ACC Football: 5 Underrated Players to Watch This Spring

The ACC has plenty of talent in football heading into 2015, but talent can be found in more than just the big names. While players like Justin Thomas, Deshaun Watson, James Conner, Brad Kaaya and Tyler Boyd are all high-profile players, let's look at a few of the guys whom you may not know yet.

Now, an "underrated player" doesn't have to be someone you've never heard of—it's simply a player who has yet to meet his full potential to this point in his career but is ready to take that next step. It could possibly be a player who was sitting behind a star who's now gone, or it could be someone brand new to his team.

There are plenty of players to choose from, but these five are specifically intriguing, and you'll want to keep an eye on them in 2015 and beyond.

5. Josh Harvey-Clemons, S, Louisville Cardinals

John Bazemore/Associated Press

Originally a Georgia recruit, Josh Harvey-Clemons chose to follow former Bulldogs defensive coordinator Todd Grantham to Louisville. The rising junior showed us glimpses of what he's capable of during his sophomore season, but he has quite a task heading into 2015.

Harvey-Clemons will be one of multiple players stepping up to fill in for a depleted secondary. Louisville boasted one of the best secondaries in the nation last season, but the team is losing four players from that unit. Not only are they losing the man who led the nation in interceptions in 2014, Gerod Holliman, but also James Sample, Charles Gaines and Terell Floyd.

Fortunately for the Cardinals and their secondary, they have not one, but two transfers from Georgia in Harvey-Clemons and Shaq Wiggins.

I'm rolling with Harvey-Clemons here due to his playmaking ability, as he should excel once again under Grantham.

During his sophomore season at Georgia in 2013, the talented safety racked up 65 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, five passes broken up, two forced fumbles and an interception. He's capable of doing a little bit of everything, and we'll see that in 2015 with the Cardinals.

4. Ermon Lane, WR, Florida State Seminoles

Harry How/Getty Images

When talking about the Florida State Seminoles in 2015, most want to talk about one of a few things.

The first is the fact that the Seminoles are losing Jameis Winston. The second is the rise of Dalvin Cook, and the third is losing a record-breaking wide receiver in Rashad Greene.

Losing Winston and Greene are obviously both big blows, but there's good news for the 'Noles. That good news goes by the name of Ermon Lane.

Travis Rudolph and Jesus Wilson may be the two receivers on the roster who have the big names, but let's not overlook Lane. As a freshman last season, the speedy receiver racked up 267 yards with a score and did so on only 13 receptions.

That's an incredible 20.5 yards per catch.

We saw glimpses of what Lane was capable of during last season, but 2015 will give him a chance to take his game to a whole different level. Don't get caught up in just the quarterback battle and the rise of Cook, because Lane will be a serious playmaker for the Seminoles.

3. Bra'Lon Cherry, WR, NC State Wolfpack

Garry Jones/Associated Press

The Wolfpack and quarterback Jacoby Brissett are losing two key receivers in Bo Hines and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, each of whom will transfer.

So what does that mean, exactly? Someone needs to step up as the go-to option for Brissett in the passing game.

Pay attention to the name Bra'Lon Cherry.

Cherry upped his game in his sophomore season after a making a minimal impact as a freshman, going from just eight receptions in 2013 to 27 in 2014. Not only did Cherry total 354 yards last season with three scores, but he also tallied six rushes for 40 yards and two touchdowns.

You can't overlook the playmaking ability of Cherry, and it's something that Brissett and the Wolfpack should take full advantage of next year. With the rejuvenated running game that the Wolfpack found at the end of 2014, Cherry and Brissett should have no problem hooking up and posting some big numbers.

Between Hines and Valdes-Scantling, there's a total of 67 receptions leaving the program. Can Cherry grab the reins and become the man?

2. Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson Tigers

Richard Shiro/Associated Press

The Tigers have lost six key players from their defensive line, including a few potential early draft picks in Vic Beasley and Grady Jarrett. The good news for Clemson? They have a superstar waiting in the wings.

Many fans already know the name Shaq Lawson, but if you don't, you will soon enough.

Lawson is a rising junior who has put up some impressive numbers to this point in his collegiate career. As a freshman, he kicked things off with 30 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks and a pass breakup. His sophomore year was also solid, as he managed 34 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a blocked kick.

He did all of this with the incredible talent that the Tigers had blocking him on the depth chart. This coming season has "breakout" written all over it for the talented defensive end.

The Tigers are absolutely loaded offensively, but defense is where the question marks start to come in. If Lawson and the rest of the defense can take it to the next level, they are serious College Football Playoff National Championship contenders.

1. Joseph Yearby, RB, Miami Hurricanes

USA TODAY Sports

It's safe to assume that Joseph Yearby is only underrated to those outside of Coral Gables. For those who don't know Yearby just yet, you'll probably start to believe the hype by around halftime of Miami's opener against Bethune-Cookman.

Yearby is a serious playmaker, but he was sitting behind Duke Johnson last season. The rising sophomore only carried the ball 86 times in 2014, but when he got his chances, he made the most of them.

Yearby finished the year with 509 yards, a 5.9 yard-per-carry average and a touchdown. He also tacked on 118 yards and a score as a receiver.

Since it was tough for the Hurricanes to not give the ball to Johnson on a consistent basis, Yearby simply had to remain patient last season. His patience will pay off this year, though, as he'll be the go-to option in the run game for Miami with Johnson headed to the NFL.

With the Hurricanes losing playmakers in their passing game such as Phillip Dorsett and Clive Walford, expect Yearby to also get plenty of catches in 2015. His impressive 14.8 yards per reception shows us his versatility, and fans should expect to see a whole lot of the talented sophomore next season.