The pre-spring version of the CFN 2021 rankings with a first look at all the ACC teams.
2021 ACC Rankings: Pre-Spring
ACC Atlantic Division
1. Clemson Tigers
Why To Be Happy: At the moment, the defense gets all 11 starters back after leading the ACC in total and scoring D. This was a young group up front, and now all the stars return. Linebackers James Skalski and Baylon Spector announced they’re returning for another year, corner Derion Kendrick is back, and on and on and on. Oh yeah … the offense did this last year without a few key receivers who’ll be back.
What To Work On: Turnovers were a bit of a problem – especially fumbling – and the running game wasn’t its normal killer self. Travis Etienne is done, but the veteran O line has to be better at pounding away.
Bottom Line: It’s Clemson. It lost a transcendent NFL QB prospect in Trevor Lawrence, the most productive ACC running back ever in Etienne, and it’s going to be even better.
2. NC State Wolfpack
Why To Be Happy: The defense loses the main man Asim McNeill from the middle of the line, but everyone else of note appears to be back. Throw in a few key transfers – especially at safety – and the Pack should be nasty on that side of the ball.
What To Work On: Most of the offensive skill parts are back – helped by the return of leading receiver Emeka Emezie – but the production has to come. The O was fine, but it wasn’t explosive enough and there were too many turnovers.
Bottom Line: NC State was great at beating the teams it was supposed to, and the experience will be there to repeat the decent level of success of 2020, but big-time playmakers have to emerge.
3. Boston College Eagles
Why To Be Happy: It was a strong first season under head coach Jeff Hafley, and he gets the pieces back for the offense to be even more dangerous. The backfield of QB Phil Jurkovec and RB David Bailey will be great if …
What To Work On: The running game has to start working again. It wasn’t a function of the offensive style, but with all five offensive linemen expected to return to pave the way for Bailey, there’s no excuse for being 118th in the nation in rushing again.
Bottom Line: Just about everyone returns on offense, and the defense that needs a little reworking needs to start getting behind the line more. The Eagles will be stronger.
4. Florida State Seminoles
Why To Be Happy: There needs to be a whole lot of work and a whole lot more production, but almost all of the entire starting offensive 11 from the end of last season is expected to be back. The defensive side loses several key parts, but instant help appears to be on the way from the transfer portal.
What To Work On: Yeah, the offense. The defensive side has to generate some semblance of a pass rush, but the O has to be more efficient throwing the ball and has to figure out how to move the chains.
Bottom Line: 2020 couldn’t have been any worse for head coach Mike Norvell and the national title-level program. There’s experience, there’s a reset mindset, and … there’s a lot of work to do.
5. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Why To Be Happy: The offense should be even more explosive and more dangerous. The offensive line returns almost intact, the receiving corps is loaded, and Sam Hartman – bowl meltdown against Wisconsin aside – is a terrific triggerman to run it all. There’s more than enough talent back on D to be fine, but …
What To Work On: Losing star end Carlos Basham matters. The pass rush was a problem for the Demon Deacons with him, and now it’s going to take a whole lot of work to get even more out of the D that has to work to hold serve.
Bottom Line: It’ll be more of the same. Dangerous, fun, explosive offense that should be able to keep up with just about everyone, but questionable defense that should have enough issues to make every game a shootout.
6. Louisville Cardinals
Why To Be Happy: The offense is going to be interesting with Georgia Southern option wizard QB Shai Werts transferring in to add another option. Expect more consistency and production from a team that should be able to keep up with just about everyone.
What To Work On: The receiving corps loses Dez Fitzpatrick and Tutu Atwell to the next level, and the linebacking corps has to replace almost all the starting linebackers along with nose tackle Jared Goldwire.
Bottom Line: Coming off a 4-7 season, the Cardinals have to bounce back quickly despite a slew of key departures compared to the rest of the Atlantic Division. Improvement on the O line and limiting the turnovers are a must.
7. Syracuse Orange
Why To Be Happy: The Orange have almost everyone back on offense and on the defensive front seven, and the arrival of Garrett Shrader from Mississippi State should help the quarterback room. The experience is there on both sides of the ball, but …
What To Work On: The secondary loses its top playmakers, and losing receiver and return man Nykeim Johnson to Kent State hurts, and … offensive line, offensive line, offensive line. The Orange have GOT to figure out how to block after not doing enough of it over the last few years.
Bottom Line: We know it’s possible for Syracuse to win – we all saw it a few years ago – but after a lost year with horrible play on both lines, the program has to get the infrastructure right.
– 2021 Prespring ACC Coastal Rankings
2021 ACC Coastal Division Rankings: Pre-Spring
2021 ACC Rankings: Pre-Spring
ACC Coastal Division
1. North Carolina Tar Heels
Why To Be Happy: Nothing stops. The offense should get everyone back up front, Sam Howell is one of the nation’s top quarterbacks, and Tennessee transfer Ty Chandler should go off as one of the team’s top new running backs. There’s a TON of talent in the secondary and the defensive front should be okay, but …
What To Work On: Yeah, the system should work, but Michael Carter and Javonte Williams really were terrific running backs, and not having Dazz Newsome and Dyami Brown around the receiving corps isn’t a plus. Again, the secondary will be a plus, but losing six defensive backs to transfer is a hit to the depth.
Bottom Line: Mack Brown did his part by amassing a ton of talent over the last few years, and it’s paying off with another fun, exciting team that should be even better than the 2020 version. Now it needs to be more consistent.
2. Miami Hurricanes
Why To Be Happy: Start with the big if. IF D’Eriq King is back to being D’Eriq King after suffering a knee injury, this offense should be able to hang with just about anyone. RB Cam’Ron Harris is back behind a line with all five starters returning. The linebacking corps should be great and the secondary fine, but …
What To Work On: It’s Miami, so the pass rush will be great no matter what, but losing ends Jaelan Phillips and Quincy Roche – and never having Gregory Rousseau – hurts. And then there’s King. With N’Kosi Perry transferring, King has to be healthy.
Bottom Line: Once again, Miami will be good enough to be among the top teams in the ACC, but it has to be more consistent and get even more out of the key parts – a LOT more – to come up with any sort of challenge to Clemson.
3. Pitt Panthers
Why To Be Happy: Kenny Pickett is returning. The Panthers have their quarterback, the skill parts are strong, and the offensive line gets a big part in versatile lineman Marcus Minor. The program generates defensive pressure no matter what, linebackers Chase Pine and Phil Campbell are returning, but …
What To Work On: DEs Patrick Jones and Rashad Weaver are going, and safety Damar Hamlin won’t easily be replaced. The rushing attack has to be a whole lot better and the offense has to be far, far more productive.
Bottom Line: As long as the Panthers can keep feeding the defensive line with killer pass rushing talents, they’ll still be very, very dangerous. Getting back Pickett is a huge deal. He’s not DJ Uiagalelei or Sam Howell, but he’s among the ACC’s better quarterbacks.
4. Virginia Tech Hokies
Why To Be Happy: There are just enough good parts back to okay once the depth fills in. Getting back Lecitus Smith and Brock Hoffman for the interior of the O line is massive, and DT Dashawn Crawford coming back for another season gives the line an anchor.
What To Work On: QB Hendon Hooker is off to Tennessee, RB Khalil Herbert is off to the NFL, one guard Doug Nester is off to West Virginia, and Bryan Hudson left for Louisville. Throw in the loss of DT Jarrod Hewitt, and compared to other ACC teams, there are just enough losses to be annoying.
Bottom Line: Virginia Tech is always an X factor. It had the talent last season but it was almost never fully healthy and struggled with its consistency. QB Braxton Burmeister has to grow into a star for the Hokies to challenge for the ACC title.
5. Virginia Cavaliers
Why To Be Happy: The offense is almost all back full. Brennan Armstrong returns at quarterback – at least as the top options – and he has more weapons with a potentially killer tight end tandem of Tony Poljan and Oklahoma State transfer Jelani Woods to work with. The defense gets back ends Adeeb Atariwa and Mandy Alonso for another year, and having safety Joey Blount for a full season is a big deal, but …
What To Work On: The linebacking corps needs work. Zane Zandier leads the group of tacklers leaving. The secondary has to make a lot more big plays, and the offense has to do a much better job of keeping the chains moving.
Bottom Line: The Cavaliers will always be well coached under Bronco Mendenhall and they’ll always be dangerous, but the experience has to translate into a lot more production.
6. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Why To Be Happy: It took a few years to transform from a triple-option team to what Geoff Collins wants to do, and now all the young parts might be coming together – at least that’s the hope. Just about all of the key skill guys are back and the linebacking corps is getting some solid transfer help, but …
What To Work On: Defensive line. It’s not that everyone who ever thought about playing on the Georgia Tech defensive front is transferring, but it sure does seem like it. Almost all were backups and/or will be quickly replaced, but there could be an early depth issue.
Bottom Line: It’s still going to be a work in progress, but Georgia Tech should have its best starting 22 in the Collins era. It’s not easy transforming an offensive line rotation, but the overall experience will be there.
7. Duke Blue Devils
Why To Be Happy: Hope springs eternal. The Blue Devils could used some more quarterback options, more playmakers, and more bodies for the defensive side, but the offensive front should be close to full and the linebackers should be okay.
What To Work On: Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers. The new skill parts have to start by not giving the ball away 39 times like the 2020 guys did.
Bottom Line: No one in the ACC has to undergo a bigger overhaul or has to do more work to become a factor again. On the down side, the Blue Devils lose a ton of experience. However, it’s not like the players who were there last season won a lot.
