ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

No. 2 Jonathan Dwyer, B-back, Georgia Tech, Jr., 6-0, 228

Dwyer

Why he's here: The ACC's reigning Player of the Year led the league in rushing last season with 1,395 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, and he was just scratching the surface in Year 1 of Paul Johnson's offense. Consider this: Dwyer's 107.3 rushing yards per game ranked him 21st nationally, but of the 20 players who were ranked ahead of him, 14 were juniors or seniors. He's got the speed to escape for long runs, and his powerful lower body makes him tough to bring down.

Dwyer's combined rushing and receiving yards (1,604) were the ninth-most in the history of the ACC. He had nine 100-yard rushing performances, tying the school record held by Tashard Choice in 2006. He averaged seven yards per carry and had 19 carries of 20 yards or longer. Dwyer's 1,775 all-purpose yards were the second-most in school history. His 21 career rushing touchdowns are more than any ACC player returning this fall.

Why he's not No. 1: Not yet, anyway. First, let's see Dwyer sustain his success now that defensive coordinators have had an off-season to really key in on him and Georgia Tech's offensive scheme. Dwyer is a more complete pure runner than No. 1, but he's not as versatile.

No. 3 Russell Wilson, NC State
No. 4 Jason Worilds, Virginia Tech
No. 5 Thomas Austin, Clemson
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