ESPN College Football

As the NFL lockout still continues, the professional careers of several former ACC players remain in limbo. Any players hoping to extend their playing days as undrafted free agents must wait until the NFL's labor issues are resolved. There is significant, proven talent on this list -- names I've typed countless times for their accomplishments in the ACC -- but don't forget that the NFL is based more on potential than it is on past production. I searched all of these players' names in ESPN.com's NFL player database, and North Carolina's Kendric Burney and Clemson's DeAndre McDaniel received the highest grades (over 60, which is considered fourth-round equivalent). Most of them were graded in the 30s, which means they are considered a borderline draft prospect. Regardless of where they wind up in the future, their contributions in the past certainly won't be forgotten.

These are the players who were invited to the combine but not drafted, according to the NFL's draft tracker:

• Daniel Aiken LS 6'4" 244 Virginia
• Damien Berry RB 5'10" 211 Miami
• Kendric Burney DB 5'9" 186 North Carolina
• Mario Butler DB 6'0" 182 Georgia Tech
• Graig Cooper RB 5'10" 205 Miami
• Shaun Draughn RB 5'11" 213 North Carolina
• Darren Evans RB 6'0" 227 Virginia Tech
• John Graves DT 6'3" 286 Virginia Tech
• Richard Lapham OL 6'8" 315 Boston College
• DeAndre McDaniel SS 6'0" 217 Clemson
• Adrian Moten LB 6'2" 228 Maryland
• Zack Pianalto TE 6'3" 256 North Carolina
• Owen Spencer WR 6'2" 195 N.C. State
• Jerrard Tarrant FS 6'0" 204 Georgia Tech
• Deunta Williams CB 6'2" 205 North Carolina
• Marshall Williams WR 6'1" 188 Wake Forest

Miami had the second highest total of draftees nationally with eight, second in the ACC only to North Carolina (9).

• While eight was among the best totals in the 2011 NFL draft, UM has had eight or more players drafted on five occasions since 2000 and 14 times in the program’s history. The eight draftees ranks ninth in UM history.
• Cornerback Brandon Harris will have a bevy of familiar faces in Houston where former Canes Andre Johnson, Eric Winston, Chris Myers, Rashad Butler, Damione Lewis and Darryl Sharpton are on the current roster.
• UM has had 26 first-round picks since 2000. The next highest total is 17 by Ohio State. UM has 75 total draft picks since 2000, which is third during that time span and barely trails Ohio State (78).
• Former Canes CB Ryan Hill, RB Graig Cooper and RB Damien Berry all appeared on mock drafts and seem likely to be signed if/when free agency is lifted from the NFL lockout.

The official list for the NFL combine has been released. A total of 48 players from the ACC have been invited to audition for the NFL from February 23 – March 1. When categorized by school, it's somewhat of a reality check to see how many of the best players in the conference are moving on, and which programs will take the biggest hit. It's impossible not to wonder how good North Carolina could have been had all of the following players remained eligible. The Tar Heels will send the most players to the combine with 11.

Here are the players who will represent the ACC:

BOSTON COLLEGE (3)

• Anthony Castonzo
• Rich Lapham
• Mark Herzlich

CLEMSON (7)

• Da'Quan Bowers
• Marcus Gilchrist
• Chris Hairston
• Jamie Harper
• Jarvis Jenkins
• Byron Maxwell
• DeAndre McDaniel

FLORIDA STATE (3)

• Rodney Hudson
• Christian Ponder
• Markus White

GEORGIA TECH (3)

• Anthony Allen
• Mario Butler
• Jerrard Tarrant

MARYLAND (3)

• Torrey Smith
• Adrian Moten
• Da'Rel Scott

MIAMI (9)

• Allen Bailey
• Damien Berry
• Matt Bosher
• Orlando Franklin
• Graig Cooper
• Leonard Hankerson
• Brandon Harris
• Colin McCarthy
• DeMarcus Van Dyke

NORTH CAROLINA (11)

• Marvin Austin
• Kendric Burney
• Bruce Carter
• Greg Little
• Shaun Draughn
• Robert Quinn
• Da'Norris Searcy
• Quan Sturdivant
• Johnny White
• Deunta Williams
• T.J. Yates

NC STATE (2)

• Nate Irving
• Owen Spencer

VIRGINIA (2)

• Danny Aiken
• Ras-I Dowling

VIRGINIA TECH (5)

• Rashad Carmichael
• Darren Evans
• John Graves
• Tyrod Taylor
• Ryan Williams

Clemson offensive tackle Chris Hairston has accepted an invitation to play in the 86th East-West Shrine Game. The game will be held at 4 p.m. on Jan. 22 at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

Hairston joins Miami's Graig Cooper and DeMarcus Van Dyke, along with Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor as ACC players who have been invited to this game.

Former Miami running back and Graig Cooper and cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke have been invited to participate in the 86th East-West Shrine Game on Saturday, Jan. 22 at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

Cooper and Van Dyke are two of 32 players that have been selected. Former NFL coaches Wade Phillips and Dan Reeves will serves as the game’s head coaches.

Cooper wrapped up his collegiate career ranking third in program history in career all-purpose yardage (3,864), trailing only Santana Moss (4,394) and Ottis Anderson (4,265). He also ranks fifth in UM history in career rushing yards (2,387). Limited by injuries in 2010, Cooper, who played in 46 games in his career, finished this senior year with 427 all-purpose yards, including 165 yards rushing on 35 carries.

Van Dyke played in 50 games in his career, tying him for third all-time at UM in career games played. He started 23 games in his career at cornerback, including five this past season. He closed out his career with 80 tackles, 10 pass break-ups, three interceptions and 3.0 tackles for loss. As a senior, Van Dyke tallied 20 tackles and two interceptions, one of which he returned for 74 yards at Pittsburgh on Sept. 23.

Doesn't seem to matter who's starting at quarterback today for Miami (it's Stephen Morris).

The Canes are going nowhere fast.

It's 0-0 as the first half is winding down. Damien Berry fumbled near the end zone, Graig Cooper fumbled around the 5-yard line, and South Florida got the ball on a touchback. Miami hasn't been able to convert its third downs, and the Bulls are forcing Morris into uncomfortable third-and-long situations while stuffing the run.

This isn't looking good for Miami.

Thanks as usual to the sports information directors throughout the league for these weekly notes:

• When Boston College defeated Virginia Saturday to become bowl eligible, it became only the fourth team in ACC history to win four straight games, after losing at least four straight games (5 for BC) in the same season. The Eagles join the 1967 Wake Forest squad as well as Maryland (1979), Clemson (2004) and NC State (2008) as teams with a four-game winning streak after at least an equal losing skein.
• Miami redshirt freshman Lamar Miller currently ranks fourth all-time at UM in rushing yards by a freshman with 639. Miller trails teammate Graig Cooper, former teammate Javarris James and current Washington Redskin Clinton Portis for the most rushing yards ever by a Cane in their first collegiate season.
• A win Saturday against Duke would assure the Tar Heels of a winning record for the third consecutive season, a feat which has not been accomplished since Carolina had nine straight winning seasons from 1990-98.
• Virginia Tech has won nine straight games heading into Saturday’s meeting with rival Virginia at Lane Stadium. That’s currently the fifth-longest active winning streak in the nation. One more win for the Hokies this year will make them the only team nationally to have 10 or more wins in each of the past seven seasons.
• Florida State is now bowl eligible for the 28th consecutive year. The Seminoles current bowl streak is the longest in the nation. Virginia Tech, which will be going to its 18th straight bowl game, has the nation’s 3rd-longest consecutive bowl streak.
• Georgia Tech has played Georgia more frequently (104 meetings) than any other opponent. Auburn, with 92 games, is next. The Tech-UGA series is the 20th-most frequently played series in the FBS, 12th-most among in-state rivals.
• This will be the 108th meeting between Clemson and South Carolina and the 102nd consecutive year the two schools have met. That is the third-longest streak of consecutive years played in a rivalry in the nation. The only rivalries longer are Kansas versus Nebraska at 105 games and Minnesota versus Wisconsin at 104 games. Those games have already been played this year.
• The average height of a Wolfpack wide receiver (a wideout who has caught at least one catch in 2010) is 6-feet, 3-inches tall. That mark is the second highest among ACC schools (for wide receivers who have caught a pass in 2010). UNC receivers lead the league, averaging 6-feet, 3 ½-inches tall.
• Wake Forest place kicker Jimmy Newman is one shy of tying the school record of consecutive made field goals. The record is currently held by Sam Swank, who made 11 straight during the 2005 season.
• After allowing 17 sacks in the first 22 quarters this year, Virginia has allowed just two sacks in the past 22 quarters. Virginia had a streak of 13 sackless quarters broken in the fourth quarter against Duke. UVa had not given up a sack since the last play of the second quarter in the UNC game (39 drives total). This coincides with Morgan Moses joining the starting lineup.
• Maryland safety Kenny Tate is the only player in the ACC to rank in the top 10 in tackles (t-6th -- 8.0 pg), interceptions (t-10th -- 0.27 pg) and forced fumbles (1st -- 0.36 pg).
• Both Duke coach David Cutcliffe and North Carolina coach Butch Davis did not coach during the 2005 season. Cutcliffe was on the staff at Notre Dame in the spring of 2005 but resigned due to health reasons before rejoining the Tennessee staff for 2006 while Davis was in between head coaching positions with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns (2001-04) and North Carolina (2007-present).

Offense, defense and special teams all made the cut in the ACC's top five performers for Week 11:

FSU kicker Dustin Hopkins: He kicked the game-winning, 55-yard field goal for the 16-13 win over Clemson as time expired, and the Noles wouldn't have won without his two other field goals in the game. It was redemption for Hopkins, who last week missed the game-winner in a loss to UNC.

BC defensive end Max Holloway: BC's defense was the difference in the Eagles' 21-16 win over Duke, and Holloway got the final word. He batted down Duke quarterback Sean Renfree's pass on fourth-and-goal from the 4-yard line to preserve the win with 46 seconds left. He finished with 11 tackles, 4.5 for loss, two sacks and one forced fumble.

Virginia Tech's defense: The Hokies had six takeaways in their 26-10 win over North Carolina, including two interceptions from Jayron Hosley. UNC receiver Dwight Jones was held to just one catch, and the Hokies pitched a shutout in the second half after trailing 10-9 at the break. UNC quarterback T.J. Yates threw four interceptions, and the Hokies held UNC to just 19 total yards in the third quarter.

Miami running backs: The Canes took the pressure off of rookie quarterback Stephen Morris in the 35-10 win over Georgia Tech with their ability to run the ball. Miami had 145 yards on 21 carries in the first half. Miami finished the game with 277 yards on 46 carries, led by Lamar Miller with 85 yards on 11 rushes. Four different running backs -- Damien Berry, Graig Cooper, Lamar Miller and Mike James -- scored touchdowns.

Maryland's offense. Wide receiver Torrey Smith had had more than 100 yards receiving with 12 minutes left in second quarter of a 42-23 win against Virginia. He finished with a game-high 157 yards on seven receptions and 214 all-purpose yards. D.J. Adams ran for three touchdowns against Virginia, becoming the first Maryland player to do that since Lance Ball on Oct. 6, 2007 against Georgia Tech. And quarterback Danny O'Brien threw for two touchdowns and ran for another.

Miami's quarterback controversy began before the game against Georgia Tech even ended (and it ended in about the third quarter, with Miami's 28-10 lead).

Stephen Morris, filling in for injured starter Jacory Harris the second straight week, managed the offense well without turning it over and threw with a nice zip on the ball. Miami fans (at least those talking to me on Twitter @ESPN_ACC) are already expecting -- demanding -- Morris be the starter for next week's key game against Virginia Tech.

There's something more, though, that they should be asking for. Regardless of who starts at quarterback against the Hokies, Miami should continue to run the ball at least 40 times. In Miami's three losses this season -- to Ohio State (28 rushing attempts), Florida State (36 rushing attempts) and Virginia (29 carries), the Canes have run the ball fewer than 40 times.

Only twice this season have they done that and won -- against Florida A&M and against Pitt. Miami ran it 49 times against Maryland in Morris' first career start. No doubt that helped take some pressure off of him.

Four different running backs scored for Miami against Georgia Tech -- Mike James, Lamar Miller, Graig Cooper and Damien Berry. If Miami can do that against Virginia Tech next week, it won't matter much if Harris or Morris is under center.

Thanks as always to the sports information directors throughout the league for our dose of ACC knowledge:

• In 1998 and 1999, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson was the head coach at Georgia Southern and Miami offensive coordinator Mark Whipple was the head coach at UMass when the two teams met in the FCS (then called I-AA) playoffs. In ‘98, Whipple’s UMass team beat Johnson’s GSU team in the national championship game, 55-43. The next year in the quarterfinals, Johnson and the Eagles beat Whipple and the Minutemen, 38-21.
• Virginia Tech is 21-2 in November games since joining the ACC in 2004.
• Virginia Tech is a perfect 10-0 in ACC games played in the state of North Carolina (2-0 at Wake Forest; 2-0 at NC State; 3-0 at Duke; 3-0 at UNC).
• In his first career start, Lamar Miller rushed for a career-high 125 yards on 22 carries -- the most rushing yards by a Hurricane back this season. The last time a freshman rushed for as many yards was on Sept. 30, 2006, when Javarris James ran for 148 yards against Houston to set a freshman record. He is the second Hurricane back to achieve it this season, alongside Damien Berry. He is the first freshman to record a 100-yard rushing game since Graig Cooper racked up 101 yards versus Duke on Sept. 29, 2007.
• It only took BC 32 seconds to score last week in the win over Wake Forest. Linebacker Luke Kuechly intercepted Tanner Price on the first play from scrimmage, and the Eagles' offense started on the Wake Forest 35-yard line. After a 9-yard completion, running back Montel Harris scored a 26-yard touchdown run with 14:28 on the clock. It was the second-fastest touchdown that BC has scored since joining the ACC in 2005. L.V. Whitworth scored 22 seconds into the game against Ball State on October 1, 2005, with a 14-yard run.
• The Terps have scored six defensive touchdowns over the past 12 games, including four this season (all interception returns for touchdowns) which matches the team’s total from the past five years (two in 2009, one in 2006, one in 2005). In fact, since 1987, the Terps have posted as many as three defensive scores just three times (1998-00). Additionally, the four interception returns for touchdowns lead the ACC this season, with the other 11 teams combining for 14. Boston College, Clemson, Miami, UNC and NC State have posted two apiece.
• Duke is 30-of-32 (.938) in the red zone this season with 19 touchdowns and 11 field goals. Duke’s red-zone conversion percentage of .938 leads the ACC and ranks third nationally. Duke is the only team in the ACC with a conversion percentage of over 90 percent and are a perfect 10-of-10 in the red zone in the past three games.
• UNC quarterback T.J. Yates needs nine completions to set the UNC career record. He has 693 completions and trails only Darian Durant, who had 701 from 2001-04. Yates needs 485 yards to become Carolina’s all-time passing leader. He currently ranks second behind Durant, who threw for 8,755 yards from 2001-04. Yates and Durant are the only two players in UNC history to throw for 2,000 or more yards in three different seasons. Yates 2010 interception percentage of 1.476 currently ranks first in school history just ahead of Chris Keldorf’s 1.479 mark in 1997 (5 INT in 338 attempts).
• Virginia receiver Dontrelle Inman had never had a 100-yard receiving day during his career prior to Saturday’s game at Duke. In the Cavaliers’ 55-48 loss, Inman finished with 10 catches for 239 yards, the second-best receiving yardage total of any FBS player in a game this season. Inman’s total was the 13th best performance in ACC history and the fourth most by a receiver in a road game. Inman had more receiving yards by himself than seven ACC teams totaled this past week in their games.
• Clemson’s defense has allowed just one touchdown each of the past four games. Clemson, TCU and West Virginia are the only schools in the nation who can make that claim. West Virginia actually has a five-game streak. In terms of total touchdowns allowed by the defense in the last four games, TCU, West Virginia and Temple have allowed just three and Clemson is next with four allowed by the defense (special teams and defensive scores not included). Ohio State is next with five TDs allowed in its past four games, while Boise State, Pittsburgh and Miami are next with six apiece. Boston College, Northern Illinois and Oklahoma have given up seven apiece. Clemson has given up just 18 touchdowns on defense for the season, tied for eighth best in the nation. Clemson is 12th overall in scoring defense, allowing 17.6 points per game.
• Florida State entered last week’s game against North Carolina ranked last nationally in kickoff return yardage. The ‘Noles no longer occupy that spot, thanks to a record-breaking performance by Greg Reid. He smashed a 37-year-old school record when he returned seven kickoffs for 193 yards in the Seminoles’ 37-35 loss to the Tar Heels. Reid’s 193 kickoff return yards broke the single-game record set by Leon Bright in 1974, when he went for 184 against Virginia Tech. It helped FSU jump nine spots in the NCAA rankings for kickoff returns. With 487 kickoff return yards on the season, Reid is within reach of Michael Ray Garvin’s single-season record of 697, established in 2007.
• Wake Forest senior wide receiver Marshall Williams threw his second career touchdown pass when he hit Chris Givens with a 41-yard pass against Boston College on Nov. 6. On the season, Williams has completed both of his pass attempts for 122 yards and two touchdowns. He threw an 81-yard touchdown pass to Givens in a win over Duke. As a former high school quarterback, Williams has specialized in the end-around-pass. For the season, Williams has a quarterback efficiency rating of 942.2. For his career, Williams is 5-for-5 passing for 174 yards and two touchdowns, giving him a career efficiency rating of 524.32.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- At some point, the players on the receiving end have to help Jacory Harris out. Back-to-back drops by Graig Cooper and Leonard Hankerson turned a potential touchdown drive into a field goal. The Canes were on FSU's 18-yard line and had three straight incomplete passes. This game has a lot of similarities to the way Miami played at Ohio State, when there were nine drops and more missed tackles. FSU leads 31-17.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- No lineup changes expected for the Canes, but running back Lamar Miller isn't dressed. Miller was listed on this week's injury report with a shoulder injury, so it's not a big surprise. Expect 2009 leading rusher Graig Cooper to play more. Offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson is expected to start again.

This is the first time the Canes have had a sold-out crowd in Sun Life Stadium. There are still a lot of empty seats, but I'm guessing there are a ton of people still stuck in traffic.

Miami running back Lamar Miller, who injured his shoulder last week at Clemson, was wearing a non-contact jersey at practice today, according to multiple reports.

Miller is the Hurricanes' second-leading rusher with 157 yards on 29 carries. The good news for Miami's running backs is that Graig Cooper, the leading rusher in 2009, is expected to play against Florida State. If Miller is out, Mike James is the next man up.

And don't forget about freshman Storm Johnson, who lost his redshirt opportunity when he was used on special teams against Pittsburgh. There are certainly plenty of options behind Damien Berry.

CLEMSON, S.C. -- Miami freshman right tackle Seantrel Henderson will get his first career start, a school spokesman said. He has been working with the first team most of practice this week and will rotate with Jermaine Johnson. Running back Graig Cooper is still out. There are no lineup changes for Clemson.

CLEMSON

Spencer Shuey, LB, shoulder, probable

David Smith, OG, high ankle sprain, Out

MIAMI

Doubtful

RB Graig Cooper - Lower Extremity

Out

OL Malcolm Bunche - Lower Extremity

DL Curtis Porter - Lower Extremity

Surgery and Out for the Season

FB John Calhoun - Lower Extremity

LB Shayon Green - Upper Extremity

RB Darion Hall - Upper Extremity

DL Jeremy Lewis - Lower Extremity

LB Travis Williams - Lower Extremity