Best of the Best: Offense
From Harlon Jordan, ACC Blitz.
It’s that time of year to start throwing out rankings of players and teams, and start guessing who does what. Some were tough, some were easy. All were interesting. Thankfully this kept me away from being a witness to King James and the BS that surrounded his announcement.
QUARTERBACKS
The ACC is actually pretty well off with signal callers this year. My Top 3 are all valid candidates for an All-ACC selection if they can replicate their success last season.
FSU QB Christian Ponder
1)Christian Ponder, Florida State
2009 Stats: 227-330-2,717 YDS (68.8%) 14 TD/7 INT 147.70 RATING
The Seminoles gun slinger has all the tools NFL scouts drool over. He has a cannon for an arm, lightning fast decision making and stands at 6’3″. Exactly how good he can be was evidenced by his performance in a win at North Carolina, which has one of the best defenses in the NATION. He completed 33 of 40 passes for 395 yards and 3 TD’s, and most importantly – no INT’s. Ponder was on pace last season to secure a decent spot in this years draft until an ill advised attempt (yes attempt) at a tackle when Clemson S DeAndre McDaniel picked him off late in the 4th quarter of the Seminoles 40-24 loss to the Tigers.
That decision turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the Florida State faithful – another year in Tally for Ponder. The Florida State offensive line returns all 5 starters in 2010, and the wide receivers will be solid despite the loss of leading receiver Rod Owens. Don’t be surprised to hear Heisman talk if the Noles can produce some ‘W’s.
2)Russell Wilson, NC State
2009 Stats: 224-378-3,027 YDS (59.3%) 31 TD/11 INT 147.77 RATING
No player in the nation made a splash like Wilson did in his Freshman year. He became the first freshman to be named All-ACC, and had an astonishingly low 1 INT for 275 pass attempts to go along with 17 TD’s. The 2009 season didn’t see a sophomore slump as he finished 1st in the league in passing TD’s, 1st in total TD responsibility, 2nd in passing yardage (252.2 per game) and was responsible for a total of 35 TD’s (2nd most in ACC history).
His passing and scrambling skills are obvious, but what sets Wilson apart from other quarterbacks is his field vision and constant knowledge of the situations around him. Unfortunately for State fans, 2010 will be the dual-sport stars final season seeing as he was drafted in June’s MLB draft by the Colorado Rockies. It’s unfortunate (well for college football fans) because he was actually on pace to eventually pass Philip Rivers on the career list for career TD passes and career TD responsibility.
3)Jacory Harris, Miami
2009 Stats: 242-406-3,352 YDS (59.6%) 24 TD/17 INT 140.09 RATING
After guiding the Canes to a 3-1 record through arguably the toughest 4 game stretch in the NCAA last season, Harris started garnering Heisman talk – and rightfully so. He had averaged 252 Yards and threw 8 TDs against some of the toughest defenses in the nation. Despite Miami finishing 3rd in the ACC and winding up in a mediocre bowl, Harris’ numbers were still strong. He finished 1st in the league in Passing Yards per Game, 3rd in Passing TD’s and 4th in Passing Efficiency.
This team lives and dies by Jacory’s play. In their three regular season losses, he rolled up 8 INT’s and only 3 TD’s while completing a paltry 53% of his passes. The 2010 version of Miami’s offensive line should provide ample protection and their wide receiving corps will be lights out, so Harris should put up even better numbers this season. He’ll end up being the difference between a trip to the ACC Title game and another so-so bowl.
RUNNINGBACKS
This years stock of work horses in the ACC is among the best in the nation, and Virginia Tech is lucky enough to have 2 of my top 3 guys. I have a feeling by years end, these guys will be neck and neck when it comes time to name the All-ACC Running back slot.
1)Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech
2009 Stats: 293-1655, 5.6 AVG, 21 TD
I’ll be the first to admit, I wasn’t 100 percent sold on Williams when fellow stud RB Darren Evans (my #3 RB this year) went down with a season ending injury prior to 2009. Sure, he was a talented kid; lightning fast acceleration and break away speed, complimented by superior agility. It’s seldom that a true freshman can step in the spotlight and not only do well, but shine. And shine is what Williams did.
His 2009 campaign was one for the record books. He set a new team record for rushing yardage with 1,655, which also happened to be the third best in ACC history, and he become the first freshman in conference history to lead the league in rushing and scoring (132 points). And he didn’t stop there. He also set an ACC record (not just for freshman but overall) for TDs (22) and rushing TDs (21), and tied the league record with (10) 100-yard rushing games. By the end of the season, he was an unanimous pick for ACC Rookie of the Year and garnered a first Team All-ACC selection. I’m not sure how Beamer will split carries between Williams and Evans, but I have a feeling it will be similar to Clemson’s “Thunder and Lightning” of James Davis and C.J. Spiller.
2)Montel Harris, Boston College
2009 Stats: 308-1457, 4.7 AVG, 14 TD
After splitting snaps his freshman year with former teammate Josh Haden, Harris took over as the premiere back at Boston College last season and made the most of it. His end of the year tally of 1,457 yards was good for second in the conference (behind Williams of VT), same with his average of 112.1 Yards per Game. His ‘09 rushing total was good for sixth all-time in ACC history. He was responsible for 14 of the Eagles 17 rushing TDs, proof positive of his work-horse status. Harris managed five of his 14 TDs in a single game last season against NC State, a game in which he set a school record for rushing yards with 264.
Harris is only a going into his junior year and is already 10th on the BC career list with 2,357 career yards, and seems well on his way to becoming the Eagles all-time leader in rushing yards. Currently, he leads active players with 13 100-Yard games.
3)Darren Evans, Virginia Tech
2009 Stats: N/A due to injury
Coming off a record setting freshman season in 2008, all eyes were on Evans, and rightfully so. He set an ACC record for rushing yards by a freshman in 2008 with 1,265 (eclipsed in ‘09 by teammate Ryan Williams) on his way to a second Team All-ACC selection. At the time, he was only the sixth freshman in ACC history to rush for 1000 yards. He also become the first Hokie to score a TD in his first six games. Unfortunately for Evans, he suffered a torn ACL just before the 2009 season kicked off, sidelining him.
I mentioned it in the Williams’ breakdown above how Evans will probably see split snaps this year with Williams. It’s a good problem for Tech to have. Speed in Williams and raw-power in Evans.
WIDE RECEIVERS
When compiling my list for Top 3 receivers in the ACC, I had to take a second and compare it to the ‘experts’ out there. While my #1 is about the same across the board, I have to wonder if some of these so called pros even watched ACC football last season. My #2 guy, Torrey Smith from Maryland, barely cracked a few lists and in most cases not the Top 2. Really guys? It makes me wonder if they simply copied one another and printed their list. This guy was a 2nd team All-ACC pick, finishing 2nd in the most important receiving category (catches per game). Not only that, he was dangerous return guy. Anyways, I’m finished ranting. Here’s my Top 3.
1)Donovan Varner, Duke
2009 Stats: 65-1047, 16.1 AVG, 8 TD
No, this is not a typo. Yes a Duke WR comes in at #1 for 2010. I can’t say many people saw a 2-Star guy coming out of high school rising to upper tier of the ACC, especially on a Duke team that is doormat year in and year out.
The 2009 season witnessed Varner emerge on the scene in a big way. He earned All-ACC honors, leading the league in receptions (65), receptions per game (5.42) and receiving yards per game (87.2). Not only did he lead the league in 3 of the 4 major receiving categories, he also became the first Duke receiver in 21 years to have a 1,000 yard receiving season. I think the impressive stat Varner racked up last year was him having (3) 150 yard receiving games, including a season high 174 against Wake Forest.
2)Torrey Smith, Maryland
2009 Stats: 61-824, 13.5 5 TD
Few receivers in the game possess the attributes Smith does. He has sturdy hands, and lightning speed, but more importantly – excellent vision. He’s a threat to blow up a game given the opportunity. Just ask Middle Tennessee, who Smith lit up for 165 yards.
In 2009 he was named 2nd team All-ACC as a receiver and return specialist. He finished 2nd in the ACC in receptions per game (5.08) and 5th in receiving yards per game (68.7), and also set an ACC record for kickoff return yardage with 1,309. He also set a Maryland school record for all-purpose yardage in 2009 with 2,192.
3)Leonard Hankerson, Miami
2009 Stats: 45-801, 17.8 AVG, 6 TD
Hankerson is the main guy in a Miami receiving corp that is probably the best in the conference. In 2009, he led the Canes in receptions (45 – most since 2003), receiving yards (801), and receiving TD’s (6) and had a catch in all 13 games. He’s a big target (6’3″) and has excellent speed. I think what impressed me most was his eye-popping average of nearly 18 yards per catch.
With Heisman hopeful QB Jacory Harris back, Hankerson should be salivating at the prospect of a massive season.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
The league is stacked with talent and experience in 2010. I took a jab at what I think are the Top 3 big guys. It’s close enough that #1 and #2 could probably be switched. And I’m not the only one noticing the talent – I won’t even begin to list the multiple players up for a ton of awards this year.
1)Anthony Castonzo, Boston College
Stat: 41 career starts
Castonzo comes in leading all ACC linemen in career starts, so experience is a strong point. His mammoth frame (6’7″, 287lb) should provide plenty of QB protection and create a ton of space for star RB Montel Harris to run through. He anchors an Eagle line that has combined 103 career starts. If his 2010 season is anything like last year (All-ACC selection), he’ll find himself an early selection come NFL draft day.
2)Rodney Hudson, Florida State
Stat: 34 career starts
Hudson was the recipient of the 2009 Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner and All-ACC selection, and is already in the running for numerous other awards in 2010. He is the center point of a Seminole line that returns all 5 starters for the second year in a row, and comes in with a combined 142 starts – most of any group in the ACC. Heisman hopeful QB Chrisitan Ponder’s should be grinning ear-to-ear.
3)Sean Bedford, Georgia Tech
Stat: 14 career starts
Bedford was one of 5 Yellow Jackets on offense to be named All-ACC in 2009 (first team since 1995 to have 5). He is a crucial piece to the ever so complex option puzzle that Coach Johnson runs, and helped them to the #2 ranking in rushing offense nationally last season. Expect him to again garner All-ACC status in 2010.
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