ESPN College Football

2011 overall record: 2-10
2011 conference record: 1-7 (6th, Atlantic)
Returning starters: Offense: 5; defense: 10; kicker/punter: 2

Top returners
LG Pete White, RG Josh Cary, C Bennett Fulper, TE Matt Furstenburg, WR Kevin Dorsey, DE Marcus Whittifield, DE Keith Bowers, NG Andre Monroe, DT Joe Vellano, LB Demetrius Hartsfield, LB Darrin Drakeford, LB Lorne Goree, LB Kenny Tate, CB Dexter McDougle, S Eric Franklin, S A.J. Hendy

Key losses
LT R.J. Dill, RT Max Garcia, LG Andre Donnella, QB Danny O'Brien, RB Davin Meggett, WR Quintin McCree, CB Cameron Chism

2011 statistical leaders (* returners)

Rushing: Davin Meggett (896 yards)
Passing: Danny O'Brien (1,648 yards)
Receiving: Kevin Dorsey* (573 yards)
Tackles: Demetrius Hartsfield* (108)
Sacks: Andre Monroe* (5)
Interceptions: Dexter McDougle*/Cameron Chism (3)

Spring answers

1. Defense has come a long way: The unit passed with flying colors in its first public test under new coordinator Brian Stewart and his 3-4 scheme. It overpowered the offense in the squad's spring game despite missing Joe Vellano and Kenny Tate. Both players should be back for the fall, giving the defense 10 returning starters.

2. Who is there and who isn't: Spring No. 2 is in the books and the remaining players are on board with Randy Edsall, giving the program a chance to push forward with less doubt regarding those who may not be all-in. After the Terrapins' spring game, senior Justin Gilbert told the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star: "I hate saying it, but now that the guys who don't want to be here are gone, we can really focus on next season. We don't have any distractions anymore. Everybody who's here wants to be here. I really saw that this spring with guys. The chemistry was better. There was no cancers on the team. Everybody was all together."

3. C.J. Brown holding steady: Brown was the only quarterback this spring who had any actual game experience, so he received most of the attention. With five starts under his belt, Brown, whom colleague Heather Dinich has labeled the conference's most indispensable signal-caller, survived the spring and enters the fall as the No. 1 guy.

Fall questions

1. Will anyone challenge Brown? Despite said strengths, Brown, who rushed for more than 500 yards last season, is switching from a spread attack to new coordinator Mike Locksley's pro-style system. Recruits Perry Hills and Caleb Rowe enter this summer and, depending on Brown's transition, could challenge for some snaps.

2. How will the new coordinators transition? We said this earlier with Wake Forest: Things have gone smoothly this spring, but the ultimate test comes in game action this fall. How Locksley, Stewart and Andre Powell (special teams) adjust in-season will ultimately affect the ruling on the reshuffled staff.

3. Everything else … It would appear, at this moment, that the defections have subsided. Two dozen players have left Maryland since Edsall arrived, none bigger than quarterback Danny O'Brien. Some were calling for Edsall's job after Year 1, and a debut season that featured just one win over an FBS team didn't do the program any favors. The spotlight is on College Park this season for the wrong reasons, and how the program adjusts this fall can possibly dictate its fate.

As mentioned in lunch links, Clemson announced the signings of undrafted lineman Landon Walker (Cincinnati Bengals) and punter Dawson Zimmerman (Atlanta Falcons). And a couple of generous readers have passed along a few more signings from ACC schools.

Virginia Tech guard Blake DeChristopher signed with the Cardinals, and Hokies defensive back Cris Hill signed with the Bills.

Big thanks to Matt from Alexandria, Va., Ben in Blacksburg, Va., and Lynn in Blacksburg, Va., for the head's up.

The updated, working list is below. Feel free to pass along any oversights.

BOSTON COLLEGE
CB Donnie Fletcher: New York Jets

CLEMSON
DE Kourtnei Brown: San Francisco 49ers
FB Chad Diehl: Baltimore Ravens
OL Antoine McClain: Baltimore Ravens
DT Rennie Moore: Houston Texans
OT Landon Walker: Cincinnati Bengals
P Dawson Zimmerman: Atlanta Falcons

DUKE
S Matt Daniels: St. Louis Rams

FSU
WR Bert Reed: Cleveland Browns
S Terrence Parks: Kansas City Chiefs
P Shawn Powell: Buffalo Bills

MARYLAND
CB Cameron Chism: Indianapolis Colts
RB Davin Meggett: Houston Texans

MIAMI
WR LaRon Byrd: Arizona Cardinals
OL Joel Figueroa: Miami Dolphins (rookie camp tryout)
TE Chase Ford: Philadelphia Eagles
DL Marcus Forston: New England Patriots
LB Jordan Futch: Tampa Bay Bucaneers
G Harland Gunn: Dallas Cowboys
QB Jacory Harris: Miami Dolphins (rookie camp tryout)
C Tyler Horn: Atlanta Falcons
S JoJo Nicolas: New York Giants
DL Adewale Ojomo: New York Giants
DT Micanor Regis: Atlanta Falcons

UNC
CB Charles Brown: Baltimore Ravens
C Cam Holland: Kansas City Chiefs
WR Dwight Jones: Houston Texans
S Matt Merletti: Indianapolis Colts
DT Tydreke Powell: Minnesota Vikings

NC STATE
TE George Bryan: Dallas Cowboys
FB Taylor Gentry: Kansas City Chiefs

VIRGINIA
CB Chase Minnifield: Washington Redskins
OG Austin Pasztor: Minnesota Vikings
S Rodney McLeod: St. Louis Rams
DT Matt Conrath: St. Louis Rams

VIRGINIA TECH
WR Jarrett Boykin: Jacksonville Jaguars
OT Jaymes Brooks: Green Bay Packers
G Blake DeChristopher: Arizona Cardinals
CB Cris Hill: Buffalo Bills
S Eddie Whitley: Dallas Cowboys

WAKE FOREST
TE Cameron Ford: Green Bay Packers
S Cyhl Quarles: Baltimore Ravens

Thirty-one players from ACC schools were drafted this past weekend, but many more signed free-agent deals with NFL teams in the aftermath of the draft.

The following is a list of ACC players, by school, who have signed undrafted free agent deals with NFL teams. It was compiled largely from NFL.com, along with official releases from NFL teams and ACC schools. Georgia Tech is the only ACC school currently without an undrafted free-agent signing.

By all means, feel free to let me know if I have overlooked anyone.

BOSTON COLLEGE
CB Donnie Fletcher - New York Jets

CLEMSON
DE Kourtnel Brown - San Francisco 49ers
FB Chad Diehl - Baltimore Ravens
OL Antoine McClain - Baltimore Ravens
DT Rennie Moore - Houston Texans

DUKE
S Matt Daniels - St. Louis Rams

FSU
WR Bert Reed - Cleveland Browns
S Terrence Parks - Kansas City Chiefs
P Shawn Powell - Buffalo Bills

MARYLAND
CB Cameron Chism - Indianapolis Colts
RB Davin Meggett - Houston Texans

MIAMI
WR LaRon Byrd - Arizona Cardinals
TE Chase Ford - Philadelphia Eagles
DL Marcus Forston - New England Patriots
LB Jordan Futch - Tampa Bay Bucaneers
G Harland Gunn - Dallas Cowboys
C Tyler Horn - Atlanta Falcons
S JoJo Nicolas - New York Giants
DL Adewale Ojomo - New York Giants
DT Micanor Regis - Atlanta Falcons

UNC
CB Charles Brown - Baltimore Ravens
C Cam Holland - Kansas City Chiefs
WR Dwight Jones - Houston Texans
S Matt Merletti - Indianapolis Colts
DT Tydreke Powell - Minnesota Vikings

NC STATE
TE George Bryan - Dallas Cowboys
FB Taylor Gentry - Kansas City Chiefs

VIRGINIA
CB Chase Minnifield – Washington Redskins
OG Austin Pasztor - Minnesota Vikings
S Rodney McLeod – St. Louis Rams
DT Matt Conrath – St. Louis Rams

VIRGINIA TECH
WR Jarrett Boykin - Jacksonville Jaguars
OT Jaymes Brooks - Green Bay Packers
S Eddie Whitley - Dallas Cowboys

WAKE FOREST
TE Cameron Ford - Green Bay Packers
S Chyl Quarles - Baltimore Ravens

The Hurricanes also announced that quarterback Jacory Harris and offensive lineman Joel Figueroa have both been invited to rookie camp tryouts with the Miami Dolphins.

It's NFL draft eve, and it's the last Wednesday before the event, meaning one last chance for our team of analysts to predict how this weekend will unfold.

Mel Kiper and Todd McShay reveal their final draft boards, and each has a mock , with McShay and the rest of the Scouts Inc. team going seven rounds full .

Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly, naturally, tops the list, going No. 5 to the Buccaneers. North Carolina end Quinton Coples is next off the board at No. 19, to the Bears, with wideout Stephen Hill from Georgia Tech going two spots later to the Bengals.

How do the rest of the ACC's draft-eligible players stand? Let's take a look:

ROUND 2
No. 36, Buccaneers: RB David Wilson (Virginia Tech)
No. 50, Bears: OLB Zach Brown (UNC)
No. 58, Texans: DE Andre Branch (Clemson)
No. 59, Packers: RB Lamar Miller (Miami)

ROUND 3
No. 64, Colts: DT Brandon Thompson (Clemson)
No. 68, Buccaneers: CB Jayron Hosley (Virginia Tech)
No. 72, Dolphins: OT Zebrie Sanders (FSU)
No. 76, Texans: TE Dwayne Allen (Clemson)
No. 80, Cardinals: DE Olivier Vernon (Miami)
No. 82, Titans: WR Chris Givens (Wake Forest)
No. 91, Ravens: G Joe Looney (Wake Forest)
No. 95, Raiders: DE Cam Johnson (Virginia)

ROUND 4
No. 100, Browns: OLB Nigel Bradham (FSU)
No. 124, Bills: OLB Sean Spence (Miami)
No. 125, 49ers: CB Chase Minnifield (Virginia)
No. 128, Vikings: OLB Terrell Manning (NC State)
No. 129, Raiders: OLB Kyle Wilber (Wake Forest)
No. 130, Ravens: WR Danny Coale (Virginia Tech)

ROUND 5
No. 154, Jets: WR Tommy Streeter (Miami)
No. 157, Falcons: WR TJ Graham (NC State)
No. 159, Steelers: G Brandon Washington (Miami)
No. 162, Saints: CB Coty Sensabaugh (Clemson)

ROUND 6
No. 176, Jaguars: DT Marcus Forston (Miami)
No. 178, Bills: ILB Audie Cole (NC State)
No. 188, Broncos: DE Rennie Moore (Clemson)
No. 191, Bengals: WR Travis Benjamin (Miami)
No. 197, Packers: OT Andrew Datko (FSU)
No. 205, Browns: G Antoine McClain (Clemson)

ROUND 7
No. 209, Rams: WR Dwight Jones (UNC)
No. 240, Steelers: DE Matt Conrath (Virginia)
No. 242, Jets: TE George Bryan (NC State)
No. 243, Packers: RB Davin Meggett (Maryland)
No. 245, Browns: DT Markus Kuhn (NC State)
No. 250, Chargers: CB Donnie Fletcher (BC)

Here's a breakdown by school of the 37 ACC players that Scouts Inc. thinks will be drafted:

Miami: 7
Clemson: 6
NC State: 5
Virginia Tech: 3
UNC: 3
Virginia: 3
Wake Forest: 3
FSU: 3
BC: 2
Georgia Tech: 1
Maryland: 1
Duke: 0

The ACC has done it again.

We're always hearing those guys over there in that SEC blog talk about "SEC speed," but at the NFL combine, the ACC continued to represent.

Former Miami receiver Travis Benjamin and former Georgia Tech receiver Stephen Hill clocked the fastest 40 time this year, at 4.36. Overall, it was a good Sunday for several former Canes. Hill was among several players highlighted by ESPN's Scouts Inc. crew, as Todd McShay wrote that Hill had the most impressive workout. Of the wide receivers at the combine, Hill had the best broad jump (11-1) and tied for the fourth-best vertical (391D2). McShay wrote that Hill "owned the day."

Not bad for a player who faced a lot of doubts about his decision to leave early.

It was also a strong day for two former ACC running backs, as Virginia Tech's David Wilson and Miami's Lamar Miller both performed well. McShay wrote that Wilson had "the most complete" workout of the backs, and Miller's 4.40 was the fastest 40 time.

The only "missed opportunity," according to McShay, was for former Maryland running back Davin Meggett, who "didn't run crisp routes, struggled to adjust to passes thrown outside his frame, and wasn't as explosive as other backs after the catch."

The official invite list for the NFL combine is out. Every school but Duke is represented, and there are a total of 43 former players from the conference who will participate, including Miami's entire starting lineup from 2011. Well, ok, not really, but it's a pretty big hit for the Canes. Best of luck to all of these guys at the next level.

Here are your ACC representatives:

BOSTON COLLEGE (1)

• Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

CLEMSON (6)

• Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson
• Andre Branch, DE, Clemson
• Antoine McClain, OG, Clemson
• Rennie Moore, DT, Clemson
• Coty Sensabaugh, DB, Clemson
• Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson

FLORIDA STATE (6)

• Nigel Bradham, LB, Florida State
• Andrew Datko, OT, Florida State
• Mike Harris, CB, Florida State
• Shawn Powell, P, Florida State
• Beau Reliford, TE, Florida State
• Zebrie Sanders, OT, Florida State

GEORGIA TECH (1)

• Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

MARYLAND (1)

• Davin Meggett, RB, Maryland

MIAMI (8)

• Travis Benjamin, WR, Miami
• Marcus Forston, DT, Miami
• Jacory Harris, QB, Miami
• Lamar Miller, RB, Miami
• Sean Spence, LB, Miami
• Tommy Streeter, WR, Miami
• Olivier Vernon, DE, Miami
• Brandon Washington, OT, Miami

NORTH CAROLINA (6)

• Charles Brown, CB, UNC
• Zach Brown, LB, UNC
• Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
• Dwight Jones, WR, UNC
• Donte Paige-Moss, DE, North Carolina
• Tydreke Powell, DT, UNC

NC STATE (5)

• Audie Cole, LB, NC State
• T.J. Graham, WR, NC State
• Markus Kuhn, DT, NC State
• Terrell Manning, LB, NC State
• J.R. Sweezy, DT, NC State

VIRGINIA TECH (4)

• Jarrett Boykin, WR, Virginia Tech
• Danny Coale, WR, Virginia Tech
• Jayron Hosley, CB, Virginia Tech
• David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech

VIRGINIA (2)

• Cam Johnson, DE, Virginia
• Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia

WAKE FOREST (4)

• Chris Givens, WR, Wake Forest
• Joe Looney, OG, Wake Forest
• Cyhl Quarles, S, Wake Forest
• Kyle Wilber, LB, Wake Forest

MARYLAND TERRAPINS

Record: 2-10, 1-7 ACC

Overview: The highlight of the season for Maryland might have been the attention it received from its new uniforms in the season opener against Miami. It’s been all downhill since then.

The ACC’s Coach of the Year was fired in favor of the Big East’s Coach of the Year, and Maryland fans are still trying to figure it all out. First-year coach Randy Edsall inherited a nine-win program led by the 2010 ACC Rookie of the Year in quarterback Danny O’Brien. The Terps had finished 2010 as a top 25 team in the Associated Press poll, and on an upswing following their bowl win. Now the program is trying to recover from its second 2-10 season in three years, and some fans have already called for Edsall’s job. Three players have already asked for and been granted their release, and more could be on the way.

The loss to West Virginia in Week 2 was acceptable, but the loss to Temple a week later raised some eyebrows. Temple had a 31-point halftime lead and cruised to a 38-7 win in College Park. If only that were the anomaly. Maryland beat Towson the following week, but ended the season on an eight-game losing streak. The season was punctuated by the ultimate collapse, as Maryland squandered a 27-point lead to NC State and wound up losing to the Pack by double digits in what was the second-biggest comeback in ACC history. Part of the decline can be attributed to a rash of injuries that left the defense in the hands of freshmen, but there was discontent among the players with Edsall’s style, and a quarterback controversy between O’Brien and backup C.J. Brown also became a story line this year. In further bad news, O’Brien broke a bone in his arm against Notre Dame and was sidelined for the rest of the season. Brown was the only other scholarship quarterback on the roster. Anderson has said he will conduct a full review of the program, but that Edsall’s job is safe.

Offensive MVP: RB Davin Meggett. He led the team with 896 rushing yards, had four touchdowns, and 74.7 rushing yards per game. He finished his career with 2,411 yards, good for seventh all-time on the Maryland career rushing yards list. He also had 17 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown.

Defensive MVP: DT Joe Vellano. He finished with 94 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, four pass breakups and two fumble recoveries this season. He leads the FBS in tackles by a defensive lineman (7.8 per game).

Turning point: The minute O’Brien was benched at Georgia Tech in favor of Brown. O’Brien had completed only 1 of 6 passes for 17 yards and an interception, and it opened the door for a quarterback controversy to ensue. O’Brien lost some confidence, the team lost its identity, and Maryland lost eight straight games.

What’s next: Edsall needs to decide if he’ll make any staff changes, or if Anderson will make them for him. He also needs to continue to weed out who wants to be in his program and who else wants to transfer. After cleaning house and solidifying his current roster, Edsall then needs to reevaluate his recruiting needs.

Maryland Terrapins

Record: 2-3, 1-1 ACC

The excitement began and ended with the unveiling of the Terps’ new “Maryland Pride” uniforms in the season opener against Miami.

It’s been downhill since then.

First-year coach Randy Edsall put Maryland on the map in Game 1 with a 32-24 win over Miami, and at the time, it was literally a new look for Maryland. New coach, new schemes, and a new, bold uniform combination that took the Twitter world by storm. The uniforms got more ink than the game itself, and Maryland hasn’t received as much publicity since. The Terps have lost three of their last four games, including what was arguably the worst loss in the ACC, a 38-7 loss to Temple in College Park. Most recently, in the road loss to Georgia Tech, Edsall opened up the door for a quarterback competition when he benched 2010 ACC Rookie of the Year in favor for his backup, C.J. Brown. The passing game struggled under both of them, and Edsall’s overall record against ranked opponents dropped to 2-17.

Not exactly a resume builder for a coach who was hired to make Maryland a consistent contender in the top 25.

Meanwhile, former coach Ralph Friedgen, who was fired after being named the ACC’s Coach of the Year and winning nine games, flippantly said he burned his Maryland diploma. His wife, Gloria, made a surprise visit and brought the players snacks.

Huh?

It’s been a rough transition under Edsall, and the bumpy road looks to continue this weekend against league-leading Clemson.

Offensive MVP: RB Davin Meggett: He is fifth in the ACC in rushing with 413 yards on 83 carries. He has two rushing touchdowns and is averaging 82.6 yards per game. He is in 12th place on the school's career rushing yards list.

Defensive MVP: DT Joe Vellano: He racked up a career-high 20 tackles, including 14 solo and a tackle for loss against an undefeated Georgia Tech team. Vellano became just the fifth defensive player in the nation to post 20 or more tackles, though he is the only lineman in the FBS to register more than 15 stops in a game in 2011. He's tied for the lead in the ACC with two recovered fumbles, and he has 38 tackles.

This series is like a CliffsNotes version of what went on at summer camp, a few quick hits to catch you up on the main developments at each ACC school this month as we gear up for game week next week. Next up is Maryland:

• The coaching staff liked what it saw from the running backs, and Davin Meggett and D.J. Adams are still the top two on the depth chart, but the Terps are still looking for a third who can play. Jeremiah Wilson, a redshirt freshman who moved to running back from defensive back in the spring, is an option, but true freshmen Justus Pickett and Brandon Ross have been particularly impressive and could see some snaps.
• Maryland has plenty of options at receiver, but Kerry Boykins, Kevin Dorsey, Ronnie Tyler and Quintin McCree got the majority of meaningful snaps this month.
• Keith Bowers is a true freshman from Florida who could figure into the rotation on the defensive line, but that rotation remains a question. There are several backup positions on defense that are up for grabs, including safety and linebacker.
• The staff has settled in on its starting five on the offensive line (Max Garcia, Andrew Gonnella, Bennett Fulper, Josh Carey and R.J. Dill), but the No. 2 positions still remain a question.
• A competition still remains at punter with Michael Tart and Nate Renfro, a true freshman who joined the team this month.

Most notable injury: Defensive tackle Justin Anderson had foot surgery and should be out most of September, likely the first three games.

Lotta links ...

• Sorry I missed this one yesterday, guys. Great read on Virginia tight end Colter Phillips and how his family is coping with the death of his father a year later.
• Virginia's real work is about to begin, including finding a quarterback.
• UVA offensive coordinator Bill Lazor hasn't offered up any clues as to who that might be. Maybe that's because he doesn't have any yet.
• Jim Grobe cracks me up. He said Joe Looney looks like he combs his hair with a grenade.
• North Carolina fans aren't quite sure how they feel about the state of their football program, according to one poll.
• David Glenn spoke with Frank Beamer recently about a variety of topics.
• The quarterback competition is heating up at Georgia Tech.
• Maryland running back Davin Meggett says this is his team, not Randy Edsall's. Don't look now, but the Terps have a leader.
• Jimbo Fisher has been pleased with his team's attitude.
• BC defensive coordinator Bill McGovern is ready for another defensive challenge.
• BC linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis will help make that challenge a little bit easier.
• Virginia Tech held its first mini-scrimmage, but no starters were on the field.
• Clemson freshman Bashaud Breeland is making a push for some playing time.
• Miami linebacker Jordan Futch is tired of being No. 2.
• Congrats to the NC State players who started the chapter of Uplifting Athletes. It's a great cause, and would be perfect for Florida State right now to help the cause of Ethan Fisher.
• Maryland's Kenny Tate has moved from safety to linebacker, but who will take over in the Terps' secondary?
• Some news and notes from Day 4 of Miami's camp.

The members of the National College Football Awards Association unveiled their preseason watch lists over a 13-day period concluding with the Walter Camp Award's list today. Fifteen of the association's 21 awards selected a preseason watch list, and I've compiled your ACC candidates here:

WALTER CAMP PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

• Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
• Jayron Hosley, DB, Virginia Tech
• Brandon Jenkins, DT, Florida State
• Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

JIM THORPE AWARD

• Ray-Ray Armstrong, Miami
• Donnie Fletcher, Boston College
• Jayron Hosley, Virginia Tech
• Chase Minnifield, Virginia
• Greg Reid, Florida State
• Xavier Rhodes, Florida State
• Kenny Tate, Maryland

ROTARY LOMBARDI AWARD

• Nigel Bradham, LB, Florida State
• Jaymes Brooks, G, Virginia Tech
• Audie Cole, LB, NC State
• Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina
• Quinton Coples, OT, Florida State
• Blake DeChristopher, OT, Virginia Tech
• Marcus Forston, DT, Miami
• Dalton Freeman, C, Clemson
• Brandon Jenkins, DE, Florida State
• Cam Johnson, DT, Virginia
• Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
• Donte Paige-Moss, DE, North Carolina
• Tydreke Powell, DT, North Carolina
• Sean Spence, LB, Miami
• Bruce Taylor, LB, Virginia Tech
• Joe Vellano, DT, Maryland
• Brandon Washington, G, Miami

RIMINGTON TROPHY

• Dalton Freeman, Clemson
• Cam Holland, North Carolina
• Tyler Horn, Miami
• Brian Moore, Duke

BUTKUS AWARD

• Nigel Bradham, Florida State
• Zach Brown, North Carolina
• Ramon Buchanan, Miami
• Audie Cole, NC State
• Luke Kuechly, Boston College
• Kevin Reddick, North Carolina
• Sean Spence, Miami
• Kenny Tate, Maryland
• Bruce Taylor, Virginia Tech

DOAK WALKER AWARD

• Andre Ellington, Clemson
• Montel Harris, Boston College
• Davin Meggett, Maryland
• Lamar Miller, Miami
• David Wilson, Virginia Tech

BEDNARIK AWARD

• Ray-Ray Armstrong, S, Miami
• Nigel Bradham, LB, Florida State
• Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
• Donnie Fletcher, CB, Boston College
• Jayron Hosley, CB, Virginia Tech
• Brandon Jenkins, DE, Florida State
• Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
• Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia
• Donte Paige-Moss, DE, North Carolina
• Kevin Reddick, LB, North Carolina
• Greg Reid, CB, Florida State
• Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
• Sean Spence, LB, Miami
• Kenny Tate, LB, Maryland
• Bruce Taylor, LB, Virginia Tech

BILETNIKOFF AWARD

• Travis Benjamin, Miami
• Jarrett Boykin, Virginia Tech
• Kris Burd, Virginia
• Chris Givens, Wake Forest
• DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson
• Dwight Jones, North Carolina
• Bobby Swigert, Boston College
• Donovan Varner, Duke
• Conner Vernon, Duke

LOU GROZA AWARD

• Casey Barth, North Carolina
• Nate Freese, Boston College
• Dustin Hopkins, Florida State
• Will Snyderwine, Duke

RAY GUY AWARD

• Dawson Zimmerman, Clemson

MACKEY AWARD

• Dwayne Allen, Clemson
• George Bryan, NC State
• Cooper Helfet, Duke
• Chris Pantale, Boston College
• Colter Phillips, Virginia

MAXWELL AWARD

• Andre Ellington, RB, Clemson
• Mike Glennon, QB, NC State
• Montel Harris, RB, Boston College
• EJ Manuel, QB, Florida State
• Danny O'Brien, QB, Maryland
• David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech

BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY

• Ray-Ray Armstrong, S, Miami
• Nigel Bradham, LB, Florida State
• Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina
• Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
• Marcus Forston, DT, Miami
• Jayron Hosley, CB, Virginia Tech
• Brandon Jenkins, DE, Florida State
• Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
• Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia
• Donte Paige-Moss, DE, North Carolina
• Tydreke Powell, DT, North Carolina
• Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
• Sean Spence, OLB, Miami
• Kenny Tate, LB, Maryland
• Bruce Taylor, LB, Virginia Tech

OUTLAND TROPHY

• Andrew Datko, OT, Florida State
• Blake DeChristopher, OT, Virginia Tech
• Marcus Forston, DT, Miami
• Dalton Freeman, C, Clemson
• Tydreke Powell, DT, North Carolina
• Omoregie Uzzi, OG, Georgia Tech
• Brandon Washington, OG, Miami

DAVEY O'BRIEN

• EJ Manuel, Florida State
• Danny O'Brien, Maryland
• Sean Renfree, Duke

The ACC position rankings continue today with the running backs.

1. Montel Harris, Boston College: Until proven otherwise, this record-setter is tops in the ACC. He’s currently the league’s most accomplished back, and has topped the 100-yard mark 21 times.

2. David Wilson, Virginia Tech: He was the team’s third-leading rusher a year ago with 619 yards and 5.5 yards per carry. Now he’s got the spotlight to himself, and has a chance to become an All-American in both track and football.

3. Lamar Miller, Miami: He had one of the best spring games in the conference, and averaged six yards per carry last year with only 108 carries for 646 yards and six touchdowns. He also had 11 catches for 96 yards.

4. Chris Thompson, Florida State: He led FSU with 845 yards and 6.3 yards per carry last year. He also had 19 catches for 155 yards.

5. Andre Ellington, Clemson: He could break 1,000 yards if he stays healthy, but a nagging toe injury has kept him from reaching his potential. He ran for 686 yards, (5.8 ypc), and 10 touchdowns in less than nine full games.

6. Josh Harris, Wake Forest: He ranked fifth in the ACC last year with 65.5 yard per game and finished with 720 yards on 126 carries and seven touchdowns. He made a name for himself with 241 rushing yards against ACC champ Virginia Tech.

7. Davin Meggett, Maryland: He was the Terps’ leading rusher with 720 yards, 5.7 yards per carry, and four touchdowns. He also has 29 career pass receptions for 313 yards and a touchdown.

8. Mustafa Greene, NC State: He led the team in rushing as a freshman with 597 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 30 catches for 272 yards.

9. Ryan Houston, North Carolina: He has broken out of the mold of the Tar Heels’ short-yardage back and is ready to be the every-down guy. Houston sat out last year because of a suspension, but he led UNC in rushing in 2009 with 713 yards and nine touchdowns.

10. Orwin Smith, Georgia Tech: He's an A-back, which is more of a slot back, but he was Tech's third-leading rusher last year with 516 yards and 9.7 yards per carry with four touchdowns. He was also the second-leading receiver on the team with 12 catches for 195 yards and a 16.2 yards-per-play average.

Last week we looked at how the quarterbacks stacked up in the ACC. This week, we’ll take a closer look at the running backs. Again, the position rankings by team put heavy weight on the depth of the position -– hence the team ranking, not individual. Just because Virginia Tech has one of the best running backs in the ACC doesn’t mean that collectively, as a group, Virginia Tech is the best team in the league at the position. Florida State? Loaded. Wake Forest? Not. These are based on the best combination of talent, experience and depth.

Here’s a look at how each team ranks in the position:

1. Florida State: Chris Thompson, Ty Jones and Jermaine Thomas combined for 1,862 yards, 6.1 yards per carry, and 17 touchdowns last year. Thompson had 1,000 yards combined from both rushing and receiving last year, and Thomas enters his senior season with 1,084 career yards -- the second most of any active ACC runner, behind only Montel Harris (3,600).

2. Boston College: Montel Harris could break a 33-year-old ACC rushing record this fall, and his backup, Andre Williams, is a bigger back who has proven more than capable of shouldering the load himself. Together they’re one of the best one-two combos in the league.

3. Miami: The transfer of Storm Johnson hurt, but Lamar Miller should be one of the best in the ACC, and Mike James was ahead of Johnson on the depth chart. The Canes also have Darion Hall, Maurice Hagens and incoming freshman Kevin Grooms.

4. Clemson: Andre Ellington will be the leader of the pack, but true freshman Mike Bellamy could also make an immediate impact, and the group runs deep with Roderick McDowell, D.J. Howard and Demont Buice.

5. Virginia Tech: Had Ryan Williams and Darren Evans returned, this would have been one of the premier groups of running backs in the country. Instead, it will be the David Wilson show (and Josh Oglesby). Not that the Hokies will have any problem with that.

6. Maryland: Davin Meggett and D.J. Adams are a talented duo, but depth should be a concern. Meggett posted a team-high 720 rushing yards in 2010, while Adams had a freshman school-record 11 rushing touchdowns.

7. NC State: The Wolfpack are in a much better position at running back than they were a year ago, when nobody with starting experience returned. Mustafa Greene, James Washington and Brandon Barnes should make NC State’s running game a bigger factor this fall.

8. Georgia Tech: Coach Paul Johnson isn’t concerned about his B-back position because it’s one of the deepest on the team. There isn’t one superstar like in recent years, but Richard Watson, Charles Perkins and Preston Lyons will work together to keep the Jackets one of the top rushing teams in the country.

9. North Carolina: The Tar Heels have to replace three tailbacks who accounted for 96 percent of their rushing last year. Ryan Houston is back for his sixth season of eligibility, but he is the only one who has seen significant playing time. Giovani Bernard, Hunter Furr and Travis Riley help the depth.

10. Wake Forest: Josh Harris could crack the 1,000-yard mark if he stays healthy, and Brandon Pendergrass is a capable backup. There are three true freshmen at the position, and it’s one area coach Jim Grobe can’t afford any injuries.

11. Virginia: Perry Jones and Kevin Parks are talented, but the Cavaliers will miss the production of Keith Payne, who accounted for 14 of the team’s 17 rushing touchdowns. Jones started all but one game last year, but only scored one touchdown.

12. Duke: The Blue Devils’ running game is starting to show progress, but last year it still ranked 104th in the country. Depth isn’t a problem, as Desmond Scott, Josh Snead and Juwan Thompson should help make it a more productive group this year.

Stay tuned for the top 10 ACC running backs for 2011 ...

2010 overall record: 9-4

2010 conference record: 5-3

Returning starters

Offense: 7, defense: 7, punter/kicker 0

Top returners

QB Danny O’Brien, RB Davin Meggett, WR Kerry Boykins, WR Kevin Dorsey, DT Joe Vellano, LB Kenny Tate, LB Demetrius Hartsfield, DT A.J. Francis, CB Cameron Chism

Key losses

WR Torrey Smith, WR Adrian Cannon, RB Da’Rel Scott, LB Alex Wujciak, LB Adrian Moten, SS Antwine Perez, P/PK Travis Baltz

2010 statistical leaders (* returners)

Rushing: Meggett* (720 yards)

Passing: O’Brien* (2,438 yds)

Receiving: Smith (1,055 yds)

Tackles: Wujciak (117)

Sacks: Tate* (3.5)

Interceptions: Moten (4)

Spring answers

1. Receivers answering the call. Maryland lost its top two receivers from 2010, but three emerged as potential go-to players this spring. Ronnie Tyler, Kerry Boykins and Kevin Dorsey were the lead candidates to become O’Brien’s favorite target this fall, and Quintin McCree, who has missed the Tuesday and Thursday practices for study hall, is the leading returner with 16 catches. None of them have been in a starting role before, but all of them proved to be capable hands this spring.

2. A 'general' consensus. Some players within the program have nicknamed first-year coach Randy Edsall "the general" for his strict rules and high expectations, but they seem to have bought in. Overall, the team has adjusted well to the staff changes and embraced the new regime, its style, schemes and philosophies. Edsall has banned hats, earrings and do-rags in the football building, and facial hair must be neatly trimmed.

3. Kenny Tate’s move a good one. The biggest position change of the spring was Tate from safety to linebacker, and Tate showed this spring it was a good move -- especially following the departures of veterans Adrian Moten and Alex Wujciak. Tate adjusted well to the “star” position, a cross between strong safety and outside linebacker. The move also indicated the staff is confident in Eric Franklin and Matt Robinson as the starting safeties.

Fall questions

1. What will this team’s identity be? The players spent this spring learning new schemes and terminology, much of which has been kept under wraps by Edsall. O’Brien has said the offense will be more up-tempo, and has made every effort to study and learn the system this spring, but executing it in games remains a question. The defense also made a transition under first-year coordinator Todd Bradford.

2. Can the offensive line stay healthy? It’s been an injury-prone group the past two seasons and this spring wasn’t much different. Left tackle Justin Gilbert, one of the top linemen on the team, reinjured the same knee he had ACL surgery on and will be out until October. R.J. Dill was also injured this spring, though he played in the spring game, and Justin Lewis was rehabbing from offseason surgery. Pete White also missed practices, so the group needs to solidify the two-deep roster.

3. Who will be the starting fullback? Taylor Watson decided this spring to graduate and leave the team, leaving Rahsaan Moore and Haroon Brown as the lead candidates. True freshman Tyler Cierski, rated the No. 2 fullback in his class by ESPN Recruiting, should add to the competition this summer.

Heather Dinich talks with the running back about the upcoming season.