Ranking the ACC Units: Wide Receivers\Tight Ends

Part Three of the ACC Unit rankings series looks at the rankings of the Wide Receiver\Tight End units of each ACC team. There a lot of question marks at this position, as most ACC teams are very young at the receiver positions.

Check out the completed rankings.

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

1) Virginia Tech Hokies
I went back and forth about ranking the Hokies or the Miami Hurricanes No. 1 in this position, but I finally decided on the Hokies. They are returning as much young talent as Miami, but the tight end position is in better shape.

At wide receiver, sophomore Jarrett Boykin, red shirt sophomore Danny Coale, and sophomore Dyrell Roberts are back. At tight end senior Greg Boone, who was third on the team with 278 yards, is also back. They are a physical bunch, and they give the Hokies nice balance to a solid running game.


2) Miami Hurricanes
The Canes may have the best young receiver in the ACC in Aldarius Johnson. He led Miami with 31 receptions and 332 yards last season, as a true freshman. At 6-2, 205 he also has good size for a wide receiver.

Laron Byrd and Leonard Hankerson give the Hurricanes two more receivers over 6-2. Byrd is at 6-4, and Hankerson is 6-3. Miami also has great quickness with sophomores Thearon Collier and Travis Benjamin.

TE is where the Canes may lack depth. Starter Dedrick Epps is recovering from reconstructive knee surgery, and his status for 2009 is in doubt. Richard Gordon who only caught three passes last year would likely start at TE if Epps is unavailable.


3) North Carolina State Wolfpack
So who are the lucky recipients of Russel Wilson's passes? Owen Spencer has made several first or second teams All-ACC preseason teams for 2009. Last year he had 31 receptions for 691 yards and five touchdowns.

Javaris Williams at 6-4 was third on the team with 26 receptions for 432 yards. Sophomore T.J. Graham is the fastest of the bunch. If junior Donald Bowens returns to his 2007 form where he caught 41 passes, the Wolfpack are probably No. 1 on this list. TE George Bryan is a solid pass catcher.


4) Boston College Eagles
The Eagles have some talent at the receiving position. The question is who's going to throw it to them. Senior Rich Gunnel returns after catching 49 passes for 551 yards and four touchdowns. He is joined by 6-5 senior Justin Jarvis and 6-6 junior Ifeanyi Momah.

The Eagles hope Clarence Megwa recovers fully from last year's leg fracture. That will further add depth to the wide receivers crew. Lars Anderson is the likely starting TE, but only caught nine passes last year.


5) Clemson Tigers

The Tigers can certainly say they are returning one of the fastest wide receivers in the ACC. Jacoby Ford has been tearing up the 2009 collegiate track season. He was this year's NCAA Indoor 60-meter champion. He was second on the Tiger's team last year with 55 receptions and 710 yards receiving.

Xavier Dye should be the starter opposite of Ford. At 6-5, what he lacks in experience he makes up for with his great size.

After that it's a mis-mash of receivers all vying for time. TE Michael Palmer may be the one to watch. He led the Tigers with 10 receptions and 86 yards in the spring game. I can personally attest that several of the catches were of the fingertip variety and came away impressed with Palmer's pass catching ability.

6) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
You don't really think of wide receivers with the run-first offense of Georgia Tech, but they have a good one. Demaryius Thomas caught 39 passes for 627 yards last year, including a 230 yard effort against the Duke Blue Devils. At 6-3, 229, Thomas is a physically imposing WR, who has made several pre-season All-ACC lists.

Sophomore Tyler Melton will probably start at the other WR position, but he may be pushed by four-stars 2009 WR recruit Stephen Hill. Tech employs no Tight Ends in their offense. Expect more production out of this position as Paul Johnson plans to use more run-and-shoot elements to his triple option offense.

7) Florida State Seminoles

The Seminoles don't have much experience coming back for the 2009 season, but there is talent. Gone are last years' top two receivers Preston Parker and Greg Carr. The third leading receiver Taiwan Easterling ruptured his Achilles tendon during the off-season, but FSU coaches are hopeful he will be available by the time the season starts.

Bert Reed caught 23 passes last season, and without Easterling is the No. 1 receiver. Richard Goodman, who caught 20 passes in 2007, returns after missing 2008. Caz Piurowski provides some pass-catching ability at TE. Piuroski caught eitght passes and had one touchdown last year.


8) North Carolina Tar Heels
The Tar Heels literally had a NFL receiving group last season. Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Tate, and Brooks Foster were all drafted in the recent NFL draft. Five of their top six WR's are gone, so there are some question marks.

6-3 Junior Greg Little returns in the WR position after playing running back last season. 6-4 sophomore Dwight Jones had a very solid spring as did 6-4 Joshua Adams. Zack Pianalto suffered through some injuries last year and is the likely starter at TE.


9) Maryland Terrapins
The Terrapins also lost a lot of ability at the WR and TE positions off last year's team. Goodbye to Darrius Heyward Bey, Danny Oquendo, and TE Dan Gronkowski. Torrey Smith is the unit's only returning starter. He had 24 receptions for 336 yards last year.

Ronnie Tyler was a solid third-down option last year and figures to be the other starter. Tommy Galt looks like the starter at TE. He has been a career backup at Maryland.


10) Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Wake Forest is another team that has to find a way to replace the previous season's pass-catching leader. D.J. Boldin and his 81 receptions are gone now. Second leading receiver Marshall Williams had 26 catches last season, and is the top returnee.

Next two on the depth chart, Devon Brown and Jordan Williams, only caught 11 passes between them last season. TE looks set with Ben Wooster and his 24 receptions.


11) Duke Blue Devils
Johnny Williams the second leading receiver for the Blue Devils is back. Last season he had 30 receptions for 327 yards, and will be Duke's feature receiver this season. 5-9 Donovan Varner had 21 catches, and will be a bigger part of the offense.

6-3 Austin Kelly adds height to the group. TE Brett Huffman, who had 10 catches in November, is another option for the Blue Devils


12) Virginia Cavaliers

The Cavaliers receivers are young, inexperienced and learning a new offense. The top returning receiver, Jared Green had 12 receptions last year. Next on the depth chart are freshman Javaris Brown, junior Staton Jobe (one catch), sophomore Kris Burd (seven catches), and junior Dontrelle Inman (two catches).

There is no experienced talent at the TE position. Under the new spread-offense, I'd expect the catches and production for Cavs receivers to go way up.