ESPN College Football

Today, Mel Kiper begins a weeklong series looking at the top players at their respective positions for the 2014 NFL draft.

This is obviously an incredibly early look at where some of these prospects rank, but gives a good sense of who stands where with nearly a year to go before the draft rolls around again.

First up: receivers and defensive ends . Here is a look at the top ACC prospects at each spot:

Receiver

• No. 2 Sammy Watkins, Clemson. Kiper says: "Watkins has good size at 6-2, strong hands and is a big threat once he catches the ball. I'd be surprised if he didn't come back with a good season, but he needs to have a good August, too."
• Next up: Devin Street, Pitt.

Mel Kiper Jr. has officially moved on to 2014.

Kiper recently released his first Big Board of 2014, and Florida State and Clemson are the ACC's top reps. It's Insider content, but here's a sneak peek:

• No. 15, FSU DT Timmy Jernigan
• No. 16 Clemson WR Sammy Watkins
• No. 10 FSU OT Cameron Erving
• No. 21 Clemson QB Tajh Boyd

Kiper has notes on each player, and he also included another 25 players he considered for the first Big Board. FSU LB Christian Jones and Georgia Tech LB Jeremiah Attaochu were the only other ACC players considered. Kiper's list differs slightly from Todd McShay's initial list of 32.

The time came for Sammy Watkins to address the summer campers gathered around, little kids who undoubtedly looked up to the star from Clemson.

He stood up in front of the group. He looked in front of him. Thousands of kids looked back.

Watkins started to get a little nervous. He had just gotten into off-the-field trouble, and coach Dabo Swinney wanted him to address these young kids with first-hand advice about the importance of staying on the right path.

"I didn’t know how the kids were going to react," Watkins recalled in a recent interview on campus. "I came out and spoke from the heart, just told them what was real and what had happened and it helped me get over that. That was a hump I was worried about -- the young kids and my fans. After I did that, I put it behind me. I don’t dwell on that stuff. I think it’s going to help me this season become a better person, a better player. I think it got me stronger with the team, just stepping up to the fact that I did mess up but I’m not going to let that affect me on the field. I think it helped me."

The theme this spring has been the maturation of Watkins, who wants to return to his fantastic freshman form. Though he says he put his off-field-troubles behind him, last season was one full of distractions. His arrest on misdemeanor drug possession one year ago led to a two-game suspension. When he returned, he figured he would just be the Sammy of old. He was not. Then he had to deal with a serious kidney issue that forced him to miss another game. He ended the season falling well short of the fantastic freshman the country got to see in 2011.

"I expected to make way more plays than I did last year," Watkins said. "I feel I didn’t because I didn’t do it on the practice field. I wasn’t pushing myself to get tired, I wasn’t really feeling the grind. I was just laid back.

"Just from all the success I had my freshman year, it’s a natural reaction to think that this game is easy and I can do the same thing the next year. Teams really scouted me more my sophomore year with different coverages, putting their hands on me, being physical. Those are things I’m prepared for this year."

He also is prepared to put in the time and hard work to get himself better.

"I don’t think I had a bad year, but I didn’t meet my expectations. I didn’t prepare myself right, and I just think I approached this spring differently."

His teammates have noticed.

"He's been working really hard," quarterback Tajh Boyd said. "He comes with a workman attitude, he loves competing. He leads all those receivers by his actions."

Those actions, at least this spring, have been exemplary enough for his coaches to heap praise on the way he has matured and turned a corner as well.

"I am being watched," Watkins said. "I’m not invisible. Everybody around here expects big things from me on and off the field. I do impact people’s lives, fans, little kids. This is a nice town has a lot of nice fans, people who look up to us football players, so I learned to be cautious of every move because everybody is watching you."

2012 record: 11-2
2012 conference record: 7-1 (Atlantic Division co-champs)
Returning starters: offense: 6; defense: 6; kicker/punter: 1

Top returners:

QB Tajh Boyd, WR Sammy Watkins, T Brandon Thomas, WR Charone Peake, WR Martavis Bryant, DE Vic Beasley, DE Corey Crawford, LB Stephone Anthony, S Travis Blanks, LB Spencer Shuey; K Chandler Catanzaro

Key losses:

WR DeAndre Hopkins, RB Andre Ellington, TE Brandon Ford, C Dalton Freeman, WR Jaron Brown, DE Malliciah Goodman, CB Xavier Brewer, CB Rashard Hall, SS Jonathan Meeks, LB Tig Willard, P Spencer Benton

2012 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Ellington (1,081 yards)
Passing: Boyd* (3,896 yards)
Receiving: Hopkins (1,405 yards)
Tackles: Willard (95)
Sacks: Beasley* (8)
Interceptions: Hall (4)

Spring answers

1. Freshman phenom at tight end: Jordan Leggett enrolled in January, and not a moment too soon. Sam Cooper tore his ACL, an injury that opened the door for Leggett, who had a fantastic spring. He had seven catches for 97 yards and a touchdown in the spring game, and he was impressive in the last two scrimmages. He’s not listed as the starter yet, but he is good enough to get there by the opener against Georgia.

2. Beasley’s a beast. He led the team with eight sacks last year, but really showed consistency in the spring. Twice had interceptions of Boyd where he made athletic plays, and he had 10 sacks in the three scrimmages. Clemson is in need of a big-play guy on defense, and Beasley could be it.

3. Solid behind Boyd. Clemson has found a No. 2 quarterback in Cole Stoudt, who threw for 304 yards in the first half of the Tigers’ spring game. He hardly played in the second half. The depth of the position took a hit when Chad Kelly was injured, but now the backup quarterback question has an answer.

Fall questions

1. Unsettled secondary. The cornerback position is a particular area of concern, but with eight true freshmen joining the team this August, the entire group could look different this summer. It wouldn’t be surprising to see at least four of those rookies earn playing time this fall, especially prized recruit Mackensie Alexander, who was the program’s highest-rated signee since former defensive end Da'Quan Bowers.

2. Center of attention: The Tigers will miss Dalton Freeman, who started 49 straight games at center. Ryan Norton is the new starter, but there’s no replacing the experience Freeman had with making all of the blocking calls and the chemistry he developed with Boyd.

3. Spotlight on Sammy: Watkins is moving to Hopkins’ old position, and all eyes will be watching to see if he looks like the same player who caught the nation’s attention as a true freshman in 2011. So far, so good. Watkins had 156 receiving yards in the spring game and looked like old Sammy.

Time to start writing down a few names of potential top prospects in the 2014 NFL draft.

Never too early to start.

We already know Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd has risen up draft charts. Who else joins him from the ACC on Todd McShay's early list of the top 32 prospects for next year? Here is a look:

• No. 8 Boyd
• No. 14 Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State
• No. 20 Jeremiah Attaochu, DE, Georgia Tech
• No. 21 Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson

One more to monitor

• Florida State LB Christian Jones

Of the five players mentioned, Watkins and Jernigan are underclassmen. I broached the topic of leaving school early with Jernigan while I was in Tallahassee on my spring visit in March. He said, "I expect so much of myself. I know there’s still a lot more for me to do here so I’m not really worried about the next level. There’s so much more I want to do at Florida State that hasn’t been done here."

Jernigan certainly has the size and the ability to make plays behind the line of scrimmage, so it's no surprise to see him rated so highly. None of these names are surprising, quite frankly. Both Heather and I expect Watkins to have a bounce-back season. If he does, he could follow DeAndre Hopkins out the door a year early.

Jones stands to gain as much as Boyd did. He was given a third-round grade when he petitioned the NFL draft advisory board last year but decided to stay in school. With the new attacking scheme that coordinator Jeremy Pruitt has brought with him from Alabama, the belief is that Jones will be much more active and be utilized to make plays behind the line as well.

Now, here is one more name to keep an eye on this season: North Carolina tackle James Hurst. He has the potential to really turn some heads this season and make a name for himself. We all saw how valuable offensive tackles were in the first round of this year's draft so he certainly should be one to watch as the year goes on.

Others who could rise: Florida State safety Lamarcus Joyner and North Carolina defensive end Kareem Martin.

It is never too early to start talking Heisman.

The folks over at Heisman Pundit are always good to start a debate. That group released its post-spring Heisman watch list with several familiar faces from the ACC included:

• Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson
• Stefon Diggs, WR, Maryland
• Duke Johnson, RB, Miami

It is no real surprise to see these players on the list. Boyd is an absolute contender this season, especially since the Tigers are going to have a shot at making a national title run. We all know that helps any player's cause, especially when you play in a conference that does not get as much respect as some others out there.

Though Diggs and Johnson are going into their sophomore seasons, both are explosive and versatile enough to merit their place on this list. They were not only the top two freshmen in the ACC last season, but two of the top freshmen in the entire country. Their numbers were nearly identical. Diggs ranked No. 8 in the nation in all-purpose yards per game, averaging 172.4; Johnson ranked right behind at No. 9, averaging 171.7 yards per game.

But there is one name missing from this list that I believe should be included.

Sammy Watkins.

Now, there are certain strikes against him. For one, Boyd is on the list and quarterbacks generally get way more publicity than teammates at different positions. It is rare to find teammates on these lists, though certainly we have seen it happen before -- Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush immediately come to mind.

Secondly, Watkins is coming off a subpar season by his own standards. A lot of people do not really know what to expect out of him this year -- the freshman phenom or the inconsistent sophomore?

Here is the thing: There are only two receivers on the list out of 30. Despite what happened last season, Watkins remains one of the most dynamic receivers and returners in the country.

While receiver is generally third on the pecking order behind quarterback and running back, I believe Watkins is in line for a terrific season. That should make Heisman watchers sit up and take notice.

Seven ACC teams held their spring games this past weekend as practice begins to slowly wind down until August.

Heather provided her Pitt recap earlier this morning. Here is a quick look at the headlines from the other spring games across the league:

CLEMSON

The Tigers suffered a big hit during their spring game last Saturday, when the team lost backup quarterback Chad Kelly to an apparent torn ACL. Kelly was in a heated competition with Cole Stoudt for the backup job, but it now appears he could be lost for the season. Coach Dabo Swinney said Kelly was hurt while making a cut at the end of a run. Starter Tajh Boyd was held out of the game so the Tigers could get a good look at Kelly and Stoudt. The backup last season, Stoudt set a Clemson spring game record with 304 yards passing and threw four touchdown passes, but his White team lost to the Orange team 34-26 in front of a spring-game record crowd of 30,000.

Sammy Watkins led all receivers with seven catches for 156 yards and two scores, while Grady Jarrett had three sacks. Vic Beasley had two sacks, giving him 10 sacks in four scrimmages.

Tight end Sam Cooper and tackle Kalon Davis also sustained knee injuries in the game, but they are not believed to be as serious.

DUKE

Anthony Boone and Jamison Crowder were the stars of the spring game as the Blue Devils showed a glimpse of how good they can be on offense this season. Boone went 18-of-30 for 273 yards with two touchdown passes to Crowder, and two interceptions. Crowder finished with four catches for a team-high 71 yards as the Blue team beat the White 27-12.

Blue team end Britton Grier had two sacks and seven tackles, including three for loss. Lucas Fisher, Sam Marshall and Keilin Rayner each added sacks for the Blue team.

“I like where we’re headed,” coach David Cutcliffe said. “We’re building some depth. I think we can be a more energetic defense. The big thing is focusing on why we give up big plays, but trying to play defense, trying to force longer drives. It’s going to be interesting film to study. We got a lot out of this game.”

FLORIDA STATE

Coach Jimbo Fisher did not name a starting quarterback after the spring game, so the competition will go on into the offseason. But highly touted Jameis Winston sent jaws dropping with his standout performance, going 12-of-15 for 205 yards with two touchdown passes before leaving the game early to play in the Noles' baseball game against Duke.

"He came in there and he took advantage of opportunities," Fisher said. "That's what you got to do. You've got to go make plays and he's done a nice job of making plays. He took the opportunity to take the day with the stage he had and I thought he played pretty well for the most part."

Winston and Clint Trickett split time with the first team for most of the afternoon. Trickett was just 10-of-16 for 98 yards and an interception before switching to the second team, where he was 12-of-16 for 161 yards and a touchdown. Jacob Coker, also competing for the starting job, went 15-of-26 for 186 yards, a touchdown and two late interceptions.

MARYLAND

Running backs Brandon Ross and Albert Reid took center stage, as both ran for over 100 yards in a 13-13 tie between the White and Red teams on Friday night.

Ross had 123 yards on 10 carries, while Reid had 138 yards on 23 carries in the game. Wes Brown, who missed the spring with a shoulder/ankle injury, is expected to be healthy in the fall so the competition at this position is going to be an intriguing storyline during the offseason.

"I limited what the defense could do. It was still good to see them," coach Randy Edsall said. "That is what we have seen out of Brandon and Albert all spring along with how they run. The one thing we have to be able to do is run the ball efficiently. When we do that it opens up the passing game. With the skill guys we have at wide receiver it will make us more productive and a chance to get big plays. They ran the way they have been running all spring.”

MIAMI

Stephen Morris threw for a game-high 256 yards and four first-half touchdowns to lead the Orange team to a 35-20 win over the White team. Meanwhile, ACC freshman of the year Duke Johnson led all rushers with 120 yards on 10 carries as the Hurricanes showed how explosive they can be on offense this season.

“We’re pretty dominant,” receiver Rashawn Scott told local reporters. “Everyone is communicating and … no one is frustrated. If we mess up, we all talk instead of yelling at each other.”

At halftime, the Canes handed out four Spring awards to Nantambu-Akil Fentress (305 walk-on award), Olsen Pierre (defensive most improved player), Danny Isidora (offensive most improved player) and Herb Waters (special teams most improved player).

NORTH CAROLINA

Bryn Renner went 16-of-27 for 216 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Blue team to a 34-10 win over the White. The running back who took center stage in the game was not A.J. Blue or Romar Morris but true freshman Khris Francis, who ran 20 times for 101 yards to lead the White team. Blue had eight carries for 30 yards, and Morris had 15 carries for 80 yards to lead the Blue team as the Tar Heels work to replace Giovani Bernard. Blue added a 33-yard touchdown reception on a screen pass.

"I thought all three of our running backs played well," coach Larry Fedora said. "But Khris, for his first time out there in a game-type atmosphere, he did a good job. He hit some holes and exploded in them. One time I thought he got stood up. I said something to him and the next time he's got his shoulders down and he's running north-south. That's what he's got to do, so he did some nice things."

Defensively, end Kareem Martin had seven tackles, including four sacks. Travis Hughes added a team-high 14 tackles, including two sacks.

CLEMSON, S.C. -- The topic came up just after DeAndre Hopkins declared for the draft. What should Clemson do to replace him?

Easy solution. Move outside receiver Sammy Watkins to the boundary spot, where Hopkins thrived.

The thinking? Watkins may be able to get more one-on-one opportunities, that will, in turn, give him more chances to turn 10-yard receptions into 60-yard touchdowns. Not only that, the receiver at this position needs to have great chemistry with quarterback Tajh Boyd. Watkins best fits that description among all receivers on the roster.

"It's been challenging," Watkins said. "You’ve got to be a great blocker, a physical player. You have to know when to run fast and when to speed up and read coverages. But as I got further in practice, I’m coming along and looking like Nuk [Hopkins] out there."

In a nutshell, Watkins says, he has to be a dominant receiver on every play -- somebody who can be relied upon to come up with a tough catch in any situation. That is where Hopkins excelled, particularly on third down.

To that end, Watkins has added 10 pounds in the offseason and is up to 210.

"With this position you have to be prepared every play," Watkins said. "At my other position, you could take a play off because you know the ball's not coming to you. This position, the ball could come to you at any time. You have to be prepared and ready to make a play every time you go out there on the field. You can’t be relaxed at that position because you have to block and be physical. So it’s going to challenge me to be a great player overall instead of just going out there and making big plays, to make those hard catches with people on you and while people are hitting you. It’s a great opportunity."

Watkins' sophomore season has been well documented. But now that he is going into his third year in this offense, his third year playing with Boyd, he realizes what is at stake. So do his coaches.

"We know what we have in Sammy," offensive coordinator Chad Morris said. "Now, we have a possession receiver there at the position with incredible speed and acceleration. What I think we’re going to see is we’re going to see a lot more two high safeties. We were getting one safety because they were pushing everything over to where Sammy was and leaving Nuk one on one. They’re not going to leave Sammy one on one backside with a corner. They’re going to leave a safety over to help, which should help our run game."

Added Watkins: "I would definitely say you will see bigger plays at this position. This position is made for the big plays, giving you the opportunity to have that one-on-one matchup."

How does that differ from his old spot? Watkins joked, "I think the defensive end was watching me."

Around the ACC we go ...

• Overall, Pitt coach Paul Chryst has been pleased with his team this spring.
• Duke's quarterback depth took a big hit on Wednesday with the Achilles injury to Thomas Sirk.
• Former Georgia Tech B-back Orwin Smith is getting healthy and ready for the draft.
• Clemson's backup quarterbacks have taken center stage.
• Here are five Terps to keep an eye on this fall.
• Sammy Watkins is ready for a new role.
• Longtime University of Miami coach Don Soldinger will be inducted into the school's Hall of Fame.
• Wake Forest has been trying to get the most out of its Iron Eight this spring.
• Jay Bromley will be the anchor of the Cuse D-line this fall.
• Virginia Tech D-line coach Charley Wiles breaks down the progress his group has made this spring.
• Tom O'Brien is learning a new offense, too, this spring.

Here we go ...

John in Greenville, N.C., writes: Thanks for a great blog! Read it everyday and love the info you provide. What do you think UNC's chances are of winning the coastal?

HD: As good as Virginia Tech's. As good as Georgia Tech's. As good as Miami's. You get the idea. Look, I picked the Canes to win the division, but anyone who follows this league knows it's wiiiide open. Nobody has truly separated themselves like in the Atlantic Division with Clemson and FSU. There are a lot of good teams, no great ones yet, but if Larry Fedora can motivate his team to win eight games KNOWING there is no bowl game in sight, I have no doubt he'll have them a contender this year, even with some heavy losses.

---

Wes Parcell in Radford, Va., writes: Do you think that UVA has a chance to make a run in the ACC Coastal this year?

HD: Notice the Hoos weren't mentioned in the above answer. It's not because they don't have the pieces in place -- I think Mike London put together one of the best staffs in the country this offseason. It's because I think it's going to take this year to get it all together. With two new coordinators, some questions at quarterback, and a few other positions that simply need to play better, I think they're still a step behind -- and they've also got one of the most brutal schedules in the country. BYU, Oregon, Clemson, at Miami ... good luck.

---

Steve in Arlington, Va., writes: Heather, is it a lock that Louisville replaces Maryland in the Atlantic Division, or could a bit of creative realignment be in store? It seems like the ACC is setting up to remove all the drama from the championship game if FSU, Clemson, and Louisville are basically playing for the league title within the Atlantic Division for the foreseeable future...

HD: It's a lock, and no, it's not going to remove the drama from the ACC championship game. You can still have Florida State-Miami in the title game. You can have Clemson-Virginia Tech. I say bring it. It's going to make the ACC's Atlantic Division one big, bad division.

---

Mike in Miami, Fla., writes: Rank your ACC heisman candidates. Boyd, Watkins, Morris, Duke Johnson and Stefon Diggs are clearly the top 5.. Tough to rank em. Morris easily can have a fantastic sleeper heisman season with all the weapons and outstanding offensive line.

HD: Mike, I think you got it ... 1. Tajh Boyd, 2. Sammy Watkins, 3. Duke Johnson, 4. Stephen Morris, 5. Stefon Diggs. I think you HAVE to start with Boyd and Watkins simply because they are on the ACC's best team and will be in the national spotlight. Then I turn to Miami because a) I think they will win the Coastal and b) the offensive line returns every starter. The only reason I rank Duke ahead of Morris is because of what he can do in the return game, but I reserve the right to swap them every week during the season. You are smart to include Diggs. He is an outstanding athlete, but he's playing for the Terps in a tough division. Not sure he'll get the credit he deserves.

---

Sean in Boston writes: HD, other than not having to suffer through Spazball anymore what should BC fans look forward to? Is a bowl possible this year?

HD: Hate to bust your bubble, Sean, but I'd be really surprised if the Eagles went to a bowl. If I had to do a bowl projection right now, they wouldn't make the cut. It's too early to judge Steve Addazio, but it's not too early to judge recent recruiting classes at BC. As for something to look forward to? How about quarterback Chase Rettig? It should be a smooth transition for him with Ryan Day back on the sideline. It's Rettig's fourth OC in as many seasons, but hey, at least this time it was a familiar face.

This will take the spotlight off Miami for a minute.

• Make that a skinny minute ...
• So glad I'm not Mark Emmert.
• Pete Thomas is a little bit further along in NC State's quarterback competition.
• Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson talks in-depth on some recruiting issues.
• Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins and quarterback Tajh Boyd are trying to get on the same page.
• Can UVa's receivers finally live up to their potential this year? The spring game is the first step.
• FSU's new coaches could have the strongest impact on Jimbo Fisher's legacy.
• For the second straight spring, Virginia Tech wide receiver D.J. Coles is coming off a knee injury.
• The injury to Antone Exum could leave a big hole to fill.
• Wake Forest needs to score more. Period.

 

Andrea Adelson talks to Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins about the expectations surrounding the Tigers this season.

Last year was Florida State’s year. The Noles had a senior quarterback. They had one of the best defenses in the country, and they had an abundance of talent and depth at every position. They were the ACC’s best hope to win a national title in 2012.

This year, Clemson is shouldering the expectations of being one of the country’s top teams. With the return of offensive coordinator Chad Morris, quarterback Tajh Boyd, and receiver Sammy Watkins, the stars are once again aligned for another record-setting year offensively. If Clemson beats Georgia at home in its season opener this year, the Tigers will immediately legitimize their status as a national title contender.

Who’s next?

The rest of the ACC has been overshadowed by the recent success of Florida State and Clemson, but there are plenty of other teams capable of earning their way into the top 5 of the standings. Virginia Tech fell far fast last year, but the long-term success of the program far outweighs last year’s disappointment. Beamer has played for a national title before. Don’t think he can’t do it again.

In 2010, the year North Carolina was rocked by an NCAA investigation heading into the season opener against LSU, that team was talented enough to play for a national title. There’s no reason Larry Fedora can’t recruit that kind of talent to Chapel Hill again.

Miami has recruited well under Al Golden, despite the ongoing uncertainty of the NCAA investigation -- well enough to have the league’s 2012 Rookie of the Year in Duke Johnson, and well enough to put the Canes in a position to play for the ACC title in 2012 (had they been eligible). With a program as rich in history and tradition as Miami, it’s not a matter of if they’ll get back to national relevance, but when.

Nobody in the ACC is going to roll over for Florida State or Clemson. Instead, those two programs have simply raised the bar higher in the ACC, and that’s a good thing. Which program, though, will be the next to step over one of those two and into the national spotlight?

Cast your votes now.

Clemson has returned to the national picture thanks to back-to-back 10-win seasons, a plucky coach, a headstrong quarterback and some pretty eye-popping records (both good and bad).

Indeed, the Tigers have accomplished feats over the last several seasons that have not been touched for 20-plus years. Yet there is one big goal out there, reached just once in the 117-year history of Clemson football.

Ask coach Dabo Swinney about where he has the Tigers headed, and inevitably he circles back to 1981, the lone national championship season in Clemson history. The one time the program has been ranked No. 1 in a season.

You know what Swinney wants? He wants that. And he is not going to tip-toe around the subject, either. Swinney is a tell-it-like-it-is kind of guy, so it should come as no surprise that he has embraced the heightened expectations surrounding this program headed into the 2013 season.

And his players have embraced the heightened expectations surrounding this program, too.

Swinney says, "We’ve done some great things. But our goal is to compete for the national championship. We want to be in the mix for the BCS bowl every year. We want to finish in the top 10 multiple times. That’s what we’re trying to do and I think the guys understand the margin for error is very small when you’re trying to be one of those great elite teams."

The small group of 10 seniors certainly understand, with quarterback Tajh Boyd leading the way. Boyd returned to Clemson for his final season because he understands what is at stake, not only for him, but for his team as well.

The Tigers have a shot at starting the season ranked in the preseason Top 10 for the first time since 2008, and only the third time since 1991. Boyd, of course, is a huge reason why, as he led a Clemson offense that set 101 different records during the course of 2012. His performance against LSU in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl was one of his best, as he showed grit, determination and an unceasing will to win in leading the Tigers' jaw-dropping fourth-quarter comeback win.

That victory has only increased expectations headed into this season, not only from outsiders but from insiders, too. Boyd said what he saw during the first spring practice last week only encourages him to believe 2013 could be something special.

"We have a lot of capabilities as a program," Boyd said. "So I’m very excited, very encouraged about what the team is going to look like this year and we just have to keep building off it."

There is plenty to build off, as Clemson has posted 10 or more wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 1987-90 era. Mark consecutive top 25 finishes for the first time since that era as well, along with an ACC title in 2011 for the first time in 20 years. All wonderful steps, but Clemson has yet to take that final one.

This season provides the best opportunity to do so in years, as seven starters return on offense. This includes Boyd and Sammy Watkins, a more mature, grown-up receiver ready to take on a leadership role. The Tigers have some key players to replace on offense, including All-ACC running back Andre Ellington and All-ACC center Dalton Freeman, who started 49 games in his career.

But the biggest questions about this team surround the defense. Again. The Tigers were better last season under first-year coordinator Brent Venables, but they were not exactly at the top of the ACC class. Despite the improvements, Clemson ranked No. 7 in the ACC in total defense. And you can still hear the bad jokes about the Orange Bowl debacle against West Virginia.

Now the Tigers have to replace five starters, including the majority of their secondary. They also have to replace defensive end Malliciah Goodman. Only two of their top six tacklers return.

Two more potential roadblocks. First: the nonconference schedule is tough. Clemson has to open the regular season against Georgia -- also trying to get back to No. 1 -- and close it against in-state rival South Carolina. There are plenty who will say the Tigers should focus on being No. 1 in their own state before setting their sights on being No. 1 in the country.

Indeed, Clemson has not beaten South Carolina since 2008. Last season, in the game in Death Valley, the Tigers simply had no answer for Jadeveon Clowney. Nobody needs to tell Boyd that Mr. Clowney is back.

One more potential roadblock: the Tigers themselves. Clemson has had a history of falling flat in big games, or when expectations become supersized. How will this team handle the pressure as the season grows closer?

"They know how to win but more important they know how to prepare to win," Swinney said. "That’s the process they understand because of what they’ve been through for the last couple years. This is a group that wants to be great. Our job as coaches is to help them get there and correct them and discipline them and encourage them and teach them. That’s what we do, and it goes to your leadership on your team. There can’t be any satisfaction. I don’t think anybody here is satisfied with what we’ve accomplished."

Boyd echoes those sentiments, saying, "We want to be the No. 1 team."

How do the Tigers get there?

"We just have to continue to build, trying to focus on one game at a time," Boyd said. "Of course we believe we have the opportunity to put ourselves in that situation but it can’t happen if we don’t win the first game. We have to take it from the beginning to the end and continue to focus on every aspect of the game. We just have to continue to work."

Clemson opens spring practice today with exceedingly high hopes -- perhaps higher than at any other point in the Dabo Swinney era.

Just about everybody expects the Tigers to be the preseason favorite to win the ACC, with Tajh Boyd returning at quarterback and Sammy Watkins returning at receiver. But there is no question that those hopes could largely depend on what we see out of Watkins himself, who was unable to follow up his spectacular freshman season with similar fireworks as a sophomore.

Some of what happened last season was out of his control. Watkins essentially played in only eight games thanks to a combination of suspension and injury, missing the first four. By the time he returned, DeAndre Hopkins was the headliner at receiver and Watkins never got himself into a good groove, finishing with just two 100-yard games on the year.

His Chick-Fil-A Bowl against LSU was over before it even began, after he took a monster hit on the first possession and hurt his leg.

Watkins is injury-free now and will no doubt look to be the leader at receiver with Hopkins gone off to the NFL. Not only are hopes high for the team as a whole; hopes are probably just as high for Watkins to dominate as an all-purpose player the way we all saw in 2011.

"His focus is outstanding," Swinney said on a recent conference call to discuss spring practice. "He has really grown. It’s just so much fun to see guys from where they were when they get here and to see them watch go through life and watch them mature and develop and change, not just physically but mentally, emotionally, spiritually, all those things. Sammy has grown into a very solid leader for this team. I don’t have any doubt he’s going to do everything he’s got to do to get himself ready to have a great season."

While his stats were not as eye-popping in 2012, it is important to remember that he was productive in the games he played. Perhaps we all got spoiled by his exploits. Consider that Watkins is one of at least four players in ACC history to catch at least 50 passes as a freshman and sophomore. (Hopkins, Duke receiver Conner Vernon and former Tiger Derrick Hamilton are the others).

And Watkins still averaged 5.7 receptions and 71 yards per game last year, just below his 5.9 catches and 87 yards a game of his freshman year.

"People talk about last year," Swinney said. "Last year is I think going to be a great experience for him looking back on his career and just helping him appreciate the opportunities he has. He did a lot of good things last year. He really only played in about seven and a half games or so. We had a couple games where we blow people out and don’t play him much. He missed four games right off the bat, he’s out for the bowl game. But he was very productive when he was on the field.

"No question that he helped Nuk have the kind of year he had because Sammy Watkins draws a lot of attention. He’s a guy that obviously can help us win at a high level and I think he’s going to do everything he’s got to do to lead the team and prepare himself mentally and physically to have a great junior year."

Watkins may command even more attention this year with Hopkins gone. How he responds will be a huge key to where the Tigers end up in 2013.