Focus is on Lawrence, defending champ Clemson
It took 4 hours and 44 points for Trevor Lawrence to become one of the great young stars in sports. Ask Alabama what Lawrence was capable of achieving as a true freshman — 347 yards and three touchdowns without on an interception on that night in January.
Lawrence’s follow-up to the finest season by a rookie quarterback in Football Bowl Subdivision history is the defining storyline among the 14 teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference entering spring drills. And the biggest question for the ACC: Can anyone test the Tigers in 2019 or is this an easy march to another title?
Boston College: Both lines are in a rebuild. The Eagles’ rebuilding project on both lines is a concern. It’s a touch less worrisome on offense, where three linemen with starting experience are joined by transfer Hayden Mahoney. It’s the defense that needs immediate attention, with just one starter back in the fold and defensive lineman Zach Allen likely impossible to replace.
Clemson: Lawrence prepares for his close-up. The potential seems limitless. The most popular post-championship take said that Lawrence was ready, today, for the NFL. Well, not quite. What he is ready for, however, is a sophomore season worthy of a Heisman Trophy. Thanks to his showing against Alabama, Lawrence tops the preseason list.
Duke: Trusting in Cutcliffe. There are eight returning starters on defense, including the entire front four, which offsets much of the hand-wringing over losing two all-conference starters at linebacker. That there’s a gap at quarterback following Daniel Jones’ departure for the NFL is a major topic, but David Cutcliffe’s touch at the position should breed more optimism than con- cern. Besides, senior Quentin Harris, who made two starts last year, looks ready to take over as the Blue Devils’ full-time starter.
Florida State: The follow-up to a disaster. Willie Taggart’s debut was an unquestioned flop. The Seminoles begin the spring licking their wounds after a dreadful start under the new staff, with any optimism stemming from the fact that Taggart has been here before — with the exception of Oregon, every one of his previous stints bottomed out in his first season before a quick rebound. The question in Tallahassee is whether FSU has the personnel to pull it off.
Georgia Tech: Excitement, energy and recruiting. First-year coach Geoff Collins has kicked up the Jackets’ energy level. For now, that’s helped to gloss over what will be a painful transition from Paul Johnson’s run-based, option scheme to an offense more similar to what’s being done across the rest of the ACC. Not to say what Collins has done isn’t important: Tech is trendy and popular among recruiting circles as he looks to add top-ranked talent to a roster in need of a quick upgrade.
Louisville: What are fair expecta- tions? A horrific 2018 season under Bobby Petrino has changed the expectations for new coach Scott Satterfield, who arrives after turning Appalachian State into one of the top programs in the Group of Five. Instead of being pegged for an immediate bowl berth, the Cardinals begin as a team expected to improve — it would be hard not to — but not necessarily do more than that.
Miami: QB competition in Diaz’s first spring. Tate Martell will petition for immediate eligibility after transferring in from Ohio State, and Miami will take hope in the NCAA’s recent track record of acquiescing to these requests. If his shot falls short, new coach Manny Diaz will instead lean toward N’Kosi Perry, who needs to embrace the fresh slate after serving as one-half of last year’s anemic passing attack.
North Carolina: Mack Brown’s first spring. If not for Lawrence and Clemson, Mack Brown’s return to the sideline after a five-year coaching absence would be the talk of the ACC. As it is, Brown reclaims the top spot at UNC more than two decades after leaving the Tar Heels for Texas — at the very least the most intriguing development of the winter’s coaching cycle. He’ll draw eyeballs in his first spring back in charge.
North Carolina State: Plenty of competition. Quarterback. Running back. Receiver. Center. As much if not more so than any other team in the ACC, this spring will be about competition for the Wolfpack. At several spots — replacing Ryan Finley at quarterback and Garrett Bradbury at center, for example — it’s impossible to imagine the Wolfpack nearing last year’s production.
Pittsburgh: Pressure on QB Kenny Pickett. Pickett averaged 6.4 yards per attempt and 140.6 yards per game in 2018 — totals that still didn’t keep Pittsburgh from a divisional title. But with 1,000-yard running backs Qadree Ollison and Darrin Hall no longer in the fold, Pickett needs to begin taking on a larger role in the offense’s overall production to keep the Panthers in the Coastal hunt.
Syracuse: More big plays at quarterback. Syracuse aims to build on last year’s breakthrough as Tommy DeVito steps in at quarterback for Eric Dungey. Dungey’s intangibles were off the chart. But DeVito represents an upgrade in one key area: his ability to deliver downfield. A bigger arm could add even more power to Dino Babers’ offense.
Virginia: From eight wins to ... ? The 28-0 Belk Bowl win against South Carolina capped a pleasantly surprising 2018 season for Bronco Mendenhall and the Cavaliers. What’s next? There’s optimism surrounding the program with 15 returning starters, a handful of all-conference caliber, and the continued embrace of Mendenhall’s style.
Virginia Tech: Few teams are as excited to get started. Every team looks forward to the spring — but maybe none as much as Virginia Tech. Practices mark the end of a dreadful offense full of personnel and coaching losses on the heels of a disappointing season. So spring drills mark a potential fresh start for Justin Fuente and Tech, with little doubt the Hokies will embrace the slate with open arms.
Wake Forest: Finding a new starring piece. Among the items on Dave Clawson’s to-do list is the tall task of replacing wide receiver Greg Dortch, who opted for the NFL draft after making 89 catches for 1,078 yards as a sophomore. In terms of a starting role, one option is Jaquarii Roberson, who played in nine games as a redshirt freshman in 2018. The Demon Deacons also have high hopes for incoming freshmen Nolan Groulx and Donavon Greene, two fourstar additions who headline perhaps the top recruiting class in recent program history.