His father, Cedric, lettered three seasons (1989-90-91) in football at Louisiana Tech, helping the Bulldogs to a three-year record of 21-8-4 including an appearance in the 1990 Independence Bowl.
• Ryan Smith, WR: His dad, DeAndre, is the running backs coach at Syracuse.

GEORGIA TECH

• Chris Griffin, OL: His uncle, Eddie Metcalf, played football at Florida A&M.
• Donovan Wilson, AB: His father, Kenny, played basketball at Davidson and later with the Denver Nuggets in the NBA.
• Kevin Robbins Jr. DL/LB: His father, Kevin Sr., played football at Michigan State and four years in the NFL from 1989 to 1993 with the Browns, Falcons and Rams.

MIAMI

• Ray Lewis III, ATH: He is the son of former Miami Hurricanes and Baltimore Ravens great and two-time Super Bowl champion Ray Lewis.
• Kevin Olsen, QB: He is the brother of former Miami Hurricane and current Carolina Panthers TE Greg Olsen.

NORTH CAROLINA

• Jordan Fieulleteau, WR: He scored 25 touchdowns as a senior and 24 as a junior -- the most touchdown catches in the nation in past two seasons.

PITTSBURGH

• Jeremiah Taleni, DL: He became "the first Pitt football scholarship signee out of Hawaii in memory," according to the school's site. His recruitment originated with defensive line coach Inoke Breckterfield's relationship with the staff at Kailua High School, located on the island's East Coast.

VIRGINIA

• George Adeosun, OL: A native of Nigeria, Adeosun didn’t start playing football until he got to high school. He started his junior season on the junior varsity team and an injury forced him to make his varsity debut blocking ESPN’s No. 2 recruit and Auburn signee Carl Lawson. Holding his own, he remained on varsity for the remainder of his career.
• Zack Jones, WR: He is the brother of former UVa captain Perry Jones.
• Andre Levrone Jr., WR: His brother, Jonathan, served a tour in Iraq as a tanker in the U.S. Army. His father, Andre Sr., played linebacker for his base team while serving in the Marine Corp. His cousin, Kevin Levrone, is a IFBB Hall of Fame body builder, four-time first-runner-up to Mr. Olympia.
• Jack McDonald, OL: His uncle, Cliff McDonald, played offensive tackle at New Hampshire and held the New England Heavyweight boxing title. His cousin, Cliff McDonald, Jr., played football at Dartmouth.
• Eric Tetlow, OL: His father, Peter, who was born and raised in Australia, was a world-class swimmer, won national championships and qualified for the Olympics before coming to the United States to swim at Harvard. His father was ranked as high as seventh in the world in the 1,500-meter freestyle.

VIRGINIA TECH:

• Kyle Chung, OL: His father, Eugene, was an All-American offensive lineman at Virginia Tech and an NFL player who now coaches in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs.
• Andrew Motu'apuaka, LB: He was born in Auckland, New Zealand. His parents, Siaosi and Manu Motu'apuaka, are from Tonga, and went to school in New Zealand. His family migrated to the U.S. and his father joined the U.S. Army.
• Kendall Fuller, CB: He has three older brothers, all of whom played or play football for Tech -- Vincent, Corey and Kyle.
• Brandon Facyson, DB: His mother and stepfather (Karen Riggins-Taylor and Frederick Facyson) are currently principals in Dubai. His contemplated major is pre-med, with a goal of becoming a heart surgeon.

We still have over six months to go before Pitt actually plays in its first ACC game, but there is plenty of history between the Panthers and the current teams in the league.

Pitt has played 11 of 12 incoming members. The only one it has yet to face: Wake Forest. Overall, Pitt leads seven series against its new conference brethren. The team that has owned the Panthers most frequently? Coastal Division and former Big East rival Miami.

Here is a look at how Pitt has fared against the 12 schools currently in the ACC:

vs. Boston College: Pitt leads 16-13; Last game: 2004, Pitt won 20-17 (OT)

vs. Clemson: Pitt leads 1-0; Only meeting: 1977, Pitt won 34-3 in the Gator Bowl.

vs. Duke: Pitt leads 9-8; Last game: 1976, Pitt won 44-31.

vs. Florida State: Pitt leads 5-3; Last game: 1983, Pitt won 17-16.

vs. Georgia Tech: Pitt leads 5-2; Last game: 1976, Pitt won 42-14.

vs. Maryland: Series tied 3-3; Last game: 1992, Maryland won 47-34. (Note: These teams won't play before Maryland departs for the Big Ten in 2014)

vs. Miami: Miami leads 22-9-1; Last game: 2010, Miami won 31-3.

vs. North Carolina: North Carolina leads 4-3; Last game: 2009, Pitt won 19-17 in the Meneke Car Care Bowl.

vs. NC State: Pitt leads 5-3-1; Last game: 2009, NC State won 38-31.

vs. Virginia: Pitt leads 3-2; Last game: 2007, Virginia won 44-14.

vs. Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech leads 7-5; Last game: 2012, Pitt won 35-17.

vs. Wake Forest: No previous meetings.

Syracuse has officially made the move into the ACC football blog. Now it's Pitt's turn. The Panthers will become full members of the ACC on July 1, joining the Coastal Division with former Big East partners Miami and Virginia Tech. As far as we're concerned, here in the blogosphere, the move has been made.

Andrea Adelson and Heather Dinich are here to welcome Pittsburgh into the ACC blog. C'mon in, there's plenty of room.

Heather Dinich: Andrea, one of the biggest surprises of the 2012 season was Pitt's 35-17 win against Virginia Tech on Sept. 15. It wasn't just that Virginia Tech lost, it was how Pitt won -- convincingly, by manhandling the Hokies up front on both sides of the ball. Few, if any, saw that coming, as Virginia Tech was outworked and outmuscled by a team that had lost its first two games of the season, including to Youngstown State. How concerned should the rest of the Coastal Division be about the 2013 Panthers?

Andrea Adelson: Heather, that was a great shock to us all, because up to that point, Pitt had not proven to be very good up front. In fact, the Panthers struggled for much of the season to gain consistency on their offensive and defensive lines. That win was one of their most complete of the season, topped only by their 27-6 win against No. 18 Rutgers later in the year. I am on the record as saying I believe Pitt will have an opportunity to contend for the Coastal Division. First, quarterback play should be improved dramatically, with either former Freshman All-American Tom Savage or four-star recruit Chad Voytik at the helm. Second, the Panthers have a solid running back in Rushel Shell and an unheralded receiver in Devin Street. And third, the Panthers return nine starters on defense, including All-Big East tackle Aaron Donald. I also think this team will be better in Year 2 under Paul Chryst. It's actually the first time since 2009 and '10 that the Panthers have had the same head coach in back-to-back seasons.

Having said that, there are a few concerns. First and foremost is playing consistently week in and week out. Those who follow me on the Big East blog know I referred to this team as "Good Pitt/Bad Pitt" all season because of the Jekyll and Hyde performances. Pitt followed a lose two, win two pattern all season. Chryst needs to find a way to get his team to play at the same level every single week. Second, the offensive line has to be better, because it has been pretty bad the past several years. Pitt won't be able to play the way Chryst wants to play on offense if the line doesn't improve. And third, Pitt is searching for yet another defensive coordinator since Dave Huxtable has gone to NC State. So that's my take. What will Pitt find in the Coastal this year?

HD: A much-improved Virginia Tech team. A Miami team ready to play for the league title (if it's eligible, of course). An eligible North Carolina team ready to contend for the Coastal Division title in the second season under Larry Fedora. A Georgia Tech team that returns the bulk of its playmakers and should get upgrades at quarterback (Vad Lee) and defensive coordinator (Ted Roof). Duke will have something to prove, as it has had some significant staff changes, including the departure of senior quarterback Sean Renfree and record-setting senior receiver Conner Vernon. Virginia had a staff overhaul, but coach Mike London should be feeling some heat to get back to a bowl.

Overall, the Coastal Division should be much, much better than it was last year. Heck, it can't get much worse, as the Hokies had their worst season in 20 years, two teams were ineligible, and Georgia Tech needed a waiver just to play in a bowl game. The Coastal Division is more balanced than the Atlantic Division, and Pitt will fit right in, adding to that parity. I'm looking forward to seeing Pitt-Miami and Pitt-Virginia Tech on a more regular basis. Miami has yet to play for the ACC title since joining the league, while Virginia Tech has owned it. Make no mistake -- last season was an anomaly in Blacksburg. What will it take for Pitt to follow the Hokies' path in the ACC?

AA: Great question, Heather. No. 1 on the list has to be coaching stability. The Pitt program has been set back because of the missteps over the past three years with head coaches. Most everybody believes Chryst is a solid football coach, but he is going to need time to get this program where he wants it. And he has exceptional resources to get the job done, with state-of-the-art facilities and extremely fertile recruiting ground in the Pennsylvania area. Pitt does not have to go far to find some of the most talented players in the nation. They finished just outside the top 40 on signing day last week. They can sell their ties to the Steelers, playing in an NFL stadium, and their incredible history, filled with national championships and Hall of Famers. Now, you could come back and say, "Well, Miami has all that, and more, and the Canes have failed to dominate the ACC as predicted." Very true. But you also make my point for me. Miami's weakness has been at the head-coaching position, as well, with Larry Coker and Randy Shannon unable to continue the success Miami had in the Big East. Al Golden now has the Canes in position to be the favorites in the Coastal.

Virginia Tech? Well, Virginia Tech has had Frank Beamer, the picture of coaching stability. After Wisconsin lost coach Bret Bielema, many wondered whether athletic director Barry Alvarez would approach Chryst, a long-time Wisconsin assistant and Wisconsin graduate. But Chryst let it be known he did not have any intention of leaving Pitt after a year on the job. He is committed to the Panthers. Now the administration has to show its commitment by giving him time to build. If he's as good as many think he can be, Pitt will be fine.

Time to take a quick look at how signing day went down for teams in the Coastal Division, including incoming member Pitt.

DUKE

Needs filled: Defensive back and receiver. Duke picked up four receivers to help bolster a group that is losing some heavy hitters, Conner Vernon and Desmond Scott. Defensive back also was an area of need, and the Blue Devils got a solid prospect in Evrett Edwards.

Holes remaining: The Blue Devils would have loved to add another offensive lineman to the group. One of their top targets, tackle Elijah George, ended up signing with Oregon -- where former recruiting coordinator Matt Lubick ended up.

GEORGIA TECH

Needs filled: The Jackets upgraded speed at their skill positions signing receiver Ricky Jeune and running back Travis Custis, two of the higher-rated players on their board. They would love one more -- ESPN 300 athlete Cornelius Elder has yet to make a decision.

Holes remaining: There were a few offensive linemen who got away, including Jeremi Hall to USF and George Adeosun to Virginia.

MIAMI

Needs filled: The Hurricanes got their quarterback of the future in Kevin Olsen, and picked up some help on defense with ESPN 150 prospects Al-Quadin Muhammad, Artie Burns and Jermaine Grace.

Holes remaining: Still, the Hurricanes failed to close on several defensive targets, including linebacker Matthew Thomas and defensive tackle Jay-nard Bostwick. Defensive help up front remains the biggest area of need.

NORTH CAROLINA

Needs filled: The Tar Heels picked up some talented players on defense, a huge need. The top two players in the class, in fact, are defenders -- ESPN 300 prospects Brian Walker and Greg Webb. UNC also got a quarterback in the fold, another area of need should Marquise Williams not return.

Holes remaining: UNC lost a couple of prospects late -- including three-star safety Korrin Wiggins, who switched to Clemson on signing day.

PITTSBURGH

Needs filled: Offensive line has been a major area of need for the past several seasons, and coach Paul Chryst finally brought in some talent here. The top player on the board is ESPN 150 prospect Dorian Johnson, the No. 2 tackle in the nation. In all, the Panthers signed four linemen.

Holes remaining: The Panthers could use some more help in the secondary, but landed only two defensive backs.

VIRGINIA

Needs filled: The Cavs upgraded their defense with some big-time prospects, signing four-star linebacker Micah Kiser, four-star linebacker LaChaston Smith and four-star cornerback Tim Harris. Offensive line also received an upgrade, especially after the surprise signings of Eric Tetlow and George Adeosun.

Holes remaining: UVa hit just about every single one of its needs, and then some. The Cavs still need a playmaker to emerge at receiver.

VIRGINIA TECH

Needs filled: Defensive back is an area where the Hokies needed a wealth of talent, and they got it. The top three prospects on the board -- ESPN 150 cornerback Kyle Fuller, ESPN 150 safety Holland Fisher and ESPN 300 athlete Cequan Jefferson all play on the back end. Quarterback also was a big area the Hokies hit on, with Bucky Hodges and Carlis Parker, whom Frank Beamer says reminds him a little of Michael Vick.

Holes remaining: The Hokies inked a few athletes but still need help at receiver.

It was only a few months ago that Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson’s job security appeared to be the most vulnerable it has ever been during his career in Atlanta.

With former athletic director Dan Radakovich heading to Clemson, a 1-3 start in league play, a fired defensive coordinator during the bye week and mediocre recruiting classes adding up, the criticism had reached a peak at the midpoint of the 2012 season. Fortunately for Johnson, he has a lucrative contract working in his favor, but even more importantly, he now has positive momentum to build on.

Johnson deserves a reprieve.

His program is in a much better place than it was heading into the Boston College game last year, and the outlook for the Jackets is much brighter. Georgia Tech is looking like it has all of the pieces in place to be a serious contender for the Coastal Division in 2013. The recent hire of Ted Roof as defensive coordinator was an upgrade. The program got an important bowl win against USC, the first bowl win for Johnson during his tenure at Georgia Tech.

It wasn’t just how the Jackets finished the season, though -- by shutting out the FSU offense in the second half of the ACC championship game and holding USC to a season-low seven points. It’s also what they have returning for 2013:

• Possibly the best situation they’ve had at quarterback under Johnson, as Vad Lee and Justin Thomas both have a chance to be special
• Eight of the top 10 offensive linemen
• All four linebackers, including Jeremiah Attaochu, the face of the defense
• Jamal Golden, who has a chance to be the ACC’s top return specialist
• Eight starters returning on defense

There shouldn’t be any reason for Georgia Tech to underachieve with the 2013 group, and there should be no need for the NCAA to save the postseason with a waiver to play in a bowl game. The entire Coastal Division should better in 2013, and the Jackets should be a major reason why.

The 88th East-West Shrine Game will be played at 4 p.m. ET on Jan. 19 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. The East roster is loaded with ACC players from a wide range of schools. Wake Forest was the only school not represented:

EAST

• Marcus Davis, WR, Virginia Tech
• Corey Fuller, WR, Virginia Tech
• Erik Highsmith, WR, North Carolina
• Chris Pantale, TE, Boston College
• Sean Renfree, QB, Duke
• Rodney Smith, WR, Florida State
• Omoregie Uzzi, OL, Georgia Tech
• Brandan Bishop, S, NC State
• Xavier Brewer, CB, Clemson
• Izaan Cross, DL, Georgia Tech
• A.J. Francis, DL, Maryland
• Rashard Hall, S, Clemson
• Anthony McCloud, DL, Florida State
• Brandon McGee, CB, Miami
• Rod Sweeting, CB, Georgia Tech
• Joe Vellano, DL, Maryland
• Earl Wolff, S, NC State

WEST

• Steve Greer, LB, Virginia

Now let's take a look at the top assistants in the Coastal Division.

Duke: Matt Lubick, receivers. This one is a slam dunk. Lubick was nominated for several assistant coach of the year awards, and it is easy to see why. He coached the only trio nationally with 60 or more receptions this season -– Jamison Crowder (70 receptions, 1,025 yards, 8 TDs), Desmond Scott (61-606-2) and Conner Vernon (75-955-7). Don't forget Scott moved from running back to receiver this year as well. And Vernon is the ACC’s all-time leader in both pass receptions (273) and receiving yardage (3,630).

Georgia Tech: Mike Sewak, offensive line. Well, not much went right for the defense this year, so this one goes to a coach on the offense. The Jackets were as steady as everybody expected up front, and Omoregie Uzzi earned first-team All-ACC honors at guard. The Jackets averaged 312.5 yards per game on the ground, only a few yards shy from their average a year ago.

Miami: Jedd Fisch, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks. I am giving Fisch the nod for his development of quarterback Stephen Morris, one of the more pleasant surprises in the ACC this season. It seems hard to believe Morris was locked in a quarterback competition during fall camp given the way he played this season. Morris had 3,415 yards of total offense, the most in the history of the program, just ahead of the 3,412 yards Bernie Kosar had in 1984. Morris’ season total of 3,345 passing yards ranks fifth in program history, while his 421 attempts and 245 completions rank first and second, respectively.

North Carolina: Chris Kapilovic, offensive line. Kapilovic had plenty of talent to work with, but remember that the Tar Heels implemented a completely different offensive style and blocking scheme, and the offensive line had to learn just as quickly as the skill players. So to see North Carolina only gave up 11 sacks all season -- on 441 pass attempts -- shows just how well this group played as a unit. Guard Jonathan Cooper became a unanimous All-American, and tackle James Hearst joined him on the All-ACC first team. Kapilovic also is the run game coordinator, and, well, the Tar Heels had terrific development of not only Giovani Bernard, but A.J. Blue and Romar Morris as well.

Virginia: Vincent Brown, linebackers. Brown had two players finish in the Top 8 in the ACC in tackles. Steve Greer had another outstanding year, earning first-team All-ACC honors from the media after finishing second in the league in tackles (122). Outside linebacker LaRoy Reynolds also had another productive season, with career highs in tackles tackles (90), tackles for loss (9.5) and passes defended (four).

Virginia Tech: Torrian Gray, secondary. There were not many bright spots for the Hokies this season, but I will give you one -- the secondary played pretty well. Virginia Tech had the No. 2 passing defense and pass efficiency defense in the ACC, holding opponents to roughly the same numbers as a season ago. Antone Exum moved from safety to cornerback and made the All-ACC second-team, leading the league in passes defended (19) while grabbing four interceptions.

The ACC, historically one of college football’s most inconsistent leagues, had stability at the top from the preseason through the postseason, with Florida State and Clemson holding onto a firm grasp of the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in the power ranking, respectively. That hasn’t changed as we head into bowl season.

With the regular season and the championship game officially behind us, here is how the ACC stacks up heading into the new year:

1. Florida State (11-2, 7-1 ACC; LW: No. 1) -- The Seminoles won their first ACC title since 2005 with a 21-15 win over Georgia Tech. It was a disciplined defensive performance against the nation’s No. 3 rushing offense, and the Noles will represent the ACC against Northern Illinois in the Discover Orange Bowl.

2. Clemson (10-2, 7-1; LW: No. 2) -- After finishing the regular season with a loss to rival South Carolina, Clemson has a chance to redeem itself against the SEC against LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Clemson has won seven of its past eight games and could win an 11th game for the fourth time in school history.

3. Miami (7-5, 5-3; LW: No. 3) -- The Canes will be home for the holidays after their second straight self-imposed postseason ban, but the success this season was something to build on for next year. Running back Duke Johnson was named the ACC’s Rookie of the Year.

4. Georgia Tech (6-7, 5-3; LW: No. 4) -- The Yellow Jackets had a chance to upset the Noles in the ACC title game, but an interception with a minute remaining in the fourth quarter ended any hopes of it. Georgia Tech needed a waiver from the NCAA to play in the Hyundai Sun Bowl, where it will face USC.

5. North Carolina (8-4, 5-3; LW: No. 5) -- It was a successful first season for coach Larry Fedora; now it is a waiting game to see if star running back Giovani Bernard will leave school early to enter the NFL draft, and if there is any substance to the coaching rumors surrounding Tennessee’s interest in Fedora.

6. Duke (6-6, 3-5; LW: No. 6) -- The Blue Devils will face Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl as Duke returns to the postseason for the first time since 1994. David Cutcliffe was named the ACC Coach of the Year. Duke is making its ninth bowl trip and has a 3-5 record in postseason games. The Belk Bowl will be the program’s first appearance in a bowl game in North Carolina.

7. NC State (7-5, 4-4; LW: No. 7) -- Athletic director Debbie Yow didn’t waste any time hiring Dave Doeren from MAC champion Northern Illinois. Instead of coaching in the Discover Orange Bowl against FSU with his old team, Doeren immediately began working for NC State, which will play Vanderbilt (8-4) in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl. Offensive coordinator Dana Bible will coach the Pack in the bowl game.

8. Virginia Tech (6-6, 4-4; LW: No. 8) -- After going 0-2 against the Big East during the regular season with losses to Pitt and Cincinnati, the Hokies will have a chance to redeem themselves against Rutgers in the Russell Athletic Bowl.

9. Wake Forest (5-7, 3-5; LW: No. 10) -- The Deacs’ main priority now is recruiting, as it was another trying season for coach Jim Grobe and his staff. Wake Forest ended the season with three straight losses.

10. Virginia (4-8, 2-6; LW: No. 9) -- Coach Mike London made sweeping changes following a disappointing season, firing four of his assistants, including defensive coordinator Jim Reid. It’s likely the next coordinator will have a different, more aggressive defensive philosophy and scheme.

11. Maryland (4-8, 2-6; LW: No. 11) -- Anything and everything Maryland did this year on the field was overshadowed by its intent to join the Big Ten for the 2014 season. The ACC announced its intent to sue Maryland in order to force the university to pay the $50 million exit fee in full. As Randy Edsall and his staff recruits this offseason, they will do so looking for athletes to compete in the Big Ten.

12. Boston College (2-10, 1-7; LW: No. 12) -- Coach Frank Spaziani was fired, and first-year BC athletic director Brad Bates hired Temple coach Steve Addazio.