Counting down the ACC's top 30 players: No. 5

ACC Blog

June, 24, 2009

Jun 24

4:30

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By Heather Dinich

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Austin

No. 5. Thomas Austin, OL, Clemson, Sr., 6-3, 315

Why he's here: He's a smart, mature, disciplined (married) veteran who, according to Mel Kiper, should be the top senior center in the 2010 NFL draft. Austin started seven games at center and six at guard last year, and he'll graduate in August. He was also named the ACC's Offensive Lineman of the Week three times last year. It was the second straight season he led the Tigers in knockdown blocks (98), and he has 206 career knockdowns, more than any other active Clemson player. His 795 snaps were more than any other Clemson offensive player last year, and he and Aaron Kelly were the only Tigers on offense to start every game last year.

Austin had an average film grade of 82 percent for the 2008 season. Austin goes above and beyond what's required of him on the field, though, and that's another reason why he's high on this list. He went on a mission trip to Mexico during the 2008 spring break, and has been a public speaker at Clemson's statewide IPTAY meeting in February. The NFL will love Austin.

No. 6 Darren Evans, Virginia Tech
No. 7 Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech
No. 8 Rodney Hudson, Florida State
No. 9 Willie Young, NC State
No. 10 Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech
No. 11 Sean Spence, Miami
No. 12 Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina
No. 13 Thaddeus Lewis, Duke
No. 14 Bruce Carter, North Carolina
No. 15 Vince Oghobaase, Duke
No. 16 Stephan Virgil, Virginia Tech
No. 17 Jacoby Ford, Clemson
No. 18 Dekoda Watson, Florida State
No. 19 Nate Irving, NC State
No. 20 Chris Chancellor, Clemson
No. 21 Kam Chancellor, Virginia Tech
No. 22 Christian Ponder, Florida State
No. 23 Anthony Castonzo, Boston College
No. 24 Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson
No. 25 Sergio Render, Virginia Tech
No. 26 John Russell, Wake Forest
No. 27 Riley Skinner, Wake Forest
No. 28 Vic Hall, Virginia
No. 29 Da'Rel Scott, Maryland
No. 30 Matt Bosher, Miami

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