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1. Boston College: Luke Kuechly is one of the best in the country, but he’s not alone. The Eagles also have Kevin Pierre-Louis, who ranked second nationally among all freshmen in tackles per game last season with 7.15 -- ninth in the ACC. It won’t be easy to replace Mark Herzlich, on or off the field, but Steele Divitto played in 11 games last season, and Nick Clancy and Will Thompson both saw time on the second team.

2. Florida State: The Noles had to replace two starters, including Kendall Smith, the team’s second-leading tackler, last season, and Mister Alexander, but the upcoming talent could be even better. Nigel Bradham led the team with 98 tackles and five pass breakups last season, and Christian Jones, Jeff Luc, Telvin Smith and Vince Williams will also be competing for playing time.

3. Miami: Sean Spence, who has 30 career starts, should be one of the best in the country, and Ramon Buchanon, another senior, also returns. The Canes have five other linebackers with experience in Kelvin Cain, who started seven games, Jordan Futch, who had a great spring and will see the field, Tyrone Cornelius, Shayon Green and C.J. Holton.

4. North Carolina: Kevin Reddick, who led the Tar Heels with 74 tackles last season, returns for his third season as starter. Zach Brown is also a returning starter with game-changing capabilities, and there is plenty of depth with Dion Guy, Darius Lipford, Ebele Okakpu and Herman Davidson. Junior college transfer Fabby Desir could also have an impact.

5. NC State: Audie Cole and Terrell Manning have combined for 39 career starts, and Cole fared well this spring moving to the middle to replace Nate Irving. With the return of Sterling Lucas, Dwayne Maddox and Colby Jackson, there is plenty of experience, but not quite as much depth as some other programs.

6. Georgia Tech: The Jackets return both starters in Steven Sylvester and Julian Burnett. There is no shortage of depth with Jeremy Attaochu, Quayshawn Nealey, Brandon Watts, Albert Rocker, Malcolm Munroe and Daniel Drummond.

7. Clemson: This group has a lot of potential, especially if true freshmen Tony Steward and Stephone Anthony make an immediate impact. There’s no question they’ll be given a chance, but the Tigers already have a good group with Corico Hawkins, Quandon Christian and Jonathan Willard.

8. Virginia Tech: It seems like this rotation has been in flux for a while now. The Hokies’ leading tackler returns in Bruce Taylor, Barquell Rivers had 96 tackles as a starter in 2009 but was injured last season, and there are several young players adding to the competition. Chase Williams, Tariq Edwards, Telvion Clark and Jack Tyler are only a few. Whip linebacker Jeron Gouveia-Winslow will have to earn his spot back over Alonzo Tweedy, Dominique Patterson and Nick Dew.

9. Maryland: The Terps were hit hard here with the losses of Alex Wujciak (381 career tackles) and Adrian Moten (14.5 career sacks). Demetrius Hartsfield returns with 20 career starts, and there are four lettermen returning including Darin Drakeford, Isaiah Ross, David Mackall and Bradley Johnson.

10. Wake Forest: Kyle Wilber’s move to outside linebacker will give this position a boost, as he led the Deacs with 14.5 tackles for loss and six sacks last season. His backup is Gelo Orange (22 tackles). The Deacs also have Tristan Dorty, Joey Ehrmann, Mike Olsen, Scott Betros, Riley Haynes and Justin Jackson.

11. Virginia: Starters LaRoy Reynolds and Ausar Walcott both return, but neither has started more than 11 career games. Junior Steve Greer has prior starting experience but played mainly as a reserve last season. Adam Taliaferro, Conner McCartin, Tucker Windle and LoVante Battle are also in the mix for playing time.

12. Duke: Kelby Brown is the lone returning starter, but he’s a promising young player who led the nation last season as a freshman in fumbles recovered. He missed spring ball while recovering from a knee injury, but is expected to start with Tyree Glover or Kevin Rojas.

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

Here are the players who will represent the ACC:

BOSTON COLLEGE (3)

• Anthony Castonzo
• Rich Lapham
• Mark Herzlich

CLEMSON (7)

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

FLORIDA STATE (3)

• Rodney Hudson
• Christian Ponder
• Markus White

GEORGIA TECH (3)

• Anthony Allen
• Mario Butler
• Jerrard Tarrant

MARYLAND (3)

• Torrey Smith
• Adrian Moten
• Da'Rel Scott

MIAMI (9)

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

NORTH CAROLINA (11)

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

NC STATE (2)

• Nate Irving
• Owen Spencer

VIRGINIA (2)

• Danny Aiken
• Ras-I Dowling

VIRGINIA TECH (5)

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

There were plenty of memorable moments this past season, but some always find a way of sticking with us longer than others. There were plays, moments, games and people who helped define the season. Some were good, some we’ll remember for all of the wrong reasons. Feel free to share yours in the mailbag and I’ll highlight them later this afternoon.

Here’s a look at the top moments from the 2010 season:

1. The linebackers' return: NC State linebacker Nate Irving and BC linebacker Mark Herzlich both made miraculous recoveries in 2010. After missing the entire 2009 season while receiving treatment for Ewing’s Sarcoma cancer, Herzlich returned to the team last offseason only to miss part of camp while recovering from a stress fracture in his right foot. Unsure of whether he would be available for the season opener against Weber State, it was one of the biggest comebacks in college football when Herzlich ran out of the tunnel and later made two tackles in the first quarter.

2. The NCAA investigation. Unfortunately for UNC, this season will forever be linked to an NCAA investigation into agent-related benefits and academic misconduct that eventually sidelined 14 players for at least one game, including seven players who missed the entire season. Assistant coach John Blake resigned, star defensive tackle Marvin Austin was dismissed, and while a bowl win over an SEC team was something to be proud of, this season will always be remembered for what could have been had the entire roster remained intact.

3. Virginia Tech’s loss to James Madison. Face it: it’s one we’ll never forget. A positive spin? It changed the Hokies’ season. This loss was the catalyst for an unprecedented turnaround in the FBS. No other program has ever started out 0-2 and finished the regular season undefeated. Virginia Tech rallied to become the first ACC team since 2000 to breeze through the ACC schedule undefeated, but the poor start quickly knocked Virginia Tech out of the national title conversation.

4. Florida State’s state championship: FSU’s combined wins over Miami and Florida marked the first season sweep of state rivals since 1999 -- by the widest combined point margin in school history. Jimbo Fisher became the only FSU coach to pull off that sweep as a first-year coach. The Seminoles’ 31-7 win over Florida snapped a six-game losing streak to their in-state rivals, beating the Gators for the first time since 2003 -- also the last time FSU was able to score that many points against Florida. With the win, Jimbo Fisher clinched the most wins by a first-year FSU coach in 50 years. Not even Bobby Bowden won his debut against Florida.

5. John Kevin Dolce’s hit on Miami quarterback Jacory Harris: This hit changed Miami’s season. Not only did it knock the Canes' starting quarterback out for a few weeks, it also dashed Miami’s hopes at winning the Coastal Division and gave Virginia its first win over a ranked team since defeating No. 21 Georgia Tech in 2008. Said Dolce: "When you chop the head off a giant, the rest of the body goes with it.”

6. Military Bowl crowd chanting Ralph Friedgen’s name. The ACC coach of the year had been fired, but in his final game at Maryland -- a 51-20 drubbing of East Carolina -- Friedgen lived up to the title he had earned with the second-best turnaround in the FBS in 2010. After winning just two games in 2009, Friedgen led his team to a nine-win season, and his players and fans thanked him for it on a cold day in RFK Stadium.

7. David Wilson’s kickoff return against Georgia Tech: With 2:23 remaining, Virginia Tech running back David Wilson scored on a 90-yard kickoff return to give the Hokies a 28-21 win over the then-defending ACC champs. It was a dramatic play that answered Georgia Tech’s 80-yard, game-tying drive, and one that separated Virginia Tech from the rest of the Coastal Division. Also in this game, Georgia Tech star quarterback Joshua Nesbitt broke his right forearm late in the first half, leaving the Jackets without the heart of their offense for the rest of the season, and ending Nesbitt's record-setting career too early.

8. Tyrod Taylor’s ACC title-game performance: There were trademark scrambles, big plays and no interceptions from the ACC’s player of the year, who finished with four touchdowns and 267 total yards in a 44-33 championship game win over Florida State.

9. North Carolina’s double-overtime win against Tennessee in the Music City Bowl: The Tar Heels have a flair for the dramatic when it comes to bowl games, but this one was one of the most bizarre. After declaring the game over, officials reviewed the clock and determined there was still one second remaining. It gave kicker Casey Barth just enough time to tie the game at 20 and send it into overtime.

10. Dustin Hopkins’ 55-yard game-winner: A week after missing the game-winning field goal against North Carolina, FSU's kicker made a career-best 55-yard field goal to beat Clemson, 16-13, as time expired. Hopkins had missed two fourth-quarter field goals in a loss to the Tar Heels the previous week. It was the third-longest field goal in Florida State history.

Here's a quick recap of Nevada's 20-13 win over Boston College:

How the game was won: BC won the turnover battle but lost the game, thanks to its ineptitude on offense. With about two minutes remaining, BC quarterback Chase Rettig made the most costly turnover of the game when he was intercepted on the Eagles' final possession down 20-13. The Eagles were woeful on third downs (4-of-15), Nevada was faster, more experienced and more athletic, especially in the secondary. BC’s receivers couldn’t get open, the Eagles were stuck in too many third-and-long situations, and the Wolf Pack stifled the run. Because they were confident in their ability to beat the Eagles one-on-one, Nevada didn’t hesitate to bring its safeties down to load the box and dared BC to throw it. Rettig was poised, but inconsistent.

Turning point: On third-and-10 in the third quarter, Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick completed a 25-yard pass to Virgil Green for the first down on BC's 12-yard line. The play was reviewed and upheld, as officials maintained that Green had possession of the ball when he went down, and the play sustained the drive that put the Wolf Pack ahead 20-10.

Player of the game: Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick. He completed 20 of 33 passes for 192 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also ran for 22 yards.

Unsung hero: BC’s linebackers. While the Eagles’ offense was anemic, linebacker Mark Herzlich’s forced fumble led to a touchdown in the first quarter, and linebacker Luke Kuechly returned an interception 31 yards led to set up a field goal, closing the deficit to 17-10. Despite the loss, it was a fitting performance by the defense to end Herzlich's career, as his win over cancer was one of the most inspirational stories in college football.

What Boston College learned: As spectacular as it is, the defense can’t do it all. It might have been enough against unheralded opponents like Duke, Syracuse, Virginia and Wake Forest, but against an explosive team like Nevada, BC has to find a way into the end zone. The Eagles couldn’t have asked any more of their defense, which disrupted the passing lanes, forced three turnovers and made game-changing plays. The offense will have to take another step forward this offseason if it’s going to be a legitimate contender in the Atlantic Division. Nevada’s defense is respectable, but Boston College made the Wolf Pack look like the Steel Curtain.

What it means: The ACC suffered its fifth straight losing season in bowl games, finishing with a 4-5 record. The conference hasn’t finished above .500 since 2005, when it went 5-3. The ACC also finished 0-for-2 against the WAC with losses to Boise State and Nevada.

Nevada Wolf Pack (12-1) vs. Boston College Eagles (7-5)

Jan. 9, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Nevada take by nation blogger Andrea Adelson: The Wolf Pack have put together the best season in school history: 12-1, WAC co-champs and a No. 15 national ranking. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick has to be one of the most underrated players in the country. This past Saturday, he became just the third player in NCAA history to rush and pass for 20 touchdowns in the same season, joining Tim Tebow of Florida and Cam Newton of Auburn. Kaepernick had 155 yards rushing in a 35-17 win over Louisiana Tech, becoming the third quarterback in NCAA history to run for over 4,000 yards. He also had three rushing touchdowns, giving him 59 for his career, tied atop the NCAA rankings with Eric Crouch.

Nevada has had its breakout season because Kaepernick is running the Pistol offense to perfection. The Pistol has in fact become all the rage across the country, and that is because of inventor -- Nevada coach Chris Ault. Running back Vai Taua and Kaepernick have combined to be the most prolific rushing duo in NCAA history, passing Craig James and Eric Dickerson of SMU. After beating California earlier this year, it would send a strong statement to close out the season with yet another win over a team from an AQ conference. But keep in mind -- Nevada has lost four straight bowl games. Of course, those teams weren’t as strong as this one. I’ll come right out and say it -- Nevada can compete with anybody in the country right now.

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Boston College take by ACC blogger Heather Dinich: Under the direction of true freshman quarterback Chase Rettig, Boston College became the first ACC program to follow a five-game losing streak with a five-game winning streak, and for that the Eagles have been rewarded with their 12th straight bowl appearance. BC reversed its fortunes with the proven formula of running the ball and playing stingy defense. Even with leading rusher Montel Harris sidelined for the final two games of the regular season, the Eagles were able to establish their ground game, thanks to true freshman backup Andre Williams, who helped lead the team to wins over Virginia and Syracuse.

Equally as important as their ability to run the ball this year has been BC’s ability to stop it. The Eagles lead the nation in rushing defense, and have allowed just 962 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, a 2.7 average per carry and only 80.2 yards per game on the ground. Much of that can be attributed to the exceptional play of linebacker Luke Kuechly, who led the nation in tackles this year and was named the most outstanding defensive player in the same bowl game last year. The Eagles have also been helped by the return of linebacker Mark Herzlich, who made a full recovery from Ewing’s Sarcoma cancer after missing the entire 2009 season.

As the regular season comes to a close this week, I thought it would be a good time to honor the ACC’s Super Seniors, players who have made key contributions to the program on and off the field. There's more than one at every school, and all of them will be missed, but say farewell, ACC fans, to this year’s class of Super Seniors:

Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich. He beat Ewing’s Sarcoma cancer and is now the third-leading tackler on the team with 54. He also has four pass breakups, one quarterback hurry and three interceptions, and 3.5 tackles for loss. It has to be the most remarkable comeback story in college football.

Clemson safety DeAndre McDaniel. His 15 career interceptions rank him second in Clemson history and third among active FBS players. He’s the top tackler on Clemson’s defense with 47 and has six pass breakups and 4.5 tackles for loss.

Duke center Bryan Morgan. He’s been a role model on and off the field, and was one of 22 players selected to the All State AFCA Good Works team for his community service. He’s a third-year starter at center for the Blue Devils, is an amazing musician and has dedicated his time to helping hospital patients with serious illnesses and promoting reading and education to elementary school students.

Florida State guard Rodney Hudson. Some might call him the “big ugly” version of Christian Ponder. Hudson, a four-year starter, 2010 Outland Finalist and likely consensus All-American, was offensive line coach Rick Trickett’s first signee and has been a mainstay in the lineup since his arrival. It’s likely he’ll be a four-time All-ACC selection, only the second lineman in league history to earn that distinction. He’s been a calming force and mentor in the locker room and is a relentless blocker on the field.

Georgia Tech quarterback Joshua Nesbitt. It was unfortunate to see an injury prematurely end Nesbitt’s career, but he still went out as a record-setter. With 2,806 career rushing yards, Nesbitt has rushed for more yards than any quarterback in ACC history and over 1,000 yards more than any quarterback in Tech history. He has rushed for 35 career touchdowns -- six more than any quarterback in the history of the ACC and 16 more touchdowns than any quarterback in Yellow Jacket history.

Maryland linebacker Alex Wujciak. He has started a team-best 36 straight games. He is one of 11 active linebackers in the FBS with two career interceptions returned for a touchdown. UNC's Bruce Carter is the only other ACC player. He had 10 tackles against Florida State, giving him 105 on the season. The senior has at least 100 tackles in three straight seasons and is just the sixth player in school history to accomplish that feat.

Miami receiver Leonard Hankerson. Hankerson’s 9-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter against Virginia Tech was his 12th of the season, breaking the single-season record held by Michael Irvin (11) in 1986. Hankerson became just the fourth Miami receiver to record 900 yards in one season, joining Eddie Brown (‘84), Andre Johnson (‘02), and Wesley Carroll (‘90). Only Brown and Johnson have recorded 1,000 yards in a season and Hankerson needs just 42 yards to join that club. Hankerson has scored a touchdown in six straight games and nine of Miami’s 11 games this season.

North Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates. He’ll finish his career as Carolina’s all-time leader in passing yards, completions and attempts. He also holds the single-season mark for passing yards. Yates has 231 completions this year and needs four to break Darian Durant’s single-season record of 234 set in 2003.

NC State linebacker Nate Irving. Against Wake Forest, in the last home game of his career, he had a school-record eight tackles for loss. That mark broke the previous mark of six held by Mario Williams, the No. 1 pick in the 2006 NFL draft. Irving now ranks third nationally in tackles for loss for 2010. This year he has 89 tackles and 18.5 tackles for loss. That single-season tackles-for-loss currently ranks sixth in school history. He has tallied 37.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage for his career, the eighth-best mark ever by a Wolfpack defender.

Virginia running back Keith Payne. After a year away from the team, Payne has done everything coach Mike London has asked of him and then some. He leads the ACC and is tied for 16th nationally with 15 touchdowns. Payne has a team-high 741 rushing yards this season, an average of 4.8 yards per carry. He needs just four yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark for his career.

Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor. He has started 39 games and has won 32 of them, the most wins for a starting quarterback in school history. He needs 153 passing yards to surpass Bryan Randall (6,508) as the all-time passing leader at Virginia Tech.

Wake Forest center Russell Nenon. The three-year starter started at guard in 2008, then moved to center where he has been a fixture since (though he did start two games at guard this fall due to injuries). His 36 career starts are currently the most on the team.

Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich made one of the most miraculous comebacks in college football this year when he first set foot on the field again after first defeating Ewing’s Sarcoma cancer. As Herzlich’s career at BC comes to a close, he shared some reflections on where he’s been and where he’s headed. Here are the highlights of our conversation:

You probably have a different perspective on what it means to be successful at this point. While you probably would’ve liked to be playing for an ACC championship, you’re also probably grateful just to be back on the field again. What’s your perspective on this season, the good and the bad of it?

Mark Herzlich: Well, obviously my first game back was something huge for me. There was a lot of fanfare for that game and everything. Just being able to play again was for me, a huge success. We had a five-game losing streak, which obviously was terrible. The morale around the team dropped a little bit. We needed to get a win. Leaders stepped up. We started making plays and four games later we’re on a winning streak. That’s definitely part of the good. It goes to show how the team stuck together. After we lost five straight games we figured, ‘OK, we’ve got to stop worrying about bowl games, we’ve got to stop worrying about the ACC championship game. We’ve just got to get a win.’ That’s where our minds were at, and that’s where it’s at every game. I’m very pleased with the way we turned it around. That’s been a huge success this season.

How have you felt this season?

MH: I’ve felt pretty good. It’s been a gradual process. In the beginning I didn’t feel as fast as I had before. I wasn’t making the plays I had before, but as the season progressed, every game I got a little better. Last game I felt pretty good and I thought there was finally a time I had a solid game.

How difficult was it for you this season to not come back immediately like you looked in 2008, or for it to be that gradual process?

MH: It’s frustrating. You want to just strap it on and get right back to where you were, but as frustrating as it is, it’s really rewarding to see strides you’re making on film and in the games. That’s a good way to look at it.

Can you believe your career is coming to a close?

MH: No, it’s pretty crazy. I feel like I’ve been at Boston College forever.

I’m sure your opponents do, too.

MH: [Laughs.]) I remember back when … [Herzlich stopped on campus to oblige a passerby who wanted to take a picture with him. ‘There you go, buddy. Take care …’]. It’s been a great run. It’s time for some young guys to step up and let me go on my way.

What are you most proud of this year?

MH: I’m most proud of the way our team never gave up. I think that we’ve all made personal gains and personal strides, but the way the team bounced back from a five-game losing streak, that’s what I’m most proud of.

Have you been seeing any doctors this whole season?

MH: Yep. I actually had a checkup on Monday. The MRI and CT-scan came out clear. It’s been a year and a half since my diagnosis, and everything is clear now, so that’s still good.

How often do you have those checkups?

MH: Once every four months.

Do you have to go back to Philly?

MH: Yeah, I go back to Philly for them.

And do you hold your breath every time you go?

MH: Kind of. My mom does. I take it in stride. I’m usually pretty confident nothing is wrong, but it’s always nice to get the reassurance.

Were you ever afraid of playing this year?

MH: No, not really. I had made a decision a long time ago that I wanted to play again. Once I made that decision I wasn’t scared about hurting myself or anything like that -- just come back and play.

Have you heard anything about a potential NFL career, any feedback? What’s next?

MH: Yeah, I’ll be doing the agent interview process over the next few weeks. I’ll narrow that down, I’m going to the Senior Bowl late in January, and down the line, who knows. But I know that people have seen progression and will look to see how I play at Syracuse, in the bowl game and the Senior Bowl and then it will be off to the combine.

What are your hopes for what happens? What’s your dream scenario? What’s realistic?

MH: Yeah, dream scenario is 30 tackles in the next two games and I go first round. A realistic goal for me is I want to get a shot. I understand that my stock has dropped, obviously, since 2008, and I’m hoping to perform well at the Senior Bowl and the combine, and try to build it back up a little bit, but either way, I just want to get a shot at a team. I know if I get there I’ll make a difference, make an impact. That’s the biggest thing -- get drafted. It doesn’t matter when, really, just try and get on a squad.

BC linebacker Luke Kuechly was around the ball so much against Duke last week you’d think that he was the one carrying it.

Kuechly finished with a career-high 21 tackles, broke up two passes, forced a fumble and recovered another on the next series.

Did you get that? Twenty-one tackles. Neither team could even get that many first downs.

When it comes to making tackles, no one in the country is better.

Kuechly is the only player in the nation to have two games with at least 20 tackles. He also had 20 at NC State on Oct. 9. For the second straight year, Kuechly has ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 in the country in total tackles and solo tackles. Last year he finished second in total tackles. This year he leads all players with 146. Yet after two seasons of racking up flabbergasting numbers, Kuechly is one of the most under-the-radar players outside of the ACC.

“Luke Kuechly is a great football player,” said Duke coach David Cutcliffe. “He is a humble youngster; I know him well. I think he is the best defensive football player in college football. Absolutely, without question. And I will vote in that regard.”

Cutcliffe wouldn’t be the first.

As a true freshman last year, Kuechly earned All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America. His 158 tackles were the most by a BC defender since 1993 and his 12.15 tackles per game were the most by a rookie since the NCAA began tracking tackles in 2003.

And somehow, this year, he’s even better.

“Now that I’ve got a year under my belt I think I’m more comfortable with the whole scheme of our defense,” he said. “I feel more comfortable not only with what I’m doing, but with what other people are doing, too. That’s allowed me to play a little more comfortably out there and have a little more confidence in what I’m doing.”

Despite his breakout season as a true freshman, it took Kuechly, a former high school safety, some time to learn the position. He was thrown into a starting role last year after Mark Herzlich was diagnosed with cancer and Mike McLaughlin ruptured his Achilles.

"He worked at it," said defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Bill McGovern. "He was one of those guys when he came in the meeting room he would ask questions. He wanted to know where he was supposed to be and how he fit, what was going on and why he should be doing that. He learned the game quickly. He takes a lot of pride in understanding what's going on, what we're doing on defense and also how the offense is attacking him."

Apparently, not very well.

Against Duke, Kuechly extended his streak of games with 10-plus tackles to 19, which is the nation's longest active streak.

In addition to his playmaking abilities, what separates Kuechly from many of his peers is his humility.

The interception at Wake Forest? He passed it off as just being “in the right place at the right time.” The forced and recovered fumble at Duke? “I was just kind of around the ball.” His ridiculous stats? “If I have two tackles and we can win the game I’m perfectly OK with that.”

Those within the program have nicknamed him everything from Boy Wonder, to Superman and Clark Kent (because of his studious, off-field look with glasses), but Kuechly said he’s just an “average student” in BC’s business school, taking some electives and trying to figure out what he wants to do with the rest of his life.

He’s got some time to decide.

The fact that Kuechly is a sophomore means the best is yet to come. But how does he top what he’s already done? He self-scouts every week to find out.

“I need to work on angles to the ball and things,” he said. “I missed a couple of tackles this past weekend because I took poor angles to the ball. There’s some things in pass coverage I need to work on, get in better position, not only help myself but help the secondary behind me. That’s one of the things that kind of goes unnoticed if you don’t particularly know what you’re looking at. I have to get in better position for pass coverage.”

Regardless of how much success he has, or how much progress he continues to make, one thing that’s unlikely to change about Kuechly is his modesty.

“The biggest thing is that I didn’t get to where I am by myself,” he said. “There’s people who were constantly helping me out, guys like Wes Davis and Mark Herzlich. Everyone around me has really helped me get to where I am today. Without them I wouldn’t be in this situation. The thing that you have to keep in the back of your mind is that there’s always somebody better than you, and there’s always somebody who helped you get to where you are.”

And right now, Kuechly is at the top.

Week 1 lessons have to be taken with a grain of salt, as scores against unheralded opponents can often be misleading. Taking these games at face value, here are a few things revealed in the ACC after this weekend.

New coaches made a difference. Mike London led Virginia to its first season-opening win since 2005, and he did it against his former team and alma mater, Richmond. The Spiders are a championship program to be respected (just ask Duke, which lost to Richmond last year), and was the biggest threat at an upset, but the Cavaliers ran the ball effectively and got what they needed despite scheme overhauls on both offense and defense. In Tallahassee, first-year coach Jimbo Fisher had his offense running with precision in a commanding route of Samford. He left no doubt who was the better team, unlike last year when the Seminoles escaped with a win over Jacksonville State. The Noles looked focused and prepared and ready to make a statement.

North Carolina won’t back down. There were many reasons North Carolina could’ve folded against LSU -- including its 30-10 deficit heading into the fourth quarter, but the Tar Heels rallied together and with six seconds still remaining had a chance to win. There were young players and walk-ons seeing their first collegiate snaps, but there was enough leadership to keep the team together -- and in the game.

BC linebacker Mark Herzlich is back. It was one of the most anticipated comebacks of the season, but in the weeks preceding the Eagles’ opener against Weber State, it was in doubt because of a stress fracture in his foot. Herzlich delivered, though, and he was in good enough shape to deliver a few hits, too, as he was in on five tackles.

The ACC avoided embarrassment. There were no losses to FCS teams, and no implosion in Atlanta -- two scenarios the ACC has encountered in recent years. Last year, Virginia lost to William & Mary at home, and two years ago Clemson was embarrassed by Alabama in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff. This year, the ACC started out 9-1 with the only loss to LSU, the toughest competition of the weekend. Two games remain -- against Boise State and Navy -- but both are respectable bowl opponents.

There’s life after C.J. Spiller. Clemson running backs Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper proved the Tigers’ offense can function without their former star. Each of them scored twice against North Texas, and both surpassed the 100-yard mark. It was the first time Clemson has had two players top 100 rushing yards in a game since James Davis and Spiller accomplished it against Maryland in 2007.

Linebacker Mark Herzlich made his much-anticipated return, and running back Montel Harris cranked out yet another 100-yard rushing performance in the Eagles' 38-20 win over Weber State.

As expected, the Eagles depended more heavily on their running game and Dave Shinskie threw two interceptions. Does that mean coach Frank Spaziani will turn to Mike Marscovetra? Shinskie led the offense for most of the game, with Marscovetra throwing just three passes. Redshirt freshman Johnathan Coleman was the leading receiver among an inexperienced, depleted group, with three catches for 98 yards, but it seems as if the Eagles might need to depend on their tight ends more than usual this fall.

BC got what it needed -- the win -- but odds are Spaziani will be expecting fewer mistakes next weekend.

Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich has 75 family members coming to see his return today against Weber State. He is also mourning the loss of his grandfather, who passed away Thursday (ironically of cancer). It is unknown how much he will play because of his injured foot, but he will play for the first time since Dec. 31, 2008.

Congrats to Herzlich for making his comeback from Ewing's Sarcoma cancer official. Regardless of how many snaps he gets, how many tackles he does or doesn't make, it's an inspirational story that should be considered a success the moment he merely steps back on that field.

There’s plenty on tap this weekend in the ACC, starting Thursday night with Miami and Wake Forest. Here are 10 things worth keeping an eye on in Week 1:

1. North Carolina’s revamped starting lineup: So far, we know standout defensive tackle Marvin Austin has been suspended, and more announcements are expected by the time the team boards the bus at 9:30 a.m. on Friday. Every time UNC makes a statement, the Tar Heels situation only seems to get worse.

2. Comeback kids: NC State linebacker Nate Irving is listed as the starter at middle linebacker against Western Carolina after sustaining serious season-ending injuries last summer. Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich is likely to play against Weber State after recovering from Ewing’s Sarcoma cancer and then suffering a broken foot this summer, and Virginia Tech running back Darren Evans is back to full speed after missing 2008 with a torn ACL. Maryland running back Da’Rel Scott, another 1,000-yard rusher, is also healthy after missing six games with injuries last year.

3. First-year coaches: It’s starting to become a trend in the ACC. This year, the Jimbo Fisher era has begun at Florida State and Mike London is looking to turn around a struggling Virginia program. Both coaches will be facing programs they once coached and attended.

4. First-year quarterbacks: At Duke, Sean Renfree takes over for one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in school history, and Ted Stachitas is going through the same thing at Wake Forest, where he will replace the winningest quarterback in school history. Jamarr Robinson enters his first full season as a starter at Maryland, and Marc Verica takes over at Virginia.

5. Boise State’s rushing defense vs. Virginia Tech’s dynamic duo. The Broncos were ranked No. 28 in the country last year in rushing defense (120.36 yards per game), but struggled against some of the country’s better runners. Darren Evans and Ryan Williams have each had 1,000-yard seasons, and David Wilson could give Boise State additional concerns.

6. Miami’s running back rotation. The Canes have Damien Berry and Mike James listed as No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, but Lamar Miller also had an impressive camp, and if the conditions are right, coach Randy Shannon said he’d like to get Graig Cooper in the game.

7. NC State running back Dean Haynes. He has only recently switched to offense, and now he’s listed as the starter for the Western Carolina game. Tom O’Brien wouldn’t have promoted him to the top of the depth chart had Haynes not impressed him, but not even O’Brien knows what to expect.

8. Georgia Tech’s new 3-4 defense: The Yellow Jackets have been working on first-year coordinator Al Groh’s scheme all summer, and this will be the only chance for players to get comfortable in it before back-to-back road trips at Kansas and Coastal Division opponent UNC.

9. Virginia Tech linebacker Bruce Taylor. He’s expected to fill in for injured starter Barquell Rivers, and while there has been a lot of praise heaped upon Taylor this summer, ESPN’s Scouts Inc. says Rivers is “by far the unit’s best returning starter,” and that having Rivers sidelined will be “a major blow” to the defense.

10. UNC’s offensive line vs. LSU’s defensive line. The Tar Heels return more experience up front, and both of the Tigers’ defensive ends are first-year starters. T.J. Yates, who threw 15 interceptions a year ago, will need time and protection in order to avoid being pressured into mistakes against LSU’s fast, talented secondary.

The ACC is one of the most unpredictable conferences in the country, but that makes this list even more fun. Here are 10 things I think will -- or won’t -- happen in the conference this fall:

1. BC linebacker Mark Herzlich plays in the season opener against Weber State and is back to his 2008 form in time for the home game against Virginia Tech on Sept. 25.

2. Running backs Darren Evans, Ryan Williams and backup quarterback Logan Thomas are all on the field at the same time. Why not? They’ve got the talent, may as well use it.

3. The ACC goes 3-4 against the SEC with wins over South Carolina, Georgia and Vanderbilt. Yes, this prediction has changed since earlier this summer when I thought North Carolina would beat LSU.

4. Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen gets to a bowl game, but it's not enough to save his job. A new athletic director is hired and demands more than, say, a win over Nevada in the Humanitarian Bowl.

5. Virginia’s seniors win their first home opener. It’s something they haven’t done yet, but first-year coach Mike London will have them ready for his former team, Richmond.

6. Duke upsets North Carolina in the season finale, which is at Wallace Wade. Hey, they’re fearless predictions, remember? If UNC’s season unravels thanks to all of the outside distractions, don’t count it out.

7. The ACC enters 2010 with five 1,000-yard rushers and finishes the season with three -- Anthony Allen, Da’Rel Scott and Montel Harris. Darren Evans and Ryan Williams will be splitting the carries, and Joshua Nesbitt will throw it more. Everyone else has too much depth for one player to reach the 1,000-yard mark.

8. Butch Davis feels the heat. It would be surprising if UNC escapes sanctions from both the NCAA and the university for two separate investigations. Although athletic and academic officials have publicly stood behind Davis, the repercussions could be too much for Davis to retain his job much longer -- especially if the Tar Heels fail to win another bowl game.

9. Jimbo Fisher carries on the Wide Right tradition. Maybe it will happen against Miami. Maybe Florida. Maybe in the ACC championship game. But at some point this season, he’ll feel the pain of those before him thanks to a missed field goal.

10. Virginia Tech earns its seventh straight 10-win season, but none of them include any titles. The November stretch against three of the top teams in their division is what will doom the Hokies -- not Boise State.

Here are five things worth watching in the ACC this fall:

First-year coaches: For the first time since 1976, somebody other than Bobby Bowden will be coaching at Florida State. The Jimbo Fisher era has begun, and expectations are already soaring for a program that returns all but one starter on offense. The Seminoles were picked by the media in July to finish first in the Atlantic Division, but in order for that to happen, the defense will have to show significant improvement under first-year coordinator Mark Stoops. At Virginia, Mike London has replaced Al Groh, who is now the defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech. London has changed the schemes on both sides of the ball and is tasked with facing Richmond, the program he left, in the season opener.

Veteran quarterbacks: This is one of the main reasons expectations are higher for the conference this fall. Virginia Tech senior Tyrod Taylor is poised for a breakout season, Miami junior Jacory Harris has spent the summer trying to cut down on his mistakes, Georgia Tech senior Joshua Nesbitt has the best grasp of the triple-option offense since he took over the position, and Florida State senior Christian Ponder could be a Heisman Trophy candidate if the Seminoles win big. UNC senior T.J. Yates has one more chance to prove he can lead the offense, and it could be the final hurrah for two baseball stars in NC State’s Russell Wilson and Clemson’s Kyle Parker.

1,000-yard rushers: For the first time in conference history, the ACC returns five 1,000-yard rushers in Virginia Tech’s Ryan Williams and Darren Evans, Maryland’s Da'Rel Scott, Boston College’s Montel Harris and Georgia Tech quarterback Joshua Nesbitt. It’s one of the deepest positions in the ACC this fall, and there are plenty of other skilled backs who could crack the 1,000-yard mark this season like Georgia Tech B-back Anthony Allen.

Injured stars returning: Possibly the most anticipated return of the season will be that of Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich, who, after making a full recovery from Ewing’s Sarcoma, a type of bone cancer, was sidelined this summer with a fractured foot. He is still listed as day-to-day. The return of linebacker Nate Irving from a serious car crash last summer could also give NC State’s defense a much needed boost of both talent and leadership, and the return of Evans will make Virginia Tech’s backfield one of the best and deepest in the country.

Defenses in transition: London is switching the Cavaliers back to a 4-3 defense while Groh is taking Georgia Tech to a 3-4 as the Jackets’ new coordinator. Florida State first-year defensive coordinator Mark Stoops is transitioning the Seminoles to more zone coverages, and Duke coordinator Marion Hobby will be calling the plays for the first time in Durham. Virginia Tech’s defense won’t change, but the faces will, as the Hokies have to replace six starters from a year ago and will likely be missing staring linebacker Barquell Rivers for the season opener against Boise State.

Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich had a routine three-month checkup as part of his recovery from Ewing's Sarcoma cancer and the tests came back fine.

It's not cancer that has Herzlich sidelined right now; it's a stress fracture in his foot.

Knowing Herzlich and having traded e-mails with his father, Sandy, it's going to be tough to keep him off the field this year. His father told me Herzlich has no pain right now but the fracture isn't completely healed. If it were the middle of the season, he'd probably play and let it heal later. But forcing it now could cause it to become more of a problem down the road, which is why the coaches are taking a cautious approach to bringing him back.

The bigger concern for the opening game is will Herzlich be able to stay conditioned without being able to run for three weeks, and will the coaches feel comfortable enough with his preparation after not being involved in practices?