With Florida State and Georgia Tech opening the college football season in Dublin later today, I thought it would be a good time to rank the five best players by position in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
I sought the opinions of ESPN college football analysts Roddy Jones and Eric Mac Lain — two former ACC players — to find out where I went wrong.
Before we continue, I must apologize to Boston College and Duke fans. You’ll understand why later.
Quarterbacks
- Cam Ward, Miami
- Grayson McCall, NC State
- Kyron Drones, Virginia Tech
- Kyle McCord, Syracuse
- DJ Uiagalelei, Florida State
Hot takes
Jones: “I would probably have SMU’s Preston Stone somewhere in there. McCord should definitely be there. He was (13th) in the country in QB rating last year. When you’re at Ohio State, you’ve got a lot around you (in terms of weapons), but it’s still the premier statistic for quarterbacks.”
Mac Lain: “For me, I don’t know how you don’t have (Ward) No. 1 with the things he’s expected to do and having way better weapons around him. I think he’s gonna continue to be a beast. (Georgia Tech’s) Haynes King is No. 2 for me. He’s a really dynamic player who will surprise a lot of people. Drones, third, a bit of a projection. McCall is fourth. I’d go Preston Stone fifth.”
Notes
• Eight quarterbacks in the league have at least 20 starts at the FBS level, but nobody has more starts (44), passing yards (13,874) or passing touchdowns (119) than Ward, who was the ACC’s Preseason Player of the Year.
• SMU’s Stone dominated non-Power 5 competition last season, throwing 22 touchdown passes to only two interceptions. He had the second-best QB rating last season (161.32) behind McCord among current ACC quarterbacks. But in two starts against P5 schools (Oklahoma and TCU), Stone’s QBR dropped to 102.47 as he completed only 52.5 percent of his attempts with one touchdown and three interceptions. That’s why he’s just outside the top five.
• McCall, a Coastal Carolina transfer, made our top five because he’s a three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year and owns the highest career completion percentage (69.9) of starting quarterbacks in the league. He and Ward are the only two QBs in the ACC with more than 10,000 career passing yards. He’s also 2-1 versus Power 4 schools, with two wins over Kansas and a solid performance in a loss to UCLA last year when he threw for 271 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He also has a win over 13th-ranked BYU as a freshman.
• Drones has made 11 career starts and thrown for 2,304 yards and 18 touchdowns with only four interceptions. The 6-foot-2, 234-pound redshirt junior makes our list due to his dual-threat ability, having run for 867 yards and seven scores in limited opportunities. Drones was also excellent in the intermediate passing game (10-19 yards) last season, completing 63 percent of his 38 attempts with six touchdowns and no interceptions.
• Florida State’s Uiagalelei is the second-most experienced starter in the league (42 starts) and a dynamic run threat at 6-4, 252 pounds. Only Boston College’s Thomas Castellanos has rushed for more yards (1,222) than Uiagalelei (1,132). We gave Uiagalelei the edge over Georgia Tech’s King for the final spot because he’s protected the ball slightly better (two fewer career picks in 102 more attempts).
Running backs
- Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
- Jaydn Ott, California
- Damien Martinez, Miami
- Phil Mafah, Clemson
- Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech
Hot takes
Jones: “I like the list. The order is off. I’d go Hampton No. 1, Martinez No. 2, Ott third. (Georgia Tech’s) Jamal Haynes isn’t in the top five for me, but he’s knocking on the door. FSU’s (Lawrance) Toafili, too. Toafili just doesn’t have the body of work. (NC State’s) Jordan Waters is also very good. I do like him a lot.”
Mac Lain: “For me, Hampton is No. 1. Martinez is No. 2. Ott is No. 3. Mafah is No. 4. I’d go Jordan Waters fifth. Tuten is a great pick, though.”
Notes
• The ACC has five running backs who ran for more than 1,000 yards last season, but two didn’t make our top five: Syracuse’s LeQuint Allen (1,064 yards) and Haynes (1,059 yards).
• Aside from posting an impressive 5.9 yards-per-carry average last season, Hampton (1,504 yards, 15 TDs) led the nation with 1,072 yards after contact, according to Pro Football Focus.
• Ott and Martinez were consistent producers in the Pac-12. Martinez’s average of 6.1 yards per carry and his 39 rushes of 10-plus yards were both tops among current ACC backs with at least 100 carries in 2023. Ott’s 1,315 yards rank second to Hampton, and his 2,212 career yards are also second in the ACC.
• Mafah finished 35 yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark while sharing the ball with Will Shipley last season. But nobody in the ACC ran for more yards against AP-ranked opponents last season. Mafah averaged 5.5 yards per carry and totaled 339 yards and four scores against Florida State, NC State and Notre Dame. Haynes (308 yards in four games), Waters (293 yards in five) and Miami’s Mark Fletcher Jr. (288 yards in three) were next among ACC backs.
• According to PFF, Tuten’s 69 missed tackles forced last season are the most among returning backs in the league as are his 2,441 career rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns. That includes his numbers from two seasons at North Carolina A&T.
Omarion Hampton averaged 6.0 yards per carry in 2023. (Nell Redmond / USA Today)
Receivers
- Kevin Concepcion, NC State
- Xavier Restrepo, Miami
- Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
- Malachi Fields, Virginia
- Tyler Brown, Clemson
Hot takes
Jones: “I think (Miami’s) Jacolby George probably has an argument to be there. SMU has too many receivers to pick one. I like Konata Mumpfield from Pitt, but he’s not top five. I like the Virginia Tech guys. I like Fields, good pull there. (Wake Forest’s) Donavon Greene probably deserves to be on the list. If he’s healthy, I’d put him third or fourth. He will be great in 2024.”
Mac Lain: “Hard not to say KC from NC State No. 1. Xavier Restrepo No. 2. Jordan Moore No. 3, from Duke. My bias, I’d go with Antonio Williams fourth, Clemson. I think he’s gonna have a massive year if he can stay healthy. I’d go with (Georgia Tech’s) Eric Singleton No. 5. But there’s just so many guys who are worthy.”
Notes
• Three receivers in the league are coming off 1,000-yard seasons and two made our top five: Restrepo (85 catches, 1,092 yards, seven TDs) and Ayomanor (62 catches, 1,013 yards, six TDs).
• There are 23 receivers in the league with at least 1,000 career yards and nobody has more than Louisville’s Caullin Lacy, who put up huge numbers (207 catches, 2,517 yards, 13 TDs) at South Alabama. Lacy, though, could miss the first half of the season with a broken collarbone. He led the nation in yards after catch last season (842), according to PFF.
• Virginia Tech has three receivers with 1,700-plus yards in their college careers: Ali Jennings (147 catches, 2,337 yards, 18 TDs), Jaylin Lane (165 catches, 2,066 yards, 16 TDs) and Da’Quan Felton (105 catches, 1,732 yards, 17 TDs).
• Concepcion was the ACC’s Freshman of the Year with 71 catches for 839 yards and 10 scores and is widely considered by his peers to be the best pass catcher in the league. His YAC (527) ranks third among ACC returning receivers.
• Fields finished seventh in the league in catches (58) and yards (811) and should get more opportunities with his former teammate, Malik Washington — the ACC leader in both categories in 2023 by a wide margin — now in the NFL.
Tight ends
- Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse
- Bryson Nesbit, North Carolina
- RJ Maryland, SMU
- Jake Briningstool, Clemson
- Gavin Bartholomew, Pittsburgh
Hot takes
Jones: “I like the list — until the end of the year when (Miami freshman) Elija Lofton will be No. 1. At least that’s what the Orange Bowl boys would tell you. (NC State’s Justin) Joly was productive at UConn before coming over. I don’t think he breaks the list. Nick Gallo at Virginia Tech was hurt last year but productive in 2022. Georgia Tech’s excited about their tight ends, but I don’t know which one is gonna start. FSU fans will say Kyle Morlock. But the list is fine.”
Mac Lain: “Oronde is such a hybrid guy, but I guess he’s a tight end. I’d put him No. 1, but with an asterisk. I like Nesbit, Briningstool and Maryland next. I also like the cat at NC State a lot (Justin Joly) from UConn.”
Notes
• Two of the four ACC tight ends with 1,000 career receiving yards made our top five: Gadsden (70 catches, 1,066 yards, seven TDs) and Nesbit (83 catches, 1,246 yards, 10 TDs). Gadsden led all FBS tight ends in receiving yards (969) in 2022 — more than back-to-back Mackey Award winner Brock Bowers — before undergoing two surgeries on his right foot to repair a Lisfranc injury.
• Cal’s Corey Dyches leads all ACC tight ends in career catches (107). The Maryland transfer earned third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2023.
• Nesbitt (41 catches, 585 yards, five TDs) was the first-team All-ACC selection last year and has the second-most career catches by a tight end in the league. Briningstool (78 catches, 850 yards, 10 TDs) is third in the ACC in career receptions.
• The most experienced starters in the league at the position are Virginia Tech’s Gallo (28 starts, 55 career catches, 469 yards) and Pitt’s Bartholomew (27 starts, 67 catches, 935 yards).
• There isn’t one go-to guy in SMU’s offense, but Maryland, the son of three-time Super Bowl champion and 1991 No. 1 overall pick Russell Maryland, does have great chemistry with Stone and is productive (62 career catches, 814 yards, 13 TDs).
Offensive lines
- Miami
- Florida State
- Clemson
- Georgia Tech
- NC State
Hot takes
Jones: “SMU’s offensive line was really good last year, but it’s a step up in the ACC. Virginia Tech’s line is gonna be pretty good. Maybe Boston College. I don’t think any of those jump what you have on the list, though. The best singular offensive lineman is probably (Miami left tackle) Jalen Rivers. He’s really good. I like Zeke Correll, the center from Notre Dame now at NC State. I like his versatility.”
Mac Lain: “Miami is No. 1. FSU is No. 2. Georgia Tech three. Clemson fourth. And I like what NC State has. I like Louisville, too. But I’d go with NC State fifth because I think they’ll have a good running attack. The best lineman individually? Jalen Rivers jumps off quickly. So does (Florida State left tackle) Darius Washington. I’ll go (Rivers) because I think he’s about to explode.”
Notes
• It’s always difficult to evaluate offensive linemen, so I thought it would be better to rank the overall units.
• Nobody has more combined starting experience in the league on the offensive line than Florida State (210). Louisville is next with 196 combined starts. The most experienced linemen are North Carolina’s Willie Lampkin (49 starts), Florida State’s Jeremiah Byers (44) and Maurice Smith (41) and SMU’s Justin Osborne (42).
• Clemson’s most experienced unit on its roster is its offensive line with 106 combined starts. Walker Parks, Marcus Tate, Blake Miller and Tristan Leigh are all double-digit starters.
• Georgia Tech allowed the fewest sacks in the league (15) in 2023, led the conference in rushing yards (203.7 per game) and yards per carry (5.4). The Yellow Jackets have six players with at least eight career starts, including 40-game starter Jordan Williams at right tackle and two-year starters Weston Franklin and Joe Fusile at center and guard, respectively.
• Miami was second in fewest sacks allowed last year with 16 and features four players with at least 13 career starts.
Edge rushers
- Ashton Gillotte, Louisville
- Patrick Payton, Florida State
- Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
- Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech
- Jasheen Davis, Wake Forest
Hot takes
Jones: “I like Davis. He’s good. It’s legit production. It’s not like he has Boogie Basham on the other side. That’s a tough position to rank. (SMU’s) Elijah Roberts is not on the list, but he’s worthy. Clemson’s guys might feel slighted, but the production isn’t there. Rueben Bain fans might be a little upset he’s third. Gillotte is really good. He has a great motor and is super strong. (Syracuse’s) Fadil Diggs is probably the most deserving of a spot in the top five. But I like the Jasheen pick.”
Mac Lain: “Gillotte is No. 1. Probably, Rueben (Bain) is No. 2. Patrick Payton is No. 3. APR is No 4. I like Jasheen Davis a ton, but he’s a little undersized. I love (Clemson’s) TJ Parker. I love Elijah Roberts at SMU. There’s so many. I’ll go Parker, fifth.”
Notes
• There are 17 defensive linemen in the ACC with double-digit career sacks, so this wasn’t an easy assignment. Still, Gillotte’s 22 sacks and 30.5 tackles for loss are undeniable. Davis is fourth in the ACC in career sacks (20) and second in TFLs (39.5), including the most by a defensive lineman in the league last season (17).
• The biggest omissions clearly were North Carolina’s Kaimon Rucker, who has 16 career sacks and 30.5 tackles for loss, and SMU’s Roberts, who recorded 10 sacks last season while playing in the AAC. But edge rusher is the toughest top five list to make.
Defensive linemen
- Joshua Farmer, Florida State
- Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech
- Peter Woods, Clemson
- Davin Vann, NC State
- Darrell Jackson, Florida State
Hot takes
Jones: “I think a lot of Vann. He plays defensive end, but he also plays in that 3-3-5. So, he’s not really an edge rusher. He’s more of a defensive tackle. He’s one of their captains. Just a very disruptive player without the production. North Carolina has some guys I like, but it’s just based on potential. Pitt’s got two new guys worth watching.”
Mac Lain: “It’s tough to anoint interior guys because everybody moves around. I’m gonna go with Peter Woods No. 1. Peebles No. 2. Farmer No. 3. (Clemson’s) DeMonte Capehart is a baller and I’ll throw Vann in there as the top five.”
Notes
• As Jones and Mac Lain pointed out, defensive linemen rotate all the time, which makes this position difficult to select. Boston College’s Cam Horsley (35 starts), Virginia’s Jahmeer Carter (32 starts) and Miami’s Simeon Barrow (30 starts) are the most experienced interior linemen in the league.
• Louisville (168 combined starts) and Miami (156 combined starts) are the most experienced defensive line units in the league by a wide margin and were the top two teams at stopping the run a year ago (3.3 yards per carry each).
Linebackers
- Barrett Carter, Clemson
- Francisco Mauigoa, Miami
- Marlowe Wax, Syracuse
- Ahmad Walker, SMU
- Cam Riley, Florida State
Hot takes
Jones: “The kid at Cal (sophomore Cade Uluave) was very good for them last year as a freshman. He’s deserving of consideration. (North Carolina’s) Power Echols was very productive, but I wouldn’t put him above the other guys on the list. (Miami’s Wesley) Bissainthe has a chance to have a big year, too.”
Mac Lain: “Is (North Carolina’s Kaimon) Rucker an edge rusher or linebacker? It’s hard to tell, right? I’d go Carter, Mauigoa and Rucker to get him in there. I like the kid from Cal and I’d go with Marlowe Wax. Linebacker is always hard because there’s so many guys that deserve it. Wax deserves it because he’s been a stud there for a while.”
Notes
• There are seven linebackers in the ACC with more than 200 career tackles, led by Wax with 294, including 36 TFLs and 16.5 sacks. Pitt’s Keye Thompson (251), Stanford’s Gaethan Bernadel (234) North Carolina’s Echols (231), Boston College’s Kam Arnold (217), California’s Teddye Buchanan (208) and SMU’s Kobe Wilson (208) round out the list.
• Clemson’s Carter is No. 5 among linebackers in Dane Brugler’s list of the top 50 NFL Prospects.
• Miami’s Mauigoa has 159 career tackles and ranks second in the league with 24 career tackles for loss, including an ACC-leading 18 last season.
Barrett Carter earned preseason All-America honors from The Athletic. (Jeff Blake / USA Today)
Cornerbacks
- Quincy Riley, Louisville
- Aydan White, NC State
- Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech
- Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State
- Fentrell Cypress, Florida State
Hot takes
Jones: “I think Azarey’h Thomas is gonna be a top-two-round pick. Both of those Florida State guys are definitely deserving.”
Mac Lain: “I like Thomas a ton at Florida State and Aydan White is freaky. Then, Riley at Louisville. I’d actually put Dorian Strong at No. 2. He’s the real deal. And I like Cypress at No. 5.”
Notes
• Clemson and Florida State had the top two secondaries in the league last season in terms of opponent QB rating, with the Seminoles allowing the lowest completion percentage (48.3) and Clemson the fewest yards per attempt (5.6).
• Riley’s 13 career interceptions are the most by a cornerback in the league entering the season. White is second with eight.
Safeties
- Shyheim Brown, Florida State
- Donovan McMillon, Pittsburgh
- Jonas Sanker, Virginia
- R.J. Mickens, Clemson
- Justin Barron, Syracuse
Hot takes
Jones: “I keep going back to SMU. Isaiah Nwokobia is pretty good. I’m just a little hesitant on how it translates (to the Power 4 level). Syracuse really likes Duce Chestnut at safety. (Virginia Tech’s) Jalen Stroman is probably the one closest to knocking on the door outside of those five.”
Mac Lain: “Sanker at Virginia had a freaky year. So did McMillon at Pittsburgh. I like Shyheim (Brown) at Florida State and then a Clemson guy because those guys are so good — I’d go (Khalil) Barnes because I think he’s the real deal. I’ve got (Cal’s) Craig Woodson at No. 5.”
Notes
• Syracuse’s Barron is one of three defensive backs in the league with 200 career tackles, and his 90 last season ranked third behind Virginia’s Sanker (107) and Pitt’s McMillan (105). Duke’s Jaylen Stinson (217 career tackles three INTs, 13 pass deflections) was the toughest omission from the top five.
• Mickens decided against entering the NFL Draft to come back for a fifth season and lead the Tigers secondary. He’s Clemson’s most experienced defensive back (47 games played, 17 starts) and its leader in tackles (121) and interceptions (five).
(Top photos of Cam Ward, Grayson McCall: University of Miami, Jayne Kamin-Oncea / USA Today)
