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Now that spring practices are over, it’s time to re-evaluate the ACC pecking order for 2012. There wasn’t much change at the top from the pre-spring power rankings, but Georgia Tech did get a slight bump, along with two teams on Tobacco Road. Here’s a look at the latest ACC power rankings:

1. Florida State: The Noles’ defensive line should be one of the deepest and best in the conference, if not the country, and they’ve got an outstanding quarterback in EJ Manuel. If the young offensive line can mature quickly and the running game improves from 2011, there’s no reason the Seminoles shouldn’t be contending for the ACC title.

2. Clemson: The Tigers could open the season without star receiver Sammy Watkins, who is awaiting his punishment after he was arrested on misdemeanor drug charges, but as long as he’s in the lineup and the offensive line is playing well, Clemson has enough talent to defend its 2011 ACC title.

3. Virginia Tech: It’s hard to forget how the Hokies fared against Clemson in two meetings last season, but they enter this season with the better defense. The question is how quickly the revamped offensive line can come together, and who will emerge as the next star running back.

4. NC State: This team is quietly preparing a championship-caliber roster. Quarterback Mike Glennon is still under the radar, and he’s got an experienced offensive line to work with. This is a team that could surprise some people.

5. Georgia Tech: The Jackets had a promising spring, but the defensive line has to replace two of three starters, and last season’s atrocious special teams still have a lot to prove. One thing is for sure: These guys will be able to run the ball on just about anyone.

6. Wake Forest: Much like the rest of its division, Wake Forest’s success will hinge in part on how quickly the new starters on the offensive line come together. The Demon Deacons have an experienced and much-improved quarterback in Tanner Price, and last year they made a statement that they’re not to be overlooked in the ACC race.

7. North Carolina: The two biggest questions for the Tar Heels are how quickly they can adapt to and execute a new system under first-year coach Larry Fedora, and where they will find their motivation now that the NCAA has banned them from the postseason. This spring revealed a positive outlook for the new offense, which should give quarterback Bryn Renner a chance to shine.

8. Virginia: The ACC’s 2011 Coach of the Year has quickly raised expectations, but they should be tempered because seven starters have to be replaced on defense. Michael Rocco is the undisputed starting quarterback -- unless Alabama transfer Phillip Sims has something to say about it.

9. Miami: With Stephen Morris out this spring with a back injury, quarterback transfer Ryan Williams had a chance to impress the coaches. The position is one of many questions still looming for the Canes, a young team still waiting for closure from an NCAA investigation.

10. Maryland: The Terps had a good spring and were able to move forward with players who wanted to be there. It was a positive vibe, but coach Randy Edsall is still tangled in the shadow of last year’s two-win season. He’ll have to improve upon it without the services of former quarterback Danny O’Brien.

11. Boston College: Several offseason staff changes were embraced this spring, and quarterback Chase Rettig made strides under yet another offensive coordinator, Doug Martin. The Eagles have to find a way to win without two of their most valuable players in running back Montel Harris, who was dismissed from the team, and linebacker Luke Kuechly, who left early for the NFL.

12. Duke: The Blue Devils had a good spring and are still buying into the philosophies of coach David Cutcliffe. They’ve been on the verge of making the postseason before, but fans are looking for them to finally break through in Year 5 under Cutcliffe. Quarterback Sean Renfree can get them there if they minimize the turnovers and play better defense.

This just in: Florida State will be in attendance at today's ACC spring meetings in Amelia Island, Fla. The Noles are still a part of the ACC. Jimbo Fisher has been spotted at the posh Ritz-Carlton resort, and he didn't appear to be running toward the Big 12 -- at least not yet.

Thanks, Jimbo, for keeping the expansion talk alive.

Not that today's meetings needed any help. Representatives from Pitt and Syracuse are also in attendance, and Pitt has sued the Big East to leave early and join in 2013.

It's a Monday in May, but there will plenty on the coaches' agenda to talk about at this year's spring meetings. Here are three hot-button issues to keep an eye on:

1. The BCS and current bowl structure. This should be one of the more time-consuming topics on the agenda, as the league aims to find out where the ACC and its coaches stand on the future structure of college football. BCS executive director Bill Hancock will be there.

2. The NCAA. Julie Roe Lach, the NCAA's vice president of enforcement, and Kevin Lennon, the NCAA's vice president of academic and membership affairs, will be there to meet with all groups about enforcement in general and some of the legislation dealing with APR requirements for the postseason. Will the vote on North Carolina come up?

3. Expansion. As mentioned above, Pitt and Syracuse coaches will be there to start their orientation with the league so they are prepared to join when the time comes. Fisher's recent comments about the Big 12 have already made things interesting.

Odds n' ends. As usual, the coaches will also talk about officiating, with a specific focus on any rule changes, and they'll watch film on flagrant hits, etc. The coaches will also meet with ESPN and Raycom executives.

My colleague Andrea Adelson will be there to get the news, so check back for any updates.

One week from today, 11 of Duke's 16 offensive linemen and assistant strength coach Marcus Johnson will board a flight to Ethiopia. There, the group will do volunteer work for two weeks, working with kids in sports camps and drilling at least one freshwater well for a rural community.

Guard Dave Harding is the man behind the trip, as the redshirt junior spent many summers with his family in middle school and high school drilling wells in Ethiopia.

From GoDuke The Magazine:

"A lot of these guys have never left the country," says Harding, a junior who started nine games at center and left guard last year. "It will be good to get them over there. From a personal standpoint it will be exciting to see how everyone responds to it.

"We don't get the opportunity to do DukeEngage trips and study abroad, so this is our chance to do that and a chance to give back to the world community. And from a football standpoint, by taking this trip we are bound to grow as friends and get to know people better. Some of the upperclassmen don't see much of the underclassmen outside of practice, but when you go on a life-changing trip like this it makes you closer, so it's bound to have impacts on the field as well."

The idea for the upcoming trip came to Harding during a speech by new offensive line coach John Latina, who was urging the linemen to become the Blue Devils' most cohesive unit.

"That's the core reason for why the offensive linemen are going together, to bring us all closer together and create a stronger bond between us," says sophomore Laken Tomlinson, who started every game at guard last year.

"This group is pretty close. Our previous coach, Coach Luke, believed we should be one unit, and our new coach, Coach Latina, also believes that we should be the strongest bond on the field. This trip should definitely create a stronger bond between us, so I’m excited for that."

The trip will end May 16 and come during one of the few windows the players have at semester's end. With all the drilling they'll be doing, it'll hardly be a break from the offseason grind.

Three ACC schools held scrimmages over the weekend. Here's a roundup of the good and bad from a busy weekend.

DUKE
Sean Renfree completed 14 of 17 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Tight ends David Reeves and Issac Blakeney had scores of 31 and 70 yards, respectively.

Corey Gattis led all pass-catchers with six receptions for 81 yards and a 42-yard touchdown catch from Thomas Sirk. Sirk did a bit of everything, completing 5 of 9 passes for 75 yards, carrying it four times for 54 yards and hauling in two receptions for 25 yards.

The Blue Devils' spring game is March 31.

MIAMI
No Stephen Morris, no problem. At least on Saturday at Ted Hendricks Stadium in Hialeah. With Morris out recovering from back surgery, Ryan Williams completed 14 of 21 passes for 228 yards and four touchdowns. Early enrollees Gray Crow and Preston Dewey were behind the Memphis transfer, going a combined 11-for-26 for 64 yards in action that was more situationally simulated than a typical spring game, which Miami will hold April 14.

Mike James and Eduardo Clements combined for 134 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 31 carries, with James accounting for three of those scores.

The Hurricanes will hold another scrimmage at 6:45 p.m. ET this Friday at Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers.

Also, defensive back Keion Payne was dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules, UM associate athletic director for communications and marketing Chris Freet told reporters. Payne had appeared in just two games.

WAKE FOREST
Michael Campanaro impressed as the Demon Deacons' top receiver, catching 10 balls for 116 yards to lead the offense, which got off to a rough start.

After misfiring on seven of his first eight pass attempts, Tanner Price finished strong, completing 17 of 30 passes on the day for 169 yards and a touchdown on six drives. Nikita Whitlock had an 87-yard interception return for a score on Price.

Reserve signal-caller Patrick Thompson finished 5-for-6 passing for 79 yards with a touchdown, and Wake's defense finished with five sacks from five different players.

“I think we’ve improved quite a bit from the first day of practice when we didn’t look very good,” coach Jim Grobe said of the offensive line. “I thought Thursday we improved a little bit and I thought today we got a little better. It’s going to take time before these guys are really comfortable.

"We’ve got guys who like to play, who like to get after it but they’re just making too many mistakes right now and you can’t do that up front. We just play against too many good people. You want to get to the point where when they beat us, they beat us physically and not because we didn’t block the right guy.”

Wake Forest's spring game is April 14.

The outside perception of Duke football seems to hinge on whether coach David Cutcliffe will ever get the Blue Devils back to a bowl game.

For Cutcliffe, though, the picture is bigger, the goal more challenging than simply reaching that seemingly elusive six-win mark.

“Our whole emphasis is about getting there and consistently staying there,” Cutcliffe said. “That’s the change we’re looking for. It’s never been about that magic year for me. It’s about knowing we have a damn good program.

“Don’t think Duke is a flash in the pan,” he said. “Instead of losing to Virginia Tech by four, win by three. Instead of losing to Wake by one, win by 10. Then we’ll know Duke has changed.”

Will 2012 be the start of the turnaround?

As Cutcliffe prepares to enter his fifth season, more should be expected. Duke returns 41 players who have played significant snaps on both offense and defense, not just special teams. The primary ball carriers return, along with a three-year starting quarterback in Sean Renfree, and one of the league’s top receivers in Conner Vernon. The offensive line should be more athletic, and the defense still young but more experienced. Duke also recruited several players who could contribute immediately.

Although the team has progressed under Cutcliffe’s watch during each of the past four seasons, Duke has still failed to reach the six-win mark, coming as close as five wins in 2009, and settling back into the Duke stereotype with back-to-back 3-9 finishes each of the past two seasons. While fans tend to zero in on the final results, the players and coaches continue to believe the process is inching them closer to long-term success.

“It shows out there,” Vernon said. “I’m sure you can ask any team in the ACC that it’s shown, and it’s something that they can’t take Duke for granted anymore. Even though the win-loss column may not show it, you can tell teams are respecting Duke a lot more. It’s only going to get better.”

Cutcliffe has told them, though, that it has to be better than good. He said he still has concerns about his players being physical enough up front on defense, and being able to limit the big plays on defense while at the same time creating explosive plays on offense.

“We were a good team a year ago with a bad record,” Cutcliffe said. “We have to be better than good, because we’ve got Clemson and Florida State from the other side, which are obviously two of the more talented teams in this league. We’ve got Miami, we’ve got North Carolina. We’ve got Virginia Tech, Stanford. I could go on and on. We’re playing a really vicious schedule. That’s just part of the equation. You’ve got to play beyond good.”

It seems to be the fans need convincing more than the players. On paper, Duke still looks like Duke: 115th in the country in rushing offense, No. 108 in turnover margin, No. 93 in scoring offense and No. 90 in scoring defense.

There’s no shortage of motivation in Durham, but it goes beyond the numbers.

“If they know they’ve paid the price, if they know they’re prepared, they’ll believe,” Cutcliffe said. “Everybody kind of loses sight of what motivating people is. Motivating people, giving them confidence, is to make them earn it themselves. If they have invested enough into it, they’ll come out with fire. I think we’re already becoming believers. … We’ve got to go from believing to knowing we can win.”

When they finally do, then Duke fans will know things have changed.

Duke begins spring practices today with an experienced quarterback in three-year starter Sean Renfree, one of the ACC’s most accomplished receivers in Conner Vernon, and an experienced, more athletic offensive line. So what can Duke fans expect in a season that should feature a wide-open Coastal Division race? I caught up with Vernon on Tuesday to get his take on the Blue Devils this season. Vernon is the only player in ACC history with multiple seasons of 70-plus receptions (73 in 2010; 70 in 2011). With 198 career receptions, he is now 34 catches away from matching the league record of 232 held by Clemson’s Aaron Kelly (2005-08). With 2,675 career receiving yards, Vernon needs 842 yards to equal the conference mark of 3,517 yards held by Florida State’s Peter Warrick (1996-99). He’s a key piece to Duke’s bowl hopes this year, but he’ll be limited a bit this spring because he’s still recovering from an ankle injury he suffered at the end of last season.

Here are the highlights of our conversation:

What’s different about Duke football this year? What can Duke fans be encouraged about?

Conner Vernon: Definitely just how young of a team we were last year, and how a lot of them have really grown up a lot and shown flashes of greatness early. That’s something Coach Cut [David Cutcliffe] has preached a lot about this offseason, about being great, and that good isn’t good enough anymore. A lot of guys have stepped up big, and a lot of young guys have stepped up big. My impression is that that’s created a lot of competition with the older guys and we’re looking forward to starting [today].

You mentioned that Coach Cut said good isn’t good enough at this point. What’s it going to take for you guys to take the next step?

CV: That’s something we’re going to figure out and we’ll find that out as a team. The competition level is going to keep going up at practice, which is going to push more guys. That’s what we need. We have a great recruiting class coming in and last year’s class, a lot of those guys have stepped up and it’s going to be fun. That’s what I think he’s trying to get at, letting guys know we have a lot of guys coming in who are great and are going to push us to the limit and it’s going to be good for all of us.

Just from a personal standpoint, how badly do you want to see all of this hard work finally translate into a bowl game this year?

CV: Oh, more than anything I’ve ever wanted. Not only do the players who have been here for the last four or five years, coaches, staff, Duke University itself, the fans and alums, it’s time to put Duke back on the map, get to that bowl and get over the hump. This whole university and the people around it definitely deserve it.

Because you guys have been so close under Cutcliffe, but it hasn’t happened, why is everyone still believing and buying in?

CV: Because it shows. It shows out there. I’m sure you can ask any team in the ACC that it’s shown and it’s something that they can’t take Duke for granted anymore. Even though the win-loss column may not show it, you can tell teams are respecting Duke a lot more. It’s only going to get better.

I look at what you guys have coming back on offense and it seems pretty good with Sean Renfree being in his third season as a starter. What do you think you guys are capable of this year offensively?

CV: The sky is the limit for us. We have some set offensive goals and we’re hoping to achieve them, but from a passing standpoint and running standpoint, we look very good.

Without [Donovan] Varner and [Cooper] Helfet it seems like you’re the main man out there. How do you feel your role will change out there, not that you haven’t been a productive part of Duke’s offense in recent years?

CV: I think I’m going to have to take more of a leadership role. Cooper and Donovan were leaders on the offense, along with Sean. Just them being seniors as a group and gone, it’s kind of like it’s my turn now. I would say just trying to take more of that role and it’s definitely going to be my biggest challenge this offseason.

You’re 34 catches away from setting a league record, and 842 yards away from another league record. How much do you think about those things and care about them, and are they goals of yours for the season?

CV: They’re definitely subplots of this trip, my four years here. But definitely my first and foremost goal is putting Duke football back on the map and getting to that bowl game and having more wins than losses this year. If the record comes, great, but the only record I’m really worried about is the one for Duke’s team at the end of the year. I’ll do everything in my power to make that happen, and I’m sure if we’re in a bowl game this year those records will be right there behind it. I’m looking forward to the challenge, but Duke comes first before the individual records.

Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas and Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd, two friends and competitors from the state of Virginia, have already begun texting and talking to each other about the upcoming season.

“It’s been a nice break, but at the same time, you’re definitely anxious to get back on the field,” Thomas said.

ACC fans should be just as eager to see them this spring.

What was a position of question in the conference at this time a year ago has evolved into one of the league’s biggest reasons for hope this fall. In 2011, at least half of the quarterbacks in the ACC were entering their rookie seasons, and Miami’s Jacory Harris was the only senior starter. Now, they’re seasoned, smarter and looking to improve upon successful debuts. For the first time in league history, the ACC had five quarterbacks top 3,000 passing yards, and all five of them -- Boyd, Thomas, UNC’s Bryn Renner, NC State’s Mike Glennon and Wake Forest’s Tanner Price -- return. That doesn’t include Duke’s Sean Renfree, who threw for 3,131 yards as a sophomore in 2010 and also returns this season.

“I think it’s going to be great for the conference as a whole,” Thomas said. “All of the guys are exceptionally poised and getting ready to be a national title contender in the ACC. That’s what all of us want and have been striving for since we’ve been here. All of us have a great chance because we’ve gone through our first year and we all had pretty good years. It’s been very good for us to play as much as we did and as well as we did.”

Boyd set a single-season league mark with 38 touchdowns responsible last season. Glennon (32) tied for the fourth-highest total with 32, while Thomas accounted for 30. All of them, plus Renner and Florida State's EJ Manuel, finished among the top 50 in the nation in passing efficiency in their first seasons as full-time starters. Georgia Tech's Tevin Washington, also a first-year starter last season, would have ranked 13th nationally if he had enough pass attempts to qualify for the pass efficiency ratings.

In the ACC’s history, the league has had 24 quarterbacks record 30 3,000-yard seasons. Only three have had back-to-back 3,000-yard efforts in Florida State’s Chris Weinke (1999, 2000), NC State’s Philip Rivers (2002, 2003) and the Wolfpack’s Russell Wilson (2009, 2010). That number could increase, though, if the ACC’s current group of quarterbacks continues to mature at the rate it did from the first half of last season to the second half.

Manuel, who was hindered by a shoulder injury for part of last season, went the final eight games of the season without throwing an interception. Glennon threw 11 of his 31 touchdowns in the last three games and only four of his 12 picks in the last five games. Boyd completed eight of 24 passes in last year’s spring game and after an 8-0 start to 2011-12 was a legitimate Heisman contender. Renner was one of the ACC’s most efficient passers and he did it with bone spurs in his ankle. Both Renner and Glennon will have four returning starters on their respective offensive lines to work behind.

“The biggest difference for me the first year was getting used to going out there every series,” Glennon said. “In the past, if I got in the game, I would go in for about two series and the game was over. It was different for me to get used to staying mentally focused each and every series knowing that when we go off the field in five minutes I’ll be right back out there.

“I think I improved every game. Even if we lost and I didn’t have my best game, I still improved as a player. I think I learned from my experiences and I definitely feel in the bowl game I was playing my best football of the year, and that was just building on each game, learning from mistakes and building on the good things.”

As the quarterbacks continue to build on the good things, so will the ACC -- starting this spring.

The early NFL draft hopefuls have gone, the early enrollees have arrived, and recruiting classes have been added that could have an impact on the 2012 ACC race. Considering all the offseason shuffling, it’s time for an updated yet still way-too-early look at how the ACC could stack up this season:

1. Florida State:The Noles brought in the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation, including the No. 1 defensive end, the No. 1 defensive tackle and the No. 1 quarterback. Not to mention the abundance of talent they return from last season’s nine-win team. Not only will FSU be better in 2012, but it will also be deeper and more talented.

2. Clemson: The Tigers have the No. 9-ranked class in the country, and they used it to fill some major needs up front. Clemson’s biggest obstacle this fall will be replacing three starters on both the offensive and defensive lines. Quarterback Tajh Boyd has enough skill players around him, though, that the Tigers can repeat as ACC champs.

3. Virginia Tech: The Hokies also have some big shoes to fill on the offensive line and running back thanks to the early departure of David Wilson to the NFL, but the staff lured in a top-25 recruiting class complete with some impressive running backs to rebuild the depth at the position. Virginia Tech’s best asset heading into 2012 will be one of the nation’s best defenses.

4. NC State: The Wolfpack can be a dark horse for the ACC title, especially if they stay healthy. Quarterback Mike Glennon should be one of the best in the league, four starters return on the offensive line, and this recruiting class gave the defensive line some old-school speed off the edge.

5. Virginia: Mike London quietly brought in one of the better recruiting classes in the ACC again, albeit with less fanfare than a year ago. If the Cavaliers can overcome the loss of seven starters on defense, they can again challenge for the Coastal Division title.

6. Miami: The outlook for the Canes has improved significantly with the nation’s No. 8 recruiting class, as many of those true freshmen will be given an opportunity for starting jobs or to at least work their way into the rotation and get meaningful reps. Still, there will be a learning curve, and quarterback Stephen Morris still has something to prove.

7. Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets seem like an average team right now. There are no superstars, the recruiting class was ho-hum, and the program’s place in the eyes of the NCAA right now is in limbo. While they return a bulk of their starters from a year ago, other programs seem to be making more progress quicker.

8. Wake Forest: The Deacs brought in a typical, Jim Grobe-type recruiting class: not flashy but will help the program to bowl games with the staff’s ability to develop talent. They return starting quarterback Tanner Price, who was one of the most improved players in the ACC a year ago, but must replace four starters on the offensive line.

9. North Carolina: First-year coach Larry Fedora has the energy, but does he have enough time? Fedora said he wants to change everything at UNC from the personnel to the philosophy and the culture. He’ll switch schemes on offense and defense, but is the offseason enough time to do that and make Carolina a contender in the Coastal race?

10. Maryland: The Terps will be better, and they should go to a bowl game, but without knowing what’s going on at quarterback, they’re a little tricky to predict. Is C.J. Brown the guy, or will Danny O’Brien be the man under first-year coordinator Mike Locksley? This team could move up the rankings quickly this season.

11. Boston College: The Eagles had another blue-collar class that could have been a disaster with defections but was salvaged in the end. Replacing linebacker Luke Kuechly isn’t realistic, but BC welcomes back more than it loses, and that could add up to a surprise season in Chestnut Hill.

12. Duke: The Blue Devils brought in a better class than it was probably given credit, but until that starts translating into wins, Duke will maintain the dubious distinction of last in the ACC.

Dear Pitt and Syracuse,
We are officially ready for you.
Sincerely,
The ACC

Nothing about Round 2 of ACC expansion has been complicated, including Friday’s decision to add Pittsburgh to the Coastal Division and Syracuse to the Atlantic Division -- that is, of course, whenever those two programs are released from their Big East lockdown.

The ACC didn’t just release its future schedule model on Friday; it announced that it is now prepared and ready for the minute Pitt and Syracuse escape.

“The good thing is we’re set and ready to go whenever Pitt and Syracuse are able to join us,” ACC commissioner John Swofford said. “That’s between the two schools and the Big East conference at this point. We’ll just see how that plays out. … We’re ready to move ahead with that whenever the appropriate time comes.”

Their new homes in their respective divisions are already fully furnished with old and new rivals, they make sense, and they were unanimously approved by the ACC's Faculty Athletic Representatives and Athletics Directors at the annual ACC Winter Meetings.

The discussions began this past October, with the goal of reaching a decision by now. Three other top options emerged during that time: A geographic model, a schedule in which Syracuse went to the Coastal and Pitt went to the Atlantic, and one in which some of the current crossover games would have been changed. Swofford said it was a priority, though, to maintain the current rivalry games and competitive balance within the divisions.

“The best thing to do in this instance,” ACC commissioner John Swofford said, “was probably the simplest.”

For those ACC fans out there still clamoring over a North-South division: Why? What the ACC has right now is working. Proof: The Atlantic holds a slight 69-65 edge over the Coastal Division. You can’t strike much more “competitive balance” than that. Plus, this model is old-school. Pitt will play Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Miami every year. Boston College will play Syracuse annually again. And -- a key point here, guys -- you finally know which teams are in which divisions. If you don’t, you must be in the Big Ten blog by mistake.

One challenge this new schedule presents, though, specifically affects Georgia Tech, Clemson and Florida State. With a nine-game conference schedule, ACC teams will now only play three nonconference games instead of four. Those three programs already have to face rivals Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. Scheduling the two remaining nonconference games will be an interesting balancing act.

“Whether you’re scheduling four nonconference games or three, I think you have to look for balance in that if you’re an athletic director or a coach, and see how that plays into your overall schedule,” Swofford said. “In terms of the schools that already have an out-of-conference rivalry game, and each school looks at this a little differently, probably, but certainly that game gives those particular schools a prominent game that’s very favorable to fans and television and so forth that’s built into their schedule every year. Whereas our schools that don’t have that kind of rivalry game will probably look to schedule a very competitive, attractive, out of conference game. The balance is in the other two games.”

The good thing about it, though, is that it will eliminate those yawn schedules with two FCS opponents (I’m lookin’ at you, NC State). There’s no room for that fluff anymore.

Pitt and Syracuse are moving in.

And the ACC is officially ready.

While the star systems help evaluate each recruit and grade each class , the most important aspect of signing day is whether or not each program filled its specific needs at each position. Here’s a quick look at each school in the ACC and the biggest need it filled on signing day:

BOSTON COLLEGE: The Eagles wanted to continue to build the depth on both lines, and did that with three offensive linemen and a defensive end. BC might have gotten a future star in four-star guard Frank Taylor, who is rated No. 14 in the country at his position.

CLEMSON: One look at the 2011 depth chart and it’s easy to see where Clemson’s biggest need was, as three starters on the offensive line and three starters on the defensive line have to be replaced from the ACC title team. Mission accomplished in this class with 10 linemen, including six on offense.

DUKE: The Blue Devils got what they were looking for in offensive skill positions with a quarterback, two running backs and three wide receivers in the 20-player class. Jela Duncan, rated the No. 39 running back in the country by ESPN.com, could give Duke’s running game a much-needed boost.

FLORIDA STATE: An already deep defensive line got even deeper and faster. The Noles lured in five defensive linemen, including the No. 1 defensive end and the No. 1 defensive tackle in the country in Mario Edwards and Eddie Goldman, respectively.

GEORGIA TECH: The defensive line was the most pressing need for the Jackets, as they have to replace two senior starters up front. The staff got it done with five defensive linemen in this class, including three tackles.

MARYLAND: Randy Edsall and his staff put a heavy emphasis on linebackers in this class, with three outside linebackers and three inside linebackers. Abner Logan Jr., who is rated No. 28 in the country at his position, highlights the group.

MIAMI: Defensive backs were a big priority, and Miami took care of it with five cornerbacks and two safeties. The prize of the class was Tracy Howard, rated the No. 1 cornerback in the country by RecruitingNation.

NORTH CAROLINA: The Tar Heels' depth at linebacker needed some help, especially with having to replace outgoing senior Zach Brown. First-year coach Larry Fedora added some talent with four linebackers in this class, including four-star commit Shakeel Rashad.

NC STATE: Tom O’Brien bolstered his defensive line in this class with six newcomers, and he said he now has a “whole different breed” of pass-rushers. The Pack lured in defensive end Kenderius Whitehead, the No. 31 end in the country.

VIRGINIA: Offensive line was a concern, as the Hoos will have to replace their starting center and left guard in 2012. Mike London brought in three guards and two tackles to help build the depth up front.

VIRGINIA TECH: It’s no secret the Hokies needed to load up on running backs after back-to-back seasons in which three stars decided to leave early and one backup graduated. Virginia Tech got it done in this class with four running backs, including Drew Harris, ranked No. 19 at his position by RecruitingNation.

WAKE FOREST: The Deacs have to replace four starters on the offensive line, and while it’s unlikely a true freshman will earn a starting job, it’s certainly a place on the depth chart where an outstanding rookie has a chance to make an impact. Wake brought in two tackles and a guard to help their cause.

Duke has announced that 20 recruits have signed national letters of intent, including one quarterback, one kicker, eight linemen and 10 backs from 11 different states.

As of right now, ESPN RecruitingNation has the Blue Devils' class ranked No. 12 in the ACC, but this is a respectable class with some potential gems in it. Two running backs, Jela Duncan and Shaquille Powell, along with Keilin Rayner and receiver Anthony Nash could make this a special class for the Blue Devils. Duke also landed the No. 2 kicker in the country in Ross Martin.

We’ve already taken a look at what the recruiting needs were for the Atlantic Division. Let’s shift our attention to the Coastal Division. Here’s a look at where each school’s biggest holes will be in 2012 or are anticipated to be in the near future:

DUKE


Offensive skill positions: After last year’s rare class that didn’t include either a quarterback or running back, both positions are needed in this group. Quarterback Thomas Sirk -- the MVP of the 57th annual Florida Athletic Coaches Association North-South All-Star Football Classic last December -- has already enrolled in school while Shaquille Powell -- a PARADE All-American running back from Las Vegas -- has committed to the program. In addition, with David Cutcliffe’s offense, wide receivers and tight ends also are a priority.

Kicker: Will Snyderwine, who earned first team All-America honors as a junior before struggling through a sub-par season in 2011, graduated, but Duke has a commitment from Ohio native Ross Martin, considered the No. 2 placekicking prospect in the country by ESPN.com.

Safety: With the transition to a 4-2-5 alignment that utilizes three safeties, this becomes an annual point of emphasis. The Blue Devils lose All-American Matt Daniels to graduation.

GEORGIA TECH


Defensive line: This is the most glaring need in the current class. The Yellow Jackets have to replace senior starters Logan Walls (DT) and Jason Peters (DE), but return Izaan Cross (DE) and solid backups T.J. Barnes (DT), Emmanuel Dieke (DE) and Euclid Cummings (DE). The Jackets are expected to sign about 18 players in this year’s class, and five of them should be defensive linemen.

Wide receiver:This is another glaring need after the departures of Stephen Hill, who decided to leave early for the NFL draft, and Tyler Melton. Darren Waller and Jeff Greene, who both played last season as true freshmen, have lots of potential, but the position still needs depth.


MIAMI

Defensive backs: There’s still a lot of depth with this group, and the return of Ray-Ray Armstrong and Vaughn Telemaque helps, but the Canes have to replace two starters in the secondary and have six commits in the current class to help do that.

Defensive line: The Canes have to replace Adewale Ojomo, Micanor Regis, Andrew Smith and Olivier Vernon from last year’s two-deep. The defensive end position was a particular focus in this class.

Receiver: This position lost a lot with the departures of Tommy Streeter, LaRon Byrd and Travis Benjamin. Allen Hurns is now the veteran of the group, along with redshirt senior Kendal Thompkins. There are five receivers currently committed in this class.

Quarterback: Beyond Stephen Morris, Miami has a lot of questions at the position and not a lot of experience. True freshmen Gray Crow and Preston Dewey are already on the roster, along with redshirt sophomore Ryan Williams.

NORTH CAROLINA

Defensive line: This is one of the biggest areas of concern after the departures of Quinton Coples and Tydreke Powell.

Receivers: Larry Fedora’s offense will make good use of this group, but he needs to replace standout Dwight Jones.

Linebackers: This group was thin to begin with in 2011, and now the Heels need to replace outgoing senior Zach Brown. Kevin Reddick is now the main man.

Safety: UNC will have to replace two starters in Matt Merletti, Charles Brown and Jonathan Smith, so this position will have to be rebuilt for the future.

VIRGINIA

Defensive back: This should be the main priority in this class. The Cavaliers will lose four DBs, including two starting safeties in Rodney McCleod and Corey Mosley, and standout cornerback Chase Minnifield. They’ll also miss Dom Joseph, who came in for the nickel packages. Demetrious Nicholson, who started as a true freshman last year, is suddenly the veteran of the group.

Offensive line: The Hoos will have to replace their starting center and left guard. Redshirt freshman center Cody Wallace could get a promotion, and sophomore right guard Luke Bowanko started in the bowl game. They’ve got some big bodies waiting in the wings, but they’ll have some questions to answer here this spring.

Kickers: This position needs to be rebuilt, as the Cavaliers lose Robert Randolph, who finished sixth all time in scoring at UVa, kickoff specialist Chris Hinkebein, and four-year punter Jimmy Howell. The position is wide open heading into the spring.

VIRGINIA TECH

Running back: This one is a no-brainer, as the Hokies have lost four players here in the past two years. David Wilson and his backup, Josh Oglesby, were the latest to depart, and Tony Gregory just had ACL surgery and is out for the spring. The staff likes Michael Holmes, who redshirted last year, and J.C. Coleman enrolled last week.

Receiver: The Hokies will miss Danny Coale and Jarrett Boykin, and next year’s class has three seniors in Dyrell Roberts, D.J. Coles, and Marcus Davis. The future of the position is young, and the staff is still going after several uncommitted players pretty hard.

Defensive line: This year’s class already includes at least five committed defensive linemen, and the Hokies will be particularly thin at noseguard. They had some players graduate early who didn’t play a lot, but at least provided depth.

Linebacker:The Hokies have four committed, and are still chasing another just to build the depth. The staff missed on some recruits at this position last year and would like to make up for it in this class.

On Tuesday we looked at the 2011 report cards for the Atlantic Division. The Coastal Division is up next:

DUKE

Overview: In the fourth season under coach David Cutcliffe, Duke fans should have expected more. A bowl game was a reasonable -- not to mention attainable -- goal, but the Blue Devils instead fell flat again and ended the season with seven straight losses. The season began on a sour note, as Duke lost to Richmond, 23-21, in the season opener. It was yet another embarrassing loss to an FCS program for the ACC, and a bad start for a program that needed to win every winnable game in order to reach the postseason. Duke reeled off three straight wins to start the season 3-2, but a struggling defense and an inability to win the turnover battle on a consistent basis kept the program from taking another step forward in 2011.

Grade: Can’t spell Duke without a D.

GEORGIA TECH

Overview: The Yellow Jackets were a pleasant surprise for the ACC in the first half of the season, as they started 6-0 and seemed destined for a matchup of two undefeated teams with Clemson on the schedule. Back-to-back road losses to Virginia and Miami not only ruined that plan, but also put Georgia Tech behind in the Coastal Division race. The Jackets lost four of their final six regular season games, including to rival Georgia, and ended the season with a seventh straight bowl loss, this time to Utah. Georgia Tech once again had one of the most productive rushing offenses in the country, but the defense didn’t make the leap of improvement many had expected in the second season under coordinator Al Groh.

Grade: C-

MIAMI

Overview: It was a nightmare of a first season for Al Golden, who was blindsided by an NCAA investigation and had to play the Labor Day season opener against Maryland without eight suspended players. The Canes never truly found an identity and lacked consistency, only putting together back-to-back wins once. Despite the obstacles, Miami scrapped together a six-win season to become bowl-eligible, only to have the administration inform Golden the program would self-impose a bowl ban as a preemptive strike against NCAA sanctions. It’s anyone’s guess as to how much that news affected the team in the season finale loss against Boston College, but the Canes’ 2011 season was sandwiched between bookends of disappointment.

Grade: D+

NORTH CAROLINA

Overview: It could have been a lot worse, considering former coach Butch Davis was fired just days before summer camp began. Interim coach Everett Withers was tasked with keeping the team together, and he exceeded expectations in the first half of the season with a 5-1 start. Talk of Withers making his case to become the program’s next head coach grew louder, but the competition also got tougher. And UNC’s weaknesses were exposed. North Carolina lost four of its final six regular-season games, and Withers was replaced for 2012 and had one foot out the door to Ohio State before the season officially ended. The Tar Heels capped the season with an ugly loss to Missouri in the Independence Bowl, and failed to match the eight-win benchmark set by Davis.

Grade: D

VIRGINIA

Overview: Not bad for a team picked by the media to finish fifth in the Coastal Division. Mike London and his Cavaliers exceeded expectations in his second season, not only by becoming bowl-eligible for the first time since 2007, but also by being a legitimate contender for the division title. Virginia played its way right into a showdown with rival Virginia Tech for a spot in the ACC title game. The Cavaliers had one of their worst games of the season when it mattered most, though, and lost 38-0 to the Hokies, proving the balance of power within the state still resides in Blacksburg, along with the Commonwealth Cup. The Hoos didn’t fare much better in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, as they lost 43-24 and were crippled by injuries to key defenders. Overall, though, this was a good season for London, and one his players should be able to build upon.

Grade: A-

VIRGINIA TECH

Overview: The Hokies did it again. They upheld their reputation as the most consistent team in the ACC, and at the same time managed to disappoint their fans and the league at the BCS level. Virginia Tech won its fifth Coastal Division crown, and finished with 11 wins for just the sixth time in school history. Probably the most impressive accomplishment for Virginia Tech was its ability to put together one of the nation’s top defenses despite a plethora of injuries to key players, particularly up front. What the Hokies couldn’t do, though, was beat Clemson or Michigan. Virginia Tech lost to Clemson twice, including in the ACC title game, and came up short in the Allstate Sugar Bowl against Michigan. The officiating will forever be questioned in that game, but the final verdict will show an otherwise impressive season ending with back-to-back losses.

Grade: A

There is plenty of work to be done in the ACC this offseason, and the good news is that there’s ample time to get things done and get better. One thing that needs to happen in this conference is the resolution of any and all NCAA investigations, but that is out of the league’s hands. Not even North Carolina officials are sure when they’ll get some closure from the NCAA, and considering how long it took the Tar Heels to go through the process, it could be slow going at Miami. There are plenty of on-field priorities, though, that should be at the top of the ACC’s to-do list this year:

1. Make quick, smooth coaching transitions. Coaching turnover has been at the heart of the ACC’s problems, and while there was only one head-coaching change this offseason -- at North Carolina -- there were several hires at the coordinator level. Maryland replaced both its offensive and defensive coordinators, Clemson hired a new defensive coordinator, and Boston College hired a new offensive coordinator. Those programs will need to adjust and adapt quickly to new schemes, terminology and philosophies this offseason, and unfortunately for all of them, it won’t be the first time.

2. Take another step forward at quarterback. This could be a breakout season for several ACC quarterback. Last year, the league was very young at the position, as at least half the league had first-year starters and Miami’s Jacory Harris was the lone senior in the group. This year, players like NC State’s Mike Glennon, Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas and UNC’s Bryn Renner have a chance to separate themselves from the pack. As the ACC quarterbacks improve, so will the entire conference.

3. Find new stars. The ACC will miss its 2011 Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year in Virginia Tech’s David Wilson and Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly. Who will be the 2012 version of NC State’s David Amerson? Miami must replace eight starters from last year’s roster, and North Carolina once again produced some of the league’s top NFL-bound talent on defense in Quinton Coples and Zach Brown. Heading into 2012, the league seems to lack an identity, a face who represents the league and is a national household name. The offseason is the foundation for that development.

4. Forget the past and ignore the hype. The ACC had a miserable bowl season. Everyone always talks about how you're remembered for your last game. Yeah, well, the ACC needs to try to forget it, forget that talk about momentum or lack thereof and focus on the future. Get the young players excited and ready to play, and concentrate on fundamentals and execution. Teams like Florida State and Virginia Tech -- and to an extent Clemson -- also need to ignore the hype and pay no attention to where they're picked in the preseason polls. If this past season taught us anything, it's that where you start has no bearing on where you finish. Clemson was unranked. Florida State seemed untouchable. Everyone needs to get better.

As ACC fans, you have to be sick and tired of hearing about it.

The SEC has now won six straight national titles. It’s the conference you love to hate, and with losses to South Carolina, Georgia, Auburn and Vanderbilt this season, the ACC once again came across as the scrawny kid in the hallway who is easily shoved aside by the class bully.

Will it ever end?

Not anytime soon, not if you look at Mark Schlabach’s way-too-early top 25, which has four SEC teams ranked in the top 10. The ACC has plenty of reasons for optimism heading into 2012, but in order to displace the SEC as the nation’s premier conference, the league would need more than one special team and one magical season. It needs an LSU AND an Alabama. It needs a USC AND an Oregon. It needs consistent contenders in the top five or top 10, and while the ACC is getting closer to knocking on the national championship’s door, it’s still a long way away from becoming the conference to ruin the SEC’s reign.

Florida State and Clemson, because of their phenomenal recruiting in recent years, have to be considered the front-runners for the ACC’s next national title, but they are in the same division and are in each other’s way. Virginia Tech, which is in the Coastal Division, always seems to play its way into the conversation during the ACC slate only to fall out of the mix against better competition. Miami still hasn’t even won a division title since joining the ACC, let alone a league title, and the program is in rebuilding mode for 2012 under coach Al Golden.

Coaching turnover throughout the ACC has been an issue during the SEC’s recent stranglehold on the national title -- not only at the head-coaching position, but at the coordinator position. And it has happened at the league’s more nationally-recognized programs in Florida State, Miami and Clemson. This year it’s North Carolina’s turn. Coaching, moreso than recruiting, has been at the heart of the ACC’s problem. If it weren’t, why so many changes?

You can talk about SEC speed for 500 laps, but Clemson and Florida State not only hang with it, they recruit it (just ask Florida). You can talk about the NFL talent in the SEC, but North Carolina alone produced some of the most in the country last year. The development of that talent and speed is the bigger question, but another dividing factor between the conferences is where it is. The SEC might have more of it up front, where it is deeper and stronger on the lines.

Until the ACC starts to beat the SEC on a consistent basis -- until Georgia Tech and Clemson turn the tables on their rivals, and Virginia Tech proves it can beat LSU and Alabama, not just Tennessee -- the ACC will continue to be picking a fight it can’t win.