ACC: Josh Czajkowski
2010 conference record: 5-3
Returning starters
Offense: 6, defense: 8, punter/kicker: 0
Top returners
OT R.J. Mattes, TE George Bryan, LB Audie Cole, S Brandan Bishop, S Earl Wolff, LB Terrell Manning, RB Mustafa Greene, C Camden Wentz, DT J.R. Sweezy
Key losses
QB Russell Wilson, OT Jake Vermiglio, WR Jarvis Williams, WR Owen Spencer, LB Nate Irving, PK Josh Czajkowski
2010 statistical leaders (* returners)
Rushing: Greene* (597 yards)
Passing: Wilson (3,563 yds)
Receiving: Spencer (912 yds)
Tackles: Irving, Cole* (97)
Sacks: Irving (6.5)
Interceptions: Bishop (4)
Spring answers
1. Life goes on without Nate Irving. The Pack graduated its top playmaker on defense, but Cole adjusted well this spring to his new role in the middle and Terrell Manning shouldn’t be forgotten after his 75 tackles and 4.5 sacks last season.
2. The situation at running back has improved. At this time a year ago, NC State didn’t have one running back on the roster with starting experience and had to move Dean Haynes over from defense. Now, Greene is the returning leading rusher and a promising young talent when he’s healthy. The staff is also confident in Anthony Creecy, James Washington and Brandon Barnes, who missed all of 2010 with an injury.
3. The secondary is older and wiser. NC State returns all four starters, and four other defensive backs who got significant experience last season will help the depth. So will the return of Jarvis Byrd, who tore his ACL last season, and Rashard Smith, who also redshirted last season after a knee injury.
Fall questions
1. Is Mike Glennon as good as advertised? O’Brien has heaped praise on his new starter this offseason, comparing him to former Boston College standout Matt Ryan. Glennon has a similar build and throwing motion, and is comparable with intangibles such as his attention to detail, his work ethic and leadership, but is he really as good as Ryan? And, more importantly, can he stay healthy long enough to prove it?
2. Will special teams survive its makeover? The new punter, placekicker and snappers are all in the incoming class. It’s an underrated concern for the Wolfpack, which graduated 38 career starts with placekicker Josh Czajkowski.
3. Will the senior wide receivers rise to the occasion? With a first-year starting quarterback, receivers Jay Smith (10 catches), Steven Howard (12 catches) and T.J. Graham (25 catches) will have to step up to the level of their departed teammates (Spencer, Williams, and Darrell Davis). Aside from special teams, it was the one position group O’Brien said wouldn’t be settled until at least summer camp.
Game-changing plays have been made in all three phases of the game by both teams. Da'Norris Searcy had his fourth interception of the season, and UNC lost a fumble. Both quarterbacks have been pressured, and have been forced into mistakes. So far, UNC has made fewer mistakes, as NC State has had some costly missed tackles and missed blocks. The Tar Heels have been able to control the clock, but have hurt themselves with penalties. Quarterbacks and turnovers will likely decide the outcome.
What to watch in the ACC: Week 11
Pass-rushers in Tallahassee. Clemson at Florida State will feature two of the ACC’s top pass-rushers in Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers and FSU defensive end Brandon Jenkins. They’re No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the ACC in both sacks and tackles for loss. FSU’s offensive line has allowed 2.11 sacks per game (19 total), while Clemson has allowed nine total.
Geoff Burke/Getty Imagestbd by editorReplacements in Chapel Hill. There will be plenty of them. With UNC tailback Johnny White out for the rest of the season, the Tar Heels’ tailback situation remains a question as of now. Will Ryan Houston redshirt? Will Shaun Draughn (ankle) be cleared to play? The Hokies have their own problems, as defensive end Chris Drager, tailback/returner David Wilson and receiver Dyrell Roberts are all out. All of the backups will be forced into key roles.
Scoreboards in Chapel Hill and Atlanta. These are the two games to watch, as a Virginia Tech win coupled with a Miami loss will lock up the Coastal Division for the Hokies. The Atlantic Division race is more complicated, as no outcome will determine the division winner, but a Clemson win in Tally opens the door for a four-team race.
Turnovers in Durham. The one thing that’s been going right for Duke in its two-game winning streak is it hasn’t been turning the ball over like it was in its losses. That could change against a BC defense that ranks third in the country in turnovers gained with 26. The Blue Devils have turned it over just one time in the past two games compared with an average of three per game in the previous seven.
Virginia Tech’s secondary vs. T.J. Yates & Co. Yates has thrown for over 400 yards twice this season, and the Tar Heels are No. 33 in the country in passing offense (258.44 yards per game). Virginia Tech is No. 22 in the country in passing defense (187 yards per game).
Keith Payne and Perry Jones against Maryland’s rushing D. Virginia has two of the ACC’s top 10 leading rushers, as Payne is No. 7 (74.8) and leads the ACC with 14 rushing touchdowns, and Jones is No. 10 (61.9). Maryland is holding ACC opponents to just 2.6 yards per carry, the best in the league.
Virginia receiver Dontrelle Inman. Against Duke, he caught 10 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown. On the season, Inman is sixth in the ACC with 66 receiving yards per game. He’ll face an underrated Maryland secondary that features playmakers Kenny Tate and Antwine Perez.
Cursed kickers. Clemson missed two field goals last week, Florida State’s wide right curse continued in the loss to North Carolina, and NC State will be without senior Josh Czajkowski for the rest of the season after he injured his hamstring in the loss to Clemson. Sophomore Ellis Flint and freshman Chris Hawthorne were competing for the job this week.
Running back rotations. NC State’s Dean Haynes is back after missing the Clemson game with a head injury, but coach Tom O’Brien did not say which of his top three tailbacks will start against Wake Forest. At Miami, Lamar Miller had the best performance of any Miami running back this season against the Terps, but Damien Berry returned to practice. He is still listed as questionable, and Miller, Mike James and Graig Cooper should again carry the load. UNC’s running back situation remains a question, and Ryan Williams and Darren Evans will carry the load without No. 3 tailback David Wilson.
- UNC coach Butch Davis must decide between the success of his team and the future of Ryan Houston. To redshirt or not to redshirt? A tough call in mid-November.
- Cancelling a tailgate in November is like canceling Thanksgiving -- Duke celebrates it too, ya know.
- FSU quarterback Christian Ponder is day-to-day after fluid was drained from his elbow.
- Somebody has to win the Atlantic Division, right?
- Virginia defensive coordinator Jim Reid will be on the sideline this weekend to "look into the eyes of the guys he's in charge of."
- The only scoreboard Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer is watching is his own.
- Miami's running game didn't miss a beat without leading rusher Damien Berry.
- Preparing as the starter isn't entirely new for Georgia Tech quarterback Tevin Washington. Actually starting, though, is.
- Clemson is "offensively challenged," especially in the red zone lately. That's the politically correct way to put it.
- BC freshman quarterback Chase Rettig is getting better every week, even if the box score might not reflect it.
- NC State will have to hunt for the Atlantic Division title without its injured kicker, Josh Czajkowski.
- Whoever would have thought the biggest problem with Paul Johnson's offense would be the lack of a big-play wide receiver?
- It would also help if the Jackets could win the battle up front.
- Maryland makes the stops when it counts -- on fourth down and in the red zone.
- Clemson wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins gives quarterback Kyle Parker some margin for error when he throws.
- NC State kicker Josh Czajkowski has a pregame routine he always sticks to. Some might say he's even a little superstitious.
- Virginia sophomore tight end Paul Freedman has learned how to score -- and celebrate it.
- Good news, bad news for the Canes. Good news? Seantrel Henderson has been as good as advertised. Bad news? He has to be, because Orlando Franklin is hurt.
- It was a long process, but UNC cornerback Kendric Burney has finally been cleared to play.
- Thursday night's game looms large for the Atlantic Division standings.
- Mike London's academic requirement didn't end when the season started -- just ask the three players who were benched this past weekend.
- Virginia Tech's defense has been preparing for Georgia Tech since the offseason.
Missed field goals adding up in Atlanta
2009 overall record: 5-7
2009 conference record: 2-6
Returning starters
Offense: 7; Defense 5; Punter/Kicker 1
Top returners
QB Russell Wilson, WR Owen Spencer, OT Jake Vermiglio, LB Nate Irving, PK Josh Czajkowski, TE George Bryan, WR Jarvis Williams, LB Dwayne Maddox, LB Audie Cole
Key losses
C Ted Larsen, HB Toney Baker, DE Willie Young, DT Alan Michael Cash, CB DeAndre Morgan, LB Ray Michel
2009 statistical leaders (* returners)
Rushing: Baker (773 yards)
Passing: Wilson* (3,027 yds)
Receiving: Ja. Williams* (547 yds)
Tackles: Cole* (73)
Sacks: Young (8)
Interceptions: C. Johnson (2)
Spring answers
1. Wilson will be back, but Mike Glennon is a capable starter. Starter Russell Wilson missed all of spring football to play baseball, but his season didn’t quite take the turn he had probably hoped, as Wilson wasn’t a starter. In his absence, Glennon impressed coach Tom O’Brien and completed 21 of 38 passes for 423 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in the Pack’s spring game. As long as Wilson picks up where he left off in 2009, it should be his job to lose.
2. Irving is back and can play. After missing last season with injuries he sustained in a serious 2009 summer car accident, it was unclear how much Irving would be able to contribute this spring. He moved to middle linebacker and eased his way back into full participation and played in half of the spring game.
3. Defensive linemen emerging. Even though all four starters from last year’s defensive line graduated, there was enough talent there this spring for optimism. Darryl Cato-Bishop, David Akinniyi, and Brian Slay impressed the staff. Their success is critical, as both J.R. Sweezy and Markus Kuhn are facing disciplinary action.
Fall questions
1. Who will run the ball? For the first time since 2005, NC State doesn’t have a running back with any starting experience. Brandon Barnes broke his ankle, and the competition is now between Curtis Underwood, who redshirted last year, and James Washington, who played in six games as a true freshman last year.
2. Punter, please. Nobody on the team has ever punted in a game situation. Chris Ward was the likely top option , but he was suspended for the spring and possibly the fall.
3. How much can the defense improve? With Irving back and former Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta coaching the linebackers, it would seem as if the defense would get a boost. It’s going to have to if the Pack is going to make it to the postseason. NC State was No. 99 in the country last year in scoring defense, and No. 106 in pass efficiency defense. The secondary is lead by freshmen and sophomores.
Time for another Groza award winner?
Well, I was wrong, but it remains a very real possibility again this season. And Bosher isn't the only one with a shot at it.
After a season filled with inexperienced place-kickers, the ACC now has some legitimate talent returning. Here are the top five Groza candidates this year in the ACC -- and yes, Bosher is my front-runner again this year:
- Matt Bosher, Miami: Bosher, who doubles as the Canes' punter and place-kicker, leads all returning place-kickers nationally in career field goal accuracy, having made 32 of 36 attempts, an average of .889. He missed only two field goals in 2009 -- both against Georgia Tech in the season’s second game -- and finished the year having made 12 consecutive field goals. Bosher hasn't missed a PAT in 90 tries.
- Robert Randolph, Virginia: He was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist last year after finishing second in the ACC in field goal percentage, making 17 of 19 attempts for an .895 percentage. He made his first 11 field goal attempts and converted on all six of his PATs.
- Josh Czajkowski, NC State: He has only five misses in 31 career field goal attempts (.839). He made 10 of 12 last fall and enters 2010 with a streak of six straight field goals without a miss. He has made 77 of 78 PATs, including the last 73 in a row with the lone miss coming on a blocked PAT. He has made 24 of his last 27 field goal attempts (.889).
- Casey Barth, North Carolina: He led the ACC in field goals and finished 12th nationally, making 21 of 25 field goals and 34 of 35 PATs for 97 points. Barth ranks 13th among all returning place-kickers in career field goal accuracy (31-40, .775).
- Will Snyderwine, Duke: In his first season as Duke's starter, Snyderwine was a Groza finalist. He converted on 17 of 20 field goal attempts (.850) and made all 24 of his PAT attempts. He ranked second in the ACC in field goals and fifth in field goal percentage.
Three ACC kickers named to Lou Groza watch list
Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich
Miami junior Matt Bosher, NC State junior Josh Czajkowski, and Duke junior Nick Maggio have
been named to the preseason watch list for the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation's top collegiate kicker.
From the release:
Nine 2008 semi-finalists are named to the list. Eighteen of the kickers listed are underclassmen. The SEC is the most recognized conference with five members included. The Big Ten and Big 12 each placed four kickers on the list.
More than three hundred media representatives, coaches, past recipients, conference and university officials make up the voting panel which selects the recipient of the Lou Groza Collegiate Place Kicking Award. The Award will be presented on Dec. 10, 2009, as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards program. The three finalists will be honored at the 18th annual Lou Groza Award Banquet to be held at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Florida on Tuesday Dec. 8.
For more information on the Lou Groza Award and the Palm Beach County Sports Commission visit www.lougrozaaward.com.
Here is the full list:
Josh Arauco, Sr., Arkansas St.
James Aho, So., New Mexico
Matt Bosher, Jr., Miami
Kyle Brotzman, Jr., Boise St.
Josh Czajkowski, Jr., NC State
Ross Evans, So., TCU
Clark Fangmeier, Sr., Rice
Kai Forbath, Jr., UCLA
Sam Glusman, Sr., Troy
Kevin Goessling, So., Fresno State
Ben Hartman, Sr., East Carolina
Alex Henery, Jr., Nebraska
Hunter Lawrence, Sr., Texas
Daniel Lincoln, Jr., Tennessee
Nick Maggio, Jr., Duke
Aaron Pettrey, Sr., Ohio State
Jonathan Phillips, Sr., Florida
Jake Rogers, Jr., Cincinnati
Mike Salerno, Sr., Northern Illinois
Joshua Shene, Sr., Ole Miss
Alex Steigerwald, Sr., Toledo
Jimmy Stevens, So., Oklahoma
Brett Swenson, Sr., Michigan State
Dave Teggart, So., UConn
Leigh Tiffin, Sr., Alabama
Brandon Walker, So., Notre Dame
Blair Walsh, So., Georgia
Thomas Weber, Jr., Arizona St.
Philip Welch, Jr., Wisconsin
Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich
Special teams are critical, especially in Blacksburg, and it's one of the Hokies' few weaknesses this year. They're in need of a kicker for the third time in three seasons, but Virginia Tech is hardly the only team in the ACC with big holes to fill. Here's how the ACC's special teams units ranked:
1. Miami -- Matt Bosher has already gotten plenty of ink in the blogosphere, but he's only one reason the Canes are No. 1 here. Bosher converted 18 of 20 field goal attempts and averaged 40.3 yards per punt. It's possible Jake Wieclaw could give Bosher some relief on kickoffs. If Travis Benjamin stays healthy, the return game will be in great shape. Benjamin led the team and the ACC in punt return yardage (173) and was ninth in the ACC in kick return yardage (477). Thearon Collier is also another return threat.
2. NC State -- The combination of kicker Josh Czajkowski and speedy return specialist T.J. Graham make the Wolfpack one of the best in the ACC. If they find a punter this summer, the unit will be complete. In his first season as starter, Czajkowski made 84.2 percent of his field goals (16 of 19), and he made 33 of 34 PATs to finish with 81 points and seventh place in the ACC in scoring. Graham's 1,028 yards in kickoff returns set the school record for a single season and already ranks fifth on the Wolfpack career list. They have to replace punter Bradley Pierson, though. Jeff Ruiz and Carl Ojala are both options.
3. Maryland -- The Terps have to replace kicker Obi Egekeze, but they've still got the ACC's top punter in Travis Baltz. He pinned Maryland opponents inside their own 20-yard line 24 times last year. Wide receiver Torrey Smith had a record-setting season as a kickoff returner, as he set the ACC single-season record for kickoff return yards with 1,089. There are high expectations for Nick Ferrara, who will be a true freshman, to replace Egekeze, but the job is wide open.
4. Virginia Tech -- Not only did the Hokies lose placekicker Dustin Keys, but they also lost punt returner Victor "Macho" Harris. The good news is that punter Brent Bowden returns, as does kickoff man Justin Myer, and snapper Collin Carroll. Matt Waldron and Myer enter summer camp as the favorites for the placekicking and kickoff duties, respectively. Incoming freshman Cody Journell might give them both a run for their money, though. Ryan Williams came out of spring practice as the starting punt returner, but Dyrell Roberts and Danny Coale are also options.
5. Clemson -- The Tigers have to replace veteran starters Mark Buchholz and Jimmy Manners at the two kicking positions. Spencer Benton, a redshirt freshman, is the frontrunner to take over the placekicking duties, but he'll get some competition from Richard Jackson. Dawson Zimmerman, who started two games and punted in three last year, should be the starting punter. Zimmerman averaged 38.5 yards for his 12 punts last season. The return game is in good hands -- C.J. Spiller's. Jacoby Ford is also experienced as a return man, and has a punt return and a kickoff return of more than 90 yards for scores.
6. Georgia Tech -- This is the area where coach Paul Johnson wants to see the most improvement, and with good reason: The Yellow Jackets ranked 11th in the ACC in net punting, 10th in kickoff returns and ninth in punt returns last year. Junior Scott Blair did a respectable job last year, as he was the first Yellow Jacket to handle both kicking and punting duties in 25 years. He'll get some competition, though, at one or both positions from sophomore Chandler Anderson, the holder last season. Anderson, who missed spring practice after a bout with appendicitis, punted six times in '08 for an average of 41.7.
7. Boston College -- Steve Aponavicius returns for his senior year. He went 14-for-21 on field goals last season. Newcomer Nate Freese, who kicked a school-record 52-yard field goal in Ohio, will challenge Aponavicius. Ryan Quigley and Billy Flutie both return to their punting duties. Quigley serves as the main punter and averaged 39.6 yards per kick with nine pinned inside the 20-yard-line. Flutie was used in short situations and pinned opponents inside the 20 seven times. Unheralded veteran long-snapper Jack Geiser also returns.
8. Duke -- The Blue Devils return placekicker Nick Maggio and punter Kevin Jones. Jones punted 71 times last fall and 27 of those kicks pinned Duke's opponents inside their own 20-yard line, the most by any punter. He finished second in the ACC in punting, with 40.8 yards per kick as a sophomore. Maggio made 11 of 14 field goal attempts.
9. North Carolina -- This might be the Tar Heels' biggest concern, as they have to replace punter Terrence Brown, and placekicker Jay Wooten decided to transfer. Connor Barth was UNC's primary field goal kicker in 2008 and Wooten was used as the kickoff man. Reid Phillips is a walk-on who is now in the mix, and walk-on Grant Shallock, who handled the punting duties this spring, is another option. The staff is eager for the arrival of prized recruit C.J. Feagles. Another concern is the return game, which survived without Brandon Tate last year with the help of walk-on Trase Jones. He finished the season with five returns for 36 yards.
10. Florida State -- The Noles took a huge hit here with the graduation of Lou Groza Award winner Graham Gano. The good news? FSU returns its long-snapper, Zack Aronson, and holder, Shawn Powell. James Esco and Nathan O'Jibway handled the kicking duties this spring, but neither have attempted a field goal in a game during their careers. There are high hopes for freshman Dustin Hopkins. Powell, who started the first seven games of 2008 as punter, will replace Gano there.
11. Wake Forest -- Veteran Sam Swank only started seven games last year before being injured, and that allowed Shane Popham to get his feet wet. Popham said he's much more confident heading into this season and gained valuable experience last year. He could handle both duties a
gain like he did last year. Popham made 7 of 12 field goal attempts and averaged 39.2 yards on 54 punts, pinning opponents inside the 20 on 19 occasions.
12. Virginia -- After three season as head coach at Kansas State, Ron Prince returns to Charlottesville to coach special teams, and it won't be an easy gig. Senior Yannick Reyering's injury-marred career is over, so sophomore Chris Hinkebein, who handled the kickoff duties for five games while Reyering was slowed with an injury, is expected to contend for some of the placekicking responsibilities. Robert Randolph shared some time with Reyering last year and made 3 of 4 attempts. Junior Danny Aiken is a proven long-snapper, and sophomore Jimmy Howell was one of five true freshmen to see time last year. He averaged 39.0 yards on 64 punts.
Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich
Considering how evenly matched the ACC is expected to be yet again, there should be a significant amount of close games -- as in, the kind of games won with a swift kick and good field position, not just a strong arm. The problem is, even the best teams in the league are in search of dependable kickers and punters. Florida State took a huge hit with the graduation of Lou Groza Award winner Graham Gano. Miami and NC State seem to have the edge with Matt Bosher and Josh Czajkowski, respectively.
Here's a rundown of who's in good shape and who's not when it comes to the kicking game:
IN GOOD SHAPE
Boston College: Finally, a plus for the Eagles -- kind of. BC returns both placekicker Steve Aponavicius, who has 36 career starts, and Ryan Quigley, who has 14 career starts. The problem has been consistency. Aponavicius, who received an extra year of eligibility, needs to improve upon last year's 14 of 21 field goals made. Challenging him for the job will be newcomer Nate Freese, from Ohio. Quigley serves as the main punter and had a strong freshman season, averaging 39.6 yards a kick and had nine inside the 20-yard line and five over 50 yards. Billy Flutie was used in short situations and pinned opponents inside the 20 seven times.
Duke: The Blue Devils return placekicker Nick Maggio and punter Kevin Jones. Jones punted 71 times last fall and 27 of those kicks pinned Duke's opponents inside their own 20-yard line, the most of any punter. He finished second in the ACC in punting, with 40.8 yards per kick as a sophomore. Maggio made 11 of 14 field goal attempts.
Miami: Matt Bosher is a legitimate candidate to win the Lou Groza Award this fall, and he doubles as kicker and punter. Bosher made 90 percent of his field goal attempts last year, his first season of double duty (18 of 20 attempts). As a punter, he averaged 40.3 yards per kick with 19 punts inside the 20-yard line.
NC State: In his first season as starter, Czajkowski made 84.2 percent of his field goals (16 of 19), and he made 33 of 34 PATs to finish with 81 points and seventh place in the ACC in scoring. They have to replace punter Bradley Pierson, though. Jeff Ruiz and Carl Ojala are both options.
NEEDS HELP
• Clemson
OUT: The Tigers lose placekicker Mark Buchholz, who was 15 of 21 in field goals last year, and punter Jimmy Maners, who ranked fourth in the ACC in putting average (40.5). Buchholz made 15 of 21 field goals last year and was perfect on 40 extra points in leading the team in scoring with 85 points. He established a Clemson record for consecutive extra points with a perfect 88-88 performance over his two years on the team.
IN: Spencer Benton, a redshirt freshman, looks to take over the placekicking duties, but will be pressured by Richard Jackson. Dawson Zimmerman, who started two games and punted in three last year, should be the starting punter. Zimmerman had a 38.5 average for his 12 punts last year.
• Florida State
OUT: Graham Gano. This will be a huge loss, as Gano led the nation in field goals (2.18 per game), and finished fourth in scoring, despite missing two games. He doubled as both kicker and punter.
IN: James Esco and Nathan O'Jibway handled the kicking duties this past spring. Neither has attempted a field goal in a game during their careers. Dustin Hopkins, a highly touted recruit, should add to the competition there this summer. Shawn Powell, who started the first seven games last year as the team's punter, will return to that job.
• Georgia Tech
IN: Scott Blair is back as both the kicker and punter, and he did a solid job last year, but special teams has been an area of concern and point of emphasis for Paul Johnson since he arrived in Atlanta. Blair will get some competition. Chandler Anderson, the holder last year, had appendicitis and missed all of spring. Kevin Crosby will also challenge at punter and Chris Tanner will compete at kicker, along with Andy Elakman.
• Maryland
OUT: Placekicker Obi Egekeze, who had 26 career starts and made 15 of 24 field goals last fall. The Terps can take solace in the fact punter Travis Baltz returns. He pinned Maryland opponents inside their own 20-yard line 24 times last year.
IN: There are high expectations for Nick Ferrara, who will be a true freshman. But while he wasn't on campus yet, Mike Barbour and Nick Wallace were battling it out. The job is wide open.
• North Carolina
OUT: Punter Terrence Brown, who had 25 career starts, has to be replaced. Walk-on Grant Schallock handled the punting duties this spring. The staff is eager for the arrival of prized recruit C.J. Feagles.
IN: Sophomore Casey Barth returns with 10 games of placekicking experience, but it's not a given that he's the guy. Walk-on Reid Phillips is also in the mix, as is Jay Wooten, who was used as the kickoff man last year.
• Virginia
OUT: Yannick Reyering's injury-marred career is over. The former soccer star had a strong leg, but made just 6 of 11 field goal attempts.
IN: Robert Randolph shared some time with Reyering last year and made 3 of 4 attempts. Chris Hinkebein, who handled the kickoff duties for five games while Reyering was slowed with an injury, is also expected to contend for some of the placekicking responsibilities this season. The good news is they return Jimmy Howell at punter, but he only has 12 starts. He was one of five true freshmen to see time last year and averaged 39.0 yards on 64 punts.
• Virginia Tech
OUT: Dustin Keys. For the third time in three seasons, Frank Beamer needs to find a new kicker. Keys finished eighth nationally in field goals per game, and made 23 of 29.
IN: Matt Waldron appears to be the leading candidate to replace Keys, but Justin Myer, Tim Pisano and Chris Hazley are also in the mix. They'll compete with incoming recruit Cody Journell for the job in August. The good news is punter Brent Bowden is back, and he averaged 40.4 yards per kick and had 24 kicks inside the 20-yard line last year. The coaches would like him to be a little more consistent, but he is entering his third season as a starter.
• Wake Forest
OUT: Sam Swank and his 45 career starts. Swank only started seven games last year before being injured, and that allowed Shane Popham to get his feet wet.
IN: Popham. He could handle double duties again like he did last year, and should be more confident after being thrown into the fire in 2008. Popham made 7 of 12 field goal attempts and averaged 39.2 yards on 54 punts, pinning opponents inside the 20 on 19 occasions.
Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich
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Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich
Coaches often emphasize it, but the casual football fan often underestimates it -- the importance of special teams. It was a phase of the game Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson agonized over last season and resolved to fix, starting this spring. It was also a priority of UNC coach Butch Davis this spring.
Considering the numerous specialists who have graduated, it's an area of concern for several teams across the conference this spring. The biggest names gone from a year ago are: FSU's Graham Gano and Michael Ray Garvin, UNC's Brandon Tate, Wake's Sam Swank, and Virginia Tech's Dustin Keys.
Here's a quick breakdown of the top specialists returning from a year ago:
PLACEKICKERS
Matt Bosher, Miami -- He is a frontrunner for this year's Lou Groza Award, as Bosher is the leading returning placekicker in the nation in field goal percentage. He made 18 of his 20 attempts last year and was a semifinalist for the award.
Josh Czajkowski, NC State -- He made 16 of 19 field goals last year (84.2 percent), his longest being 42 yards.
PUNTERS
Travis Baltz, Maryland -- He led the ACC with a 41.1 yard average and had 24 land inside the 20-yard line with 18 result in a fair catch. Baltz ranked 43rd in the NCAA.
Bosher -- His double duty included a 40.3 yard average with 19 inside the 20, and he led the ACC with 24 that resulted in a fair catch.
Brent Bowden, Virginia Tech -- His longest was 57 yards, and he averaged 40.4 yards per punt. He'll be a senior this year.
Kevin Jones, Duke -- In his second season as a starter, Jones led all ACC punters in pinning opponents deep inside their own territory. At least 27 of his punts landed inside the 20-yard line, and he ranked second in the conference in punting with a 40.8 average. Duke allowed only 5.7 yards per punt.
KICK RETURNER/SPECIALIST
Torrey Smith, Maryland -- Smith set an ACC single-season record last year for kickoff return yardage, with 41 returns for a total of 1,089 yards. He broke the record during Maryland's bowl game when he returned one 99 yards for a touchdown against Nevada in the Humanitarian Bowl.
Travis Benjamin, Miami -- He was an exciting player to watch and led the ACC in punt returns with 11.3 yards per return. His longest was an ACC-best 44 yards. He averaged 22.5 yards on kickoff returns.
Bruce Carter, UNC -- The Tar Heels' third-leading returning tackler made a name for himself last year when he blocked an ACC-record four consecutive punts. The first three came against then-ranked No. 25 Connecticut and the fourth came against Miami.
T.J. Graham, NC State -- He came close to setting an ACC record in kickoff return yardage, as his 974 yards on 41 returns was the third-best single-season total in ACC history. He also ran one back 100 yards for a touchdown.
Dyrell Roberts, Virginia Tech -- He finished fifth in the ACC in kickoff returns as a freshman, with an average of 24.8 yards.
C.J. Spiller, Clemson -- He racked up an ACC-high 1,170 all-purpose yards, helping the Tigers on both punt and kickoff returns.
Miami's Bosher positioned for award-winning year
Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich
Lou Groza award winner Graham Gano from FSU won't be around this season, nor will Wake Forest's Sam Swank, but Miami place-kicker Matt Bosher will, and the folks at the U are expected to push him as a candidate for the 2009 Lou Groza award. He was a semifinalist last season, and it was his first year as the Canes' full-time punter and place-kicker.
Bosher, a junior, leads all returning place-kickers in the nation in field goal percentage. He made 18 of 20 field goals last year (90 percent), to beat Arkansas State's Josh Arauco, who made 17 of 19 for an .895 percentage.
Whether or not Bosher will be the best kicker in the country remains to be seen, but his chances of being the best in the ACC are pretty good. He is the only returning kicker who made field goals of 50 yards or longer last year. (Bosher's longest kick was 52 yards.) His early competition looks to be NC State's Josh Czajkowski, who made 16 of 19 last year and ranked No. 37 in the NCAA with 1.23 field goals per game.
Virginia Tech has to replace Dustin Keys, Maryland lost Obi Egekeze, and Clemson loses Mark Buchholz.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Heather Dinich
Dinich covered ACC and Big Ten football for five seasons before joining ESPN.com in November 2007. She's an Indiana grad but somehow her favorite day of the week is Saturday.
