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Ranking the ACC Units: Defensive Line

Scribe Written on June 20, 2009

DURHAM, NC - NOVEMBER 29: Sheldon Bell #17 of the Duke Blue Devils is tackled by Deunta Williams #27 and Chase Rice #44 of the North Carolina Tar Heels at Wallace Wade Stadium on November 29, 2008 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Part Five of the ACC Unit rankings series looks at the rankings of the Defensive Line units of each ACC team. There is as much talent along ACC defensive lines as there as been in years, especially in your top 3-4 units.

Check out the completed rankings.

Running Backs
Quarterbacks
Wide Receivers\Tight Ends
Offensive Line
Defensive Line
Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Special Teams
Full Team

1) North Carolina Tarheels

The Heels are deep, experienced, and talented along the defensive line. If they play to their potential they can be a dominant front four. They return all four defensive line starters from last year headlined by pre-season All-ACC pick Marvin Austin.

Alongside Austin is a 6'3" 330 lbs space eater Cam Thomas. Austin and Thomas should give the Heels the best pair of defensive tackles in the ACC. Senior E.J. Wilson and talented sophomore Robert Quinn make up the defensive ends.

2) Virginia Tech Hokies

It was a close between the Hokies and Heels. I gave the Heels the edge because there is more experience along their defensive front and I like the Heel's defensive tackles a little more.

The strength of this line is at defensive end. Jason Worilds might be the conference's best defensive end. John Graves is a versatile 6'3" 275 lbs lineman who played DT last year. He could play some DE this year, along with Nekos Brown. Senior Cordarrow Thompson at 6'3" 308 lbs is the Hokies best interior player.

3) Clemson Tigers

The Tigers have tremendous potential along the defensive line.

Rickey Sapp and De'quan Bowers are as athletic as any pair of defensive ends in the ACC. The question marks are Sapp, who is recovering from an ACL injury, and Bowers, whois only a sophomore and lacks experience.

The tandem could be great. On the interior is Junior 6'4" 305 lbs Jarvais Jenkins and Sophomore 6'2" 315 lbs Brandon Thompson. Last year the two showed flashes of what they are capable of.

Between the two, they had over 60 combined tackles. Junior DT Jamie Cumbie missed most of last season with a broken wrist. DE Kevin Alexander provides quality depth.

4) North Carolina State Wolfpack

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written on June 20, 2009 Rankings/List

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