The 25 ACC Players You Must Know Before Kickoff
With the kickoff to the college football season days instead of weeks away it is time to look at what players to keep an eye out for in the ACC.
Several factors will determine who will hold up the ACC trophy come December and who will represent the conference in a BCS game. Some of those factors are off the field issues that will have to be resolved.
This list represents the 25 players who may not be the best in the league, but players the fans should keep an eye out for because the success of each team in the ACC depends on their play.
Marc Verica
1 of 25
Virginia football came pretty close to rock bottom last season. If they hope to make strides in 2010 they will have to rely heavily on quarterback Marc Verica.
If Verica can master new coach Mike London's new offense and avoid turning the ball over then Virgina certainly can be better than they were last season.
It can't get much worse, but Virginia fans should be confident. London has proven he can coach and could end up being a pleasant surprise. So could Verica.
Sean Renfree
2 of 25
It isn't easy replacing a legend, but that is exactly what Duke quarterback Sean Renfree must do.
He will be replacing Thaddeus Lewis who was the school's all time-leading passer. To complicate things Renfree is coming off a season ending knee injury. While he says he is fine, there is always that hesitation.
If he can get some help from the line and the running game, Renfree could help drive David Cutcliffe's offensive machine in an attempt to become bowl eligible.
Donovan Varner
3 of 25
Sean Renfree will have several go-to-guys, but none better than Donovan Varner. The junior wide receiver is coming off a season where he caught 65 balls for 1,047 yards and eight touchdowns.
Varner has garnered a lot of preseason attention as well, making the ACC preseason team and being named to the Biletnikoff watch list.
If Varner can put up similar numbers and get help from his teammates it could be a good year for Duke.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Torrey Smith
4 of 25
Smith was a bright spot in a dreary 2009 season for the Terps.
The junior wide receiver put up solid numbers, totaling nearly 830 yards and six touchdowns on 61 catches. If he can put up similar numbers that will bode well for the Terps in 2010.
Alex Wujciak
5 of 25
Maryland linebacker Alex Wujciak is poised to anchor the Terps defense in 2010. He was named to the Bednarik and Butkus Award watch lists for good reason.
If he has his way it will be harder to block him than pronounce his name.
Ted Stachitas
6 of 25
Wake Forest, like rival Duke, has the dubious task of replacing a legend at quarterback. The Deacons will be replacing Riley Skinner, who was the heart of the team seemingly since he first stepped on the field.
Jim Grobe has opted to go with Ted Stachitas as the starter to begin the season. It will be interesting to see how this sophomore can do with no experience as a starter in college.
Marshall Williams
7 of 25
If Stachitas is to have a good season for Wake he will need his go to guy Marshall Williams to put up similar if not better numbers than he did in 2009.
The senior wide receiver caught 60 passes for 867 yards and five touchdowns last season. He has been named to the Biletnikoff watch for the nation's best receiver as well, so expectations are high.
Montel Harris
8 of 25
Despite low expectations from Boston College, they once again over achieved in 2009. Many are expecting good things again from the Eagles this season and it starts with running back Montel Harris.
Harris put up solid numbers in 2009 rushing for 1,457 yards, on 308 touches and 14 touchdowns. He once again is looking to be the spark plug of the BC offense in 2010.
Tie- Dave Shinskie
9 of 25
There wasn't a lot of confidence in Dave Shinskie going into 2009, but the old man of the Eagles held his own on the way to a 2,000 yard season, which saw him throw 15 touchdown passes while posting an impressive 118.97 quarterback rating.
If BC is to make another run at the ACC Championship in 2010 they will need more good numbers from Shinkie.
Tie-Mark Herzlich
10 of 25
Clearly the feel good story of 2010, Herzlich's return to college football could not be left off this list.
Herzlich looks to be the anchor of the Eagles defense again. The senior linebacker who sat out all of 2009 after being diagnosed with cancer, has proven to be a fighter and a winner on both fronts. He was named to the Butkus Award watch list as well.
Regardless of affiliation, there isn't an ACC or college football fan that won't enjoy watching this kid play.
Nate Irving
11 of 25
The Wolf Pack's star linebacker returns for a second shot at his senior year after missing all of 2009 with injuries sustained in a car crash.
Prior to his injuries, Irving was one of the most intimidating defensive players in the ACC. The Wolf Pack is hoping he can be again, and early indications are other do too, as he was named to the Butkus Award watch list.
Russell Wilson
12 of 25
Wilson burst on to the scene in 2008 and expectations were high in 2009. While he did put up great numbers; 3,027 yards, and 31 touchdowns, the Wolf Pack failed to qualify for a bowl.
Hope is high again and Wilson is expected to help lead them back to bowl eligibility. And they may need him a lot, as the Wolf Pack defense was horrid last year especially in the secondary. If that is the case in 2010, then NC State will need at least 31 touchdowns from Wilson, if not more.
Robert Quinn
13 of 25
Quinn is one of the biggest reasons North Carolina is so highly ranked heading into the 2010 season. He is one one of the monsters on the Tar Heels defense, Quinn could have gone pro after the 2009 season but opted to return.
That return may be marred by a other UNC players who are under investigation for taking inappropriate benefits from agents, or for academic fraud.
As long as Quinn isn't involved he should have a good season, but he may be relied on heavily if some of his other teammates can't avoid suspensions or worse.
Kendric Burney
14 of 25
If Robert Quinn helps anchor the Tar Heels D-Line, Burney is the anchor of the secondary. There isn't much to not like about North Carolina's defense, especially if everyone is there.
If Burney, like Quinn stays out of the mess involving agents and tutors, then he is likely to help lead the best defense in the ACC.
T. J. Yates
15 of 25
Yates is in no way a star of this Tar Heel team, but due to the investigations he may be relied on a lot more than North Carolina coaches and fans would like.
He has passed for nearly 6,000 yards and 40 touchdowns in his career, but his play is best described as inconsistent. The powerhouse of this Tar Heel team was to be the defense, but early indications seem to point toward key players being suspended or ruled ineligible.
If that happens, and the defense isn't as good as expected, then Yates will have to step up or step aside as freshman quarterback Bryn Renner is waiting in the wings to take over, perhaps sooner than later.
Jarvis Jenkins
16 of 25
The big defensive tackle for the Tigers looks to have another solid year. All expectations are that he will do just that as he was named to the All-ACC preseason team as well as on the Nagurski watch list.
He led all Clemson defensive players with 69 tackles, 11 of those were for losses. Jenkins is also on the watch list for the Outland Trophy as well.
Kyle Parker
17 of 25
In what is expected to be Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker's final season for the Tigers, the expectations for the future Colorado Rockie are high.
Parker who threw for more than 2,500 yards and 20 touchdowns is on the Maxwell Award watch list for the nation's top player. The Tigers, who are looking for an even better showing in coach Dabo Swinney's second full season, will rely on Parker to guide the offense minus former Tiger Great C.J. Spiller.
Anthony Allen
18 of 25
While Jonathan Dwyer is no longer at Georgia Tech, the Yellow Jacket faithful have little to fear.
Anthony Allen, a preseason contender for the Doak Walker award given to the nation's best running back, will help spearhead coach Paul Johnson's triple option attack.
As the go-to-guy, you can fully expect him to build on his 618 yards by getting a lot more touches.
Josh Nesbitt
19 of 25
While Allen may be the go-to-back in the Yellow Jacket Offense, quarterback Josh Nesbitt will run the show.
Not many quarterbacks rushed and threw for more than 1,000 yards last year, but Nesbitt did just that, throwing for 10 touchdown passes and rushing for 18 more.
While he will run more than he throws, the passing game is used just enough to keep most opposing defenses honest and create opportunities for the offense to generate long, sustained drives.
Allen Bailey
20 of 25
The big defensive lineman for the Hurricanes will once again look to bring the heat to opposing quarterbacks in 2010.
The preseason All-ACC selection will anchor the defensive line on a team many predict to contend for the ACC title if not the NCAA title.
Jacory Harris
21 of 25
Harris surprised a lot of people with how quickly he helped the Hurricanes shoot out of the gate. He did suffer from spell of inconsistency but he is hoping to avoid that this season.
If he does, Miami can go a very long way to re-establishing itself as a dominant presence in the ACC and in the country.
Last season he threw for more than 3,300 yards, and 24 touchdowns. Similar, if not better numbers, will be required for the Hurricanes to make another run at a title in 2010.
Christian Ponder
22 of 25
Much of the hype surrounding Florida State in 2010 surrounds new coach Jimbo Fisher and Heisman Trophy candidate Christian Ponder.
While many feel Ponder is the real deal, others still feel he has to prove he is as good as advertised. Last season he went down with an injury; while he put up good numbers prior to the injury, they did not indicate he was the best player in college football.
While there are many questions about the Florida State defense, the offense is seen as a sure thing. It will have to be, and Ponder will have to lead the way if the Noles are to re-establish themselves in the ACC.
Rodney Hudson
23 of 25
If Ponder is going to have the type of season many are expecting him to have, he will need his offensive line to dominate and protect.
That starts with preseason All-ACC selection Rondey Hudson. If the big guy and his fellow lineman can open up holes for the running game and protect Ponder, giving him time to throw, the FSU offense should at least be solid in 2010.
Darren Evans
24 of 25
Virginia Tech has been the cream of the ACC crop since joining the conference. Within the last couple of years the team known for defense has become a breeding ground for running backs.
It starts with Darren Evans, who in 2008 rushed for 1,265 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was once again expected to lead the Hokies rushing attack in 2009, but went down with a season ending injury.
Now back, the injury hasn't stopped him from being on the Doak Walker watch list for 2010.
Ryan Williams
25 of 25
The probability of having one Doak Walker candidate is slim but two is just ridiculous. That is exactly what Virginia Tech has in Ryan Williams.
Williams stepped in last season for injured running back Darren Evans and surpassed expectations. He lead the ACC in rushing as a freshman with 1,655 yards and scored 21 touchdowns.
With a backfield that includes Evans and Walker, the Hokies are loaded at running back and could be scary good by the end of the year.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
