ACC: Willie Young
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.
Since it’s a good day to be green, here’s a look at the ACC’s youngest and most inexperienced groups throughout the conference:
1. NC State’s defensive line: The Pack have to replace all four starters up front, including two of the top five tacklers from a year ago, Willie Young and Alan Michael Cash.
2. NC State’s running backs: For the first time since 2005, the Pack don’t have any tailbacks with starting experience.
3. FSU’s secondary: Aside from Ochuko Jenije, none of the defensive backs have played more than one season.
4. Miami tight ends: There are only two participating in spring practice, and one is a redshirt freshman. The Canes signed four in this recruiting class, but none were early enrollees.
5. Wake Forest quarterbacks: The Deacs will replace the winningest quarterback in school history with somebody who has never had any starting experience. Ted Stachitas is the veteran of the group, with one series against Elon.
Final East-West Shrine Game rosters out
It's a prestigious all-star game, as 90 percent of the players from last year's roster were either drafted or signed as free agents. It's sort of like a final audition for the NFL, as the game is directed by an NFL-affiliated coaching staff, NFL officials and rules.
The ACC players will be coached by Romeo Crennel, who spent four seasons as head coach of the Cleveland Browns and has won five Super Bowls as an assistant coach.
This year's game will be Jan. 23 (3 p.m. ET/ESPN2). The following players will represent the ACC on the East team:
LB Mike McLaughlin, Boston College
OG Thomas Austin, Clemson
CB Chris Chancellor, Clemson
OLB Kavell Conner, Clemson
OG Cord Howard, Georgia Tech
RB Javarris James, Miami
C A.J. Trump, Miami
DE Willie Young, NC State
DT Nate Collins, Virginia
FS Kam Chancellor, Virginia Tech
OG Sergio Render, Virginia Tech
CB Stephan Virgil, Virginia Tech
OG Chris DeGeare, Wake Forest
ACC representatives at the NFL combine
Boston College: LB Mike McLaughlin, C Matt Tennant.
Clemson: OLB Kavell Conner, WR Jacoby Ford, DE Ricky Sapp, RB C.J. Spiller.
Duke: QB Thaddeus Lewis, Vince Oghobaase.
Florida State: CB Patrick Robinson, S Myron Rolle, OLB Dekoda Watson.
Maryland: CB Nolan Carroll.
Miami: TE Dedrick Epps, OT Jason Fox, TE Jimmy Graham, RB Javarris James, LB Darryl Sharpton.
North Carolina: OT Kyle Jolly, DT Cam Thomas.
NC State: C Ted Larsen, DE Willie Young.
Virginia: CB Chris Cook, FB Rashawn Jackson.
Virginia Tech: P Brent Bowden, S Kam Chancellor, CB Stephan Virgil, OT Ed Wang.
Wake Forest: OT Chris DeGeare, CB Brandon Ghee.
ACC all-conference team announced
FIRST TEAM
Offense
QB: Josh Nesbitt, Georgia Tech (50)
RB: Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech (67)
RB: Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech (63)
WR: Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech (63)
WR: Donovan Varner, Duke (50)
TE: George Bryan, NC State (39)
TE: Michael Palmer, Clemson (39)
OT: Jason Fox, Miami (57)
OT: Anthony Castonzo, Boston College (53)
OG: Rodney Hudson, Florida State (54)
OG: Cord Howard, Georgia Tech (47)
C: Sean Bedford, Georgia Tech (45)
K: Matt Waldron, Virginia Tech (27)
K: Matt Bosher, Miami (27)
Spc: C.J. Spiller, Clemson (76)
Defense
DE: Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech (76)
DE: Robert Quinn, North Carolina (69)
DT: Nate Collins, Virginia (47)
DT: Allen Bailey, Miami (38)
LB: Cody Grimm, Virginia Tech (65)
LB: Luke Kuechly, Boston College (53)
LB: Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina (44)
LB: Alex Wujciak, Maryland (44)
CB: Kendric Burney, North Carolina (59)
CB: Brandon Harris, Miami (41)
S: DeAndre McDaniel, Clemson (57)
S: Deunta Williams, North Carolina (53)
P: Brent Bowden, Virginia Tech (57)
SECOND TEAM
Offense
QB: Thaddeus Lewis, Duke (18)
RB: C.J. Spiller, Clemson (62)
RB: Montel Harris, Boston College (39)
WR: Torrey Smith, Maryland (25)
WR: Jacoby Ford, Clemson (24)
TE: Greg Boone, Virginia Tech (16)
OT: Ed Wang, Virginia Tech (31)
OT: Chris Hairston, Clemson (26)
OG: Thomas Austin, Clemson (39)
OG: Sergio Render, Virginia Tech (37)
C: Matt Tennant, Boston College (29)
K: Casey Barth, North Carolina (21)
K: Will Snyderwine, Duke (21)
Spc: Torrey Smith, Maryland (17)
Defense
DE: Ricky Sapp, Clemson (29)
DE: Willie Young, NC State (24)
DE: Jason Worilds, Virginia Tech (24)
DT: Marvin Austin, North Carolina (32)
DT: John Russell, Wake Forest (29)
LB: Vincent Rey, Duke (29)
LB: Darryl Sharpton, Miami (21)
LB: Bruce Carter, North Carolina (17)
LB: Colin McCarthy, Miami (17)
LB: Dekoda Watson, Florida State (17)
CB: Ras-I Dowling, Virginia (26)
CB: Patrick Robinson, Florida State (26)
S: Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech (51)
S: Kam Chancellor, Virginia Tech (24)
P: Matt Bosher, Miami (37)
OFFICIALS MAKE GREAT CALL
- The ACC Football Officials Association only has about 75 members, but the group came together to raise $3,000 for cancer research in support of BC linebacker Mark Herzlich, who was diagnized with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a form of bone cancer, in May. The check was presented to Herzlich prior to the Boston College-North Carolina football game last weekend and the official who made the presentation was Mike Owens, a head linesman from Clinton, S.C., who is also a cancer survivor. More than $135,000 has been raised for cancer research from the ACC community in Herzlich’s name.
- Boston College senior place-kicker Steve Aponavicius is the only kicker in college football’s FBS to be perfect in both field goals and extra points this year. Aponavicius is 9-for-9 in fi eld goals this season and 36-for-36 in extra points. Aponavicius has hit 15 straight field goals and 81 straight extra points. Marshall’s Craig Ratanamorn was perfect until last weekend, when he missed a field goal.
- Clemson running back C.J. Spiller needs just 26 all-purpose yards to become the fifth player in NCAA history to reach 7,000 for his career. He will attempt to go over that number against a team he has had success against in his career. Spiller has 498 all-purpose running yards against South Carolina in three games, including 331 in 42 rushes, a 7.9 average.
- Florida State once again leads the ACC in penalties, but in Saturday’s 29-26 victory over Maryland, the Seminoles pulled off something they haven’t accomplished since Bobby Bowden’s first season in Tallahassee. FSU played a penalty-free game against the Terrapins. The last time that happened was Sept. 18, 1976 against Miami when the ‘Noles were neither penalized nor – as was the case against Maryland – have any accepted penalties in a game.
- Georgia Tech juniors Jonathan Dwyer, who has 1,203 rushing yards, and Josh Nesbitt, who has rushed for 847 yards this year, have a chance at becoming the first duo from one ACC team to each rush for 1,000 yards in one season since 1993 when North Carolina’s Curtis Johnson (1,093 yards) and Leon Johnson (1,012) accomplished it. Nesbitt, who has led Tech to a conference-record 41 rushing touchdowns this year, also is tied for the lead in the ACC in scoring, averaging 8.7 points per game. Nesbitt could become the first quarterback in 30 years to lead the conference scoring since NC State’s Scott Smith tied for the title in 1979.
- Last week at Virginia Tech, the Wolfpack’s defensive front pressured Tyrod Taylor 20 times, according to the coaches’ film grades. Two weeks ago against Maryland, 24 of NC State’s 25 credited pressures came from the defensive line. In seven games against ACC teams this season, the entire defense has been credited with 91 quarterback pressures or hurries. Eighty-three of those have been from defensive linemen. Alan Michael-Cash and Willie Young lead the way with 14 each.That large number of pressures hasn't always turned into sacks, though. The defensive line tallied six sacks in the conference opener against Wake Forest, but has made only five in the six games since.
NC State defensive coordinator Mike Archer hasn’t exactly been sleeping too well these days, and he knows he’s not winning the People’s Choice award right now in Raleigh. But he’s working tirelessly nonetheless to improve NC State’s defense. He’s certain the problem isn’t effort. Long story short, it’s a combination of injuries, inexperience and, at this point, a lack of confidence.
NC State’s defense has given up an average of 482 yards of total defense in its four ACC games, the worst mark in the league by almost 30 yards. In conference games, the Wolfpack ranks last in the league in total defense, scoring defense, passing defense and ranks 11th in rushing defense. The only position on defense that has started the same unit in every game is the defensive line.
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| Tim Steadman/Icon SMI | |
| Willie Young has been one of the mainstays on the NC State defense this season. |
Here are the highlights of our recent conversation:
Man, another tough year for the D.
Mike Archer: It is what it is. You and I talked this summer, we got off to a rough start with what happened to Nate [Irving]. And then Dominique [Ellis] left the team and Jimmaul Simmons left the team, and Javon Walker, who started five games for us in 2007, and got injured in the Miami game, we were very hopeful he would be back for this year. We were counting on him being one of the safeties and he’s done with football.
You take those four guys, and three of them played on one side of the field, it’s been tough. But it’s part of the game. No one feels sorry for us. Everybody has injuries. It’s been frustrating and it’s been hard. The way we started, the South Carolina game, we played very well and held them to seven points, but realistically they weren’t quite sure of what we were going to do. We played with a true freshman corner and a redshirt freshman corner in that game, and we played a lot of Cover 2. But as the year goes on and that film goes out, people find them. When we were in Tallahassee, I look out there Saturday and we have a true freshman corner, a true freshman safety, a redshirt freshman safety and a junior corner on the field with two freshman linebackers.
It is what it is. You’re not going to be just stoning people when you’re playing young kids. We have to understand that and continue to move forward and keep improving. That’s our job as players and as coaches.
I remember last year when the defense was struggling, you challenged them. Remember that? It was a pretty public thing. Have you guys had a talk like that, or is this not the case for it?
MA: I’ve thought about that and we’ve talked. During the open date after the BC game, we sat down and looked everything we’ve done and it really comes down to execution. We’ve got a good system in place when our guys execute it. When we have the right guys out there, we’re pretty good. We have to execute. That’s what’s been frustrating.
It started in the second half of the Wake Forest game. We were not very good on third downs against Riley Skinner and it ended up costing us the game. The following week at Duke, third downs just killed us. They were 13-of-19 and could not get off the field on third down and picked us apart. Those two quarterbacks are awfully good. They were smart. They went after our freshman corners and our freshman safety. That’s their job as coaches. They get paid, too. They’re on scholarship. But third down has not been what it was early in the season. We were good in the South Carolina game, we were pretty good in the third down against Pitt. But we’ve lost our execution edge and the biggest thing in my opinion, we’ve lost confidence, obviously. It’s become mental.
On the bright side, I would think Willie Young has been one of the guys who has played consistently.
MA: Our front four kids, the four seniors, Alan- Michael Cash, Willie, Shea McKeen and Leroy Burgess have really done a good job all year. All year. When you look at us on defense, there are four seniors and everyone else is freshmen and sophomores. There’s a big age gap there. They’ve done a good job of being positive leaders and keeping everyone’s chins up. Nobody feels sorry for us and we don’t want anybody to feel sorry for us. It is what it is. It’s part of sports. It’s like [head coach] Tom O'Brien] said, we’ve lost 11 guys this year for the year. We thought we had it bad last year. It’s worse this year.
Why? Why does that happen to you guys?
MA: If I knew, I wouldn’t be coaching. I’d be a doctor or a sports psychologist. I’d have your job. ... Everyone says it’s a curse. It’s the way it is. I wish I knew so we could prevent it, but like Todd Rice says, if we knew, we’d prevent it.
NC State, FSU tied at 21 at the half
The scored is tied at 21 in Tallahassee, and it's the kind of game where turnovers could be the difference down the stretch. Both teams continue to answer each other in the end zone, but FSU fans should be a little concerned about the health of quarterback Christian Ponder. He's limping and he's not himself, but NC State's defense, particularly Willie Young, deserves credit for putting some pressure on him.
FSU is getting what it needs out of its running game today thanks to Jermaine Thomas, while NC State quarterback Russell Wilson has been the difference for the Pack in the first half.
Surprisingly, the usually disciplined Wolfpack has more penalties. There have been 610 total yards in the first half, so, yes, it is a day for ACC offenses, and that was expected. We're likely to see more of the same in the second half.
This team went from dark horse to dog house in a matter of weeks. Even coach Tom O’Brien expected more out of his team this year, but following last week’s 52-20 drubbing by Boston College, O’Brien conceded his team “regressed.” NC State is 3-4 overall and 0-3 in conference play, and for the third straight season finds itself struggling just to get to a bowl game in the second half of the season. Despite boasting one of the most talented quarterbacks in the conference in Russell Wilson, NC State has lost to three straight Atlantic Division opponents, including Duke. The reason for the Pack’s struggles is obvious -- defense, or lack thereof. For weeks O’Brien has lamented his team’s inability to tackle, and it hasn’t improved. Not only have quarterbacks had their way with the secondary, but BC running back Montel Harris proved the rushing defense isn’t as good as the numbers indicated. So far, NC State can hang its hat on a win over Pitt.
Offensive MVP: Russell Wilson. He’s averaging 237 passing yards per game, and he’s thrown a touchdown pass in six straight games. He’s 33rd in the country in passing efficiency, and 19th in total offense (272.57 yards per game). He’s also averaging 35 rushing yards per game, and that’s what makes him dangerous. Wilson hasn’t lost a step, but he doesn’t have the supporting cast this year.
Defensive MVP: Willie Young. The defensive end is third in the ACC in sacks this year, with seven in seven games, and he has 19.5 sacks for his career. He’s third in the ACC with nine tackles for loss and has two forced fumbles. Young also has 40.5 tackles for loss in his career and currently ranks 35th on the all-time ACC list. He also ranks 14th nationally in sacks this year.
Posted by ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich
Four Virginia Tech jerseys disappeared before the Georgia Tech game in 2007. Only three were recovered. This week, the Hokies will wear maroon jerseys for the first time in a true road game since playing at LSU in 2007. And we all know how well that turned out. There’s always something worth watching when these Coastal Division teams meet, even if it is a Hokie in a Jackets’ jersey …
1. Track meet in Atlanta. Saturday’s game between Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech will feature the ACC’s top three rushing leaders in Ryan Williams, Jonathan Dwyer and Josh Nesbitt, respectively. Georgia Tech (1st) and Virginia Tech (2nd) are the ACC’s top two rushing teams. The Yellow Jackets (277.0 ypg) and the Hokies (208.5) are the only teams in the league averaging more than 140 yards per game.
2. Virginia Tech’s red zone defense. Georgia Tech is going to move the ball. It always does. But the Hokies have been at their best inside the red zone. Opponents have scored just six touchdowns on 22 trips inside the 20-yard line this season. The Yellow Jackets are coming off a 49-44 win at Florida State, the most points they’ve ever scored in an ACC road game. Can the Hokies continue their red zone success against this offense?
3. The “old guys” in Chestnut Hill. BC quarterback Dave Shinskie is 25. NC State defensive end Willie Young just turned 24 a few weeks ago, and he’ll be gunning for his elder opponent. Young is tied for eighth nationally and tied for the ACC lead in sacks with seven for the season. He had a career-high three in the loss at Wake Forest, and if he got to Riley Skinner, he should be able to get to Shinskie.
4. Frank Spaziani vs. Dana Bible. This is a matchup of two former staff members who knew each other well as coordinators at BC. Spaziani, formerly BC's defensive coordinator, used to go against NC State offensive coordinator Dana Bible every day at practice, but Bible has since tweaked some things in his playbook to accommodate quarterback Russell Wilson. Will Spaziani's familiarity pay off, or have things changed too much?
5. Virginia’s turnover turnaround. A major reason behind the Cavaliers’ newfound success has been their ability to take care of the ball. Virginia hasn't had a turnover in its last two games and its last 35 possessions, dating to an interception in the second quarter of the Southern Miss game. After being minus-6 in turnover margin the first two games, Virginia is plus-6 the last three games, including plus-5 in the two victories. Quarterback Jameel Sewell has not been intercepted in his last 86 pass attempts, dating to the Southern Miss game.
6. Maryland’s pass protection. The possible return of left tackle Bruce Campbell could help tremendously, but quarterback Chris Turner will need time to think against the No. 3 pass defense in the ACC. He’s already been sacked 22 times. The Cavaliers are No. 15 in the country holding opponents to just 163.2 yards per game.
7. Miami sophomore cornerback Brandon Harris. After defending just three passes in 13 games as a true freshman last year, Harris now leads the nation in passes broken up (10) and passes defended (11).
8. Clemson running back C.J. Spiller. He’s worth watching not only because he needs just 55 yards to become the first player in ACC history with 6,000 all-purpose yards, but also because Wake Forest held Clemson to just 21 rushing yards last year.
9. Wake Forest wide receiver Chris Givens. Quarterback Riley Skinner can’t rack up these numbers by himself. In last week’s win over Maryland, Givens caught five passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns. It was his first multiple touchdown game, and his second straight 100-yard receiving performance. Givens will face a better secondary in Death Valley this weekend.
10. BCS Standings. This is when it counts, and this is your reminder than on Sunday, between 4 and 4: 30 p.m. ET, the first official BCS Standings will be announced on FOX Sports, after the early NFL game. It will be interesting to see how the outcome of Saturday’s game in Atlanta affects both teams, particularly the Hokies, who are ranked No. 4 in the country this week.
Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich
This is why NC State coach Tom O'Brien called defensive end Willie Young his "best recruit" this season after Young decided to ditch the NFL in favor of coming back to Raleigh.
Young already has two sacks on Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner, and a forced fumble on Skinner to set up the first score. NC State leads 7-3 in the first quarter. The best thing Wake has going for it in this game is Skinner, and it will have to protect him better than that.
Nine ACC players named to Bronko Nagurski watch list
Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich
The ACC was well-represented with nine players and more than half its schools on the list of 62 candidates for the Bronko Nagurski Award, given to the nation's best defensive player.
Players may be added or removed during the season. After the first four games of the season, the FWAA will revise the list and at that time school sports information directors may submit names for players not on the list to the FWAA and their conference's FWAA All-America Committee representative.
Each week during the 2009 season, the FWAA will choose a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week. If the selected player is not on the watch list, he automatically will be added. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Nov. 18 or 19. For the entire release, click here.
Here are the ACC's representatives:
- Morgan Burnett, safety, Georgia Tech
- Kam Chancellor, safety, Virginia Tech
- Ras-I Dowling, cornerback, Virginia
- Vince Oghobaase, defensive tackle, Duke
- Boo Robinson, nose guard, Wake Forest
- Quan Sturdivant, linebacker, North Carolina
- Deunta Williams, safety, North Carolina
- Alex Wujciak, linebacker, Maryland
- Willie Young, defensive end, NC State
Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich
You asked, I answered:
Henri in Atlanta, Ga., writes: Hey Heather, any comments on Jonathan Dwyer getting listed by Mel Kiper as the best running back in the draft?
Heather Dinich: At seven yards per carry, Dwyer should be one of the best backs in the draft, but Jackets fans don't have to worry about Dwyer's focus this fall. I asked him about his NFL aspirations recently and he said it's a huge dream for him -- huge -- but that he's not thinking about it this season. I still think, though, that C.J. Spiller will finally have the season that gets him some recognition.
Bill in Boston writes: Hey, love the blog updates, keeps me going at work during the offseason! Quick question: regarding all of the safety talk, where is Kam Chancellor in the national discussion? He had a bit of an off-year last year, but before last year there was a lot of attention surrounding him, and he was learning a new position. I think he is poised to break out in a big way, so wheres the love?
HD: Well, every safety in the nation right now is overshadowed by the hype surrounding Tennessee's Eric Berry and USC's Taylor Mays. They're the ones dominating the national discussion, and rightfully so. Don't forget that Chancellor moved into the starting free safety job for 2008 after spending his sophomore season as Tech's rover. He'll be playing the same position for more than one season for the first time in his Tech career, and that should make a difference in his consistency this year.
Treigh in Clemson, S.C., writes: HD i see your All ACC team is missing a few tigers on the defensive side of the ball. I take nothing away from young, worilds, robinson, or virgil but i think that Sapp and Bowers will prove they are the best ends in the ACC. And then our corners Chancellor and Butler both of who could be all americans this year. I dont think they all should have made it but one or two of them definatly should be on there. Thanks for all the great work HD keep it up
HD: Thanks for reading, Treigh, and no doubt you named players who are among my Top 30 in the ACC, and who got significant consideration. Both Bowers and Sapp should really flourish under Kevin Steele's defense, and you're right -- that duo at corner should be one of the best in the ACC. It was a tough call, trust me.
Bubba in Atlanta writes: HD, on of the members posted a comment that a starting UMD DT quit the team today. Would you, please confirm or refute that info?
HD: No doubt, Bubba, it's true. Dion Armstrong is out.
Neal in New York writes: Heather,I am a huge fan of your blog. However, I have to question your article, "Virginia Tech's medical staff not to blame." I believe the standard in VA for legal liability in medical malpractice is harm that is reasonably foreseeable for a person in a similarly situated position - i.e. whether other physicians of a like training/community would have acted the same or differently in a similar situation. I am unsure how other physicians would react to a report of a sprained knee and that it appears to be stable (e.g. it is possible that an expert orthopedic would order an MRI for a superior athlete because he or she knows, or should know, that strong quadriceps will strengthen a knee despite injury). I don't want to draw a conclusion one way or the other - I simply want to point out that there's not enough information out there to draw a conclusion that physicians/staff are NOT to blame. Neal
HD: You make some great points, Neal, and I'm about as close to being a doctor as I am the Hokies' next quarterback, so I'm probably not qualified to evaluate the medical staff's performance. But running backs coach Billy Hite told me that Darren Evans' knee was so strong it completely hid the real problem. I just find it hard to lay blame in such an unfortunate incident, so in this case, I won't.
Adam in Atlanta writes: Hey Heather, I completely understand the expectation that GT's defense will be a little down this year after losing 3 NFL caliber defensive lineman, but doesn't having the other 8 starters return just mean that our defensive strength shifts the the LB's and backfield? Can they make up for the loss of Johnson, Walker and Richard?
HD: Yes, Georgia Tech's linebackers and secondary will no doubt be the strength of the defense, and I don't think Jackets fans should panic too much over the departures up front. The guys replacing them have experience, it's just a matter of transitioning into a starting role. And having Derrick Morgan up there will go a long way in helping that transition.
Robert in Blacksburg writes: Hey HD, Thanks for all the updates on Darren Evans. It's such an unfortunate, freak accident but I think he'll come back better than ever with increased drive and intensity. My question is, will he be able to get a medical redshirt for this season, or will he lose a year of eligibility?
HD: Unfortunately, Evans will lose this year of eligibility because he has already redshirted. Not that I understand this, but Evans would have to be hurt again and miss another season in order to earn the medical hardship. The reality of the matter is this: When Evans comes back, if he has another season like he did in 2008, he'll be in the NFL anyway, so it won't be an issue. So Hokies fans, enjoy every carry while you have him. Evans has a son, and if he's projected a high draft pick, Hite will be one of the first people pushing him out the door -- sadly, of course.
Seth in Muscle Shoals, Ala., writes: Heather, I know most people predict a 8-4 season for the Miami Hurricanes. How realistic is a 10-2 season? I'll give you Georgia Tech and Oklahoma, but we beat Va Tech last year and should have beaten FSU. The only game after the first fearsome foursome that i'd be worried about is going to UNC. Level with me HD.
HD: Seth, I'll level with you: I think a nine-win season would be a success for the Canes, and that includes a win at FSU.
Peter in Jacksonville, Fla., writes: Why are the Hokies ranked so high in the pre-season every year?!??! they always bomb out! So overrated.
HD: Hmm, three ACC titles and an Orange Bowl win in five seasons. Yeah, sounds like a real underperformer.
ACC has 7 on watch list for Chuck Bednarik Award
Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich
The ACC had seven players named to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list for the award given to college football's defensive player of the year. There were 55 players on the list.
Duke defensive tackle Vince Oghobaase and North Carolina's Marvin Austin were among the 10 defensive tackles on the list. Also from the ACC is Georgia Tech safety Morgan Burnett, North Carolina linebacker Quan Sturdivant, Virginia Tech defensive end Jason Worilds, Maryland linebacker Alex Wujciak and NC State defensive end Willie Young.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced on Nov. 4 and three finalists for the award will be announced Nov. 23. The winner of the 2009 Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show which will be held on Dec. 10, 2009. The formal presentation of this award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club.
ACC: Preseason all-conference team
Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich
The ACC has released its preseason all-conference team last month, now ESPN.com is releasing ours. Here's the final version with minimal tweaks from the original ballot:
OFFENSE
QB Riley Skinner, Wake Forest
RB C.J. Spiller, Clemson
RB Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech
WR Jacoby Ford, Clemson
WR LaRon Byrd, Miami
TE Greg Boone, Virginia Tech
OT Anthony Castonzo, Boston College
OT Jason Fox, Miami
OG Thomas Austin, Clemson
OG Rodney Hudson, Florida State
C Ryan McMahon, Florida State
PK Matt Bosher, Miami
DEFENSE
DE Willie Young, NC State
DE Jason Worilds, Virginia Tech
DT Vince Oghobaase, Duke
DT John Russell, Wake Forest
LB Sean Spence, Miami
LB Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina
LB Dekoda Watson, Florida State
CB Stephan Virgil, Virginia Tech
CB Patrick Robinson, Florida State
S Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech
S Kam Chancellor, Virginia Tech
P Travis Baltz, Maryland
SP C.J. Spiller, Clemson
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.
