Ranking the ACC Units: Defensive Line

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.

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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

The Wolfpack will have plenty of experience in their starting front four. They will start all seniors along the defensive line. NC State has two potential All-ACC players in DT Alan-Michael Cash and DE Willie Young.

The other DT spot is filled by 6'1" 300 lbs Leroy Burgess who is a good run stopper. The other DE end is Shea Mckeen. He had 32 tackles last season.

5) Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Not known for great defensive line play, the Deacons have a solid unit this season. Senior DT Boo Robinson is a rock in the middle. He had 47 tackles and 5 sacks last season.

Senior John Russel occupies the other DT position. He had 38 tackles and 4 sacks last season. At DE is 6'5" 230 lbs Kyle Wilber. Wilber has a wealth of potential. The other DE is Tristan Dorty. An elbow injury slowed him at times last year.

6) Virginia Cavaliers

The Cavs boast a future star along their defensive line in 6'7" 269 lbs 2nd Team Freshman All-American Matt Conrath. At NT, sophomore Nick Jenkins and senior Nate Collins split time at the position last year.

It appears that Nate Collins will move over to defensive end, giving the Cavs experience at all 3 of their defensive line positions. Junior John-Kevin Dolce will back up Jenkins.

7) Florida State Seminoles

The Noles have plenty to replace off last years squad. Talented defensive ends Everette Brown and Neefy Moffett have moved on. They will be replaced by Markus White and Kevin McNeil.

In particular, White has the raw ability to be Noles next great defensive end. Talented sophomore Moses McCray will push Senior DT Justin Mincey for playing time.

8) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Defensive line is the Yellow Jackets biggest question mark for 2009. They lost three players that were drafted last April in the NFL Draft. Gone are starting DT's Vance Walker and Darryl Richard. Gone are starting DE Michael Johnson and top DT reserve Elris Anyaibe.

Fortunately for the Jackets, DE Derrick Morgan returns. He may be more talented than any of the Yellow Jacket's NFL draftees. I guarantee he will be double-teamed nearly every down, especially to start the season. Robert Hall will likely be the other DE.

At DT several candidates exist. They include Jason Peters, Ben Anderson, and Logan Walls. Coaches are high on young DT players, true freshman 6'4" 335 lbs J.C Lanier and red-shirt freshman 6'7" 325 lbs T.J. Barnes. They'll push for playing time.

9) Miami Hurricanes

The Canes defensive line struggled at time at last year. They were sliced up for more than 400 yards rushing against Georgia Tech late in the season, and were dead last in the ACC in rushing defense.

On the bright side, sophomore DT Marcus Fortson looks like future star. Sophomore Marcus Robinson is quick, but at 6'1" 242 lbs is on the smallish side. Allen Bailey is the most versatile player on the line and can play DE or DT.

10) Duke Blue Devils

The Blue Devils have an NFL caliber DT in Vince Oghobaase, and an upperclassmen-laden defensive front four. Senior Ayanga Okpokowuruk is a solid defensive end. 6-2 290 lbs senior Kinney Rucker mans the other DT position. Even with some improved talent the Blues still ranked 11th in the ACC in rushing defense, and need to improve that.

11) Boston College Eagles

The Eagles lost two of the best interior players in the country off last year's team. 6'3" 293 lbs junior Damik Scafe and 6'3" 256 lbs sophomore Kaleb Ramsey will replace stud defensive tackles B.J. Raji and Ron Brace. 6'5" 241 lbs senior Brendan Deska will also spend time at the DT position. Seniors Austin Giles and Jim Ramella return at the defensive end positions.

12) Maryland Terrapins

No ACC team has more holes to fill along the defensive line than the Maryland Terrapins. The Terps lose six players off their defensive line depth chart. The only significant experience returning is four-game DT starter Travis Ivey. At 6'4" 325 lbs, Ivey has solid size for a DT.

The other DT Dion Armstrong is working through academic issues, and hopes to be ready for the fall. Jared Harell and Derek Drummond will man the defensive end positions. There's potential there in the two, but not a tremendous amount of experience.