2008 Atlantic Coast Conference Preview

Conference outlook, with teams listed in predicted order of finish, by The Post and Courier's Larry Williams:

1. Clemson

2007: 9-4 (5-3 ACC); lost to Auburn 23-20 in overtime in Chick-fil-A Bowl).

COACH: Tommy Bowden (69-42 in nine seasons at Clemson, 87-46 in 11 seasons overall)

RETURNING STARTERS: 15 (7 offense, 6 defense, PK, P)

IMPACT PLAYERS RETURNING: QB Cullen Harper, RB James Davis, RB C.J. Spiller, WR Aaron Kelly, S Michael Hamlin, DE Ricky Sapp

BIG SHOES TO FILL: The offensive line lost four starters, and the defense lost its top four linebackers.

OUTLOOK: The Tigers are runaway favorites to win the ACC, and you might've heard that they haven't won the conference since 1991. There's no reason they shouldn't win it, but this program tends to wilt when the expectations are highest.

2. Florida State

2007: 7-6 (4-4 ACC); lost to Kentucky 35-28 in Music City Bowl.

COACH: Bobby Bowden (300-87-4 in 30 seasons at Florida State, 373-119-4 in 40 seasons overall)

RETURNING STARTERS: 14 (6 offense, 7 defense, P)

IMPACT PLAYERS RETURNING: QB Drew Weatherford, RB Antone Smith, WR Gregg Carr, DE Everette Brown, S Myron Rolle

BIG SHOES TO FILL: The offensive line is hurting after losing both tackles and a guard. Bowden has no juniors or seniors up front for the first time in his coaching tenure. Linebacker Geno Hayes and defensive tackle Letroy Guion left early and left a big void.

OUTLOOK: The situation on the offensive line is dire, but second-year line coach Rick Trickett orchestrated noticeable improvement over the second half of last season. If the same happens this year, Jimbo Fisher's offense could hold its own.

3. Wake Forest

2007: 9-4 (5-3 ACC); beat Connecticut 24-10 in Meineke Car Care Bowl.

COACH: Jim Grobe (46-39 in seven seasons at Wake Forest, 79-72-1 in 13 seasons overall)

RETURNING STARTERS: 17 (6 offense, 9 defense, PK, P)

IMPACT PLAYERS RETURNING: QB Riley Skinner, TB Josh Adams, LB Aaron Curry, CB Alphonso Smith

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Receiver Kenneth Moore will be difficult to replace, and so will four lost starters on the offensive line. Defensive end Jeremy Thompson was a force.

OUTLOOK: The Demon Deacons have won 20 games the past two years, and there's no reason they shouldn't be formidable again. But the issues on the offensive line and receiver could make it hard for this team to score many points and duplicate last year's nine wins.

4. Boston College

2007: 11-3 (6-2 ACC); lost to Virginia Tech 30-16 in ACC title game and beat Michigan State 24-21 in Champs Sports Bowl.

COACH: Jeff Jagodzinski (11-3 in one season at Boston College and overall)

RETURNING STARTERS: 12 (6 offense, 6 defense, PK)

IMPACT PLAYERS RETURNING: TE Ryan Purvis, DE Alex Albright, DT Ron Brace, LB Mark Herzlich

BIG SHOES TO FILL: QB Matt Ryan, RB Andre Callender, WR Kevin Challenger, LB Tyronne Pruitt, S Jamie Silva, CB DeJuan Tribble

OUTLOOK: The Eagles might not take the precipitous tumble that's widely expected after Ryan's departure. Offensive coordinator Steve Logan should cook something up, and the defense could be as good or better than last year's.

5. Maryland

2007: 6-7 (3-5 ACC); lost to Oregon State 21-14 in Emerald Bowl.

COACH: Ralph Friedgen (56-31 in seven seasons at Maryland and overall)

RETURNING STARTERS: 16 (9 offense, 5 defense, PK, P)

IMPACT PLAYERS RETURNING: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, LT Scott Burley, DE Jeremy Navarre, LB Dave Philistin

BIG SHOES TO FILL: The Terps lost the running back tandem of Keon Lattimore and Lance Ball. Also gone are six defensive starters who combined for 148 starts.

OUTLOOK: The big question is at quarterback, where Chris Turner started eight games last season but is not solidified as the guy. This is a potential surprise team if a quarterback flourishes and new offensive coordinator James Franklin breathes life into a stagnant offense.

6. N.C. State

2007: 5-7 (3-5 ACC)

COACH: Tom O'Brien (5-7 in one season at N.C. State, 75-45 in 11 seasons overall)

RETURNING STARTERS: 11 (6 offense, 4 defense, P)

IMPACT PLAYERS RETURNING: TE Anthony Hill, RB Jamelle Eugene, RB Toney Baker, RB Andre Brown, DE Willie Young

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Receiver/return man Darrell Blackman is gone, as are several key starters on defense. The Wolfpack needs replacements for defensive tackle DeMario Pressley, linebacker Lerue Rumph and safety Miguel Scott.

OUTLOOK: The running back stable is formidable, but will the offense be able to pass the ball enough to keep defenses from ganging up against the run? The defense has big-time holes at linebacker and defensive back, so the boys up front better be good.

1. Virginia Tech

2007: 11-3 (7-1 ACC); beat Boston College 30-16 in ACC title game and lost to Kansas 24-21 in Orange Bowl.

COACH: Frank Beamer (167-85-2 in 21 seasons at Virginia Tech, 209-108-4 in 27 seasons overall)

RETURNING STARTERS: 11 (6 offense, 4 defense, P)

IMPACT PLAYERS RETURNING: QB Sean Glennon, QB Tyrod Taylor, CB Victor Harris, ROV Kam Chancellor

BIG SHOES TO FILL: The Hokies suffered huge losses on defense (seven starters, including linebackers Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi), and at receiver (top four receivers gone). A total of eight players were selected in the 2008 NFL draft.

OUTLOOK: The attrition was no doubt substantial, but there's ample reason to think the Hokies will reload and challenge for their fifth straight season of 10 wins or more. If the offense finds some answers at receiver, this team should be good enough to win the ACC's weaker division.

2. North Carolina

2007: 4-8 (3-5 ACC)

COACH: Butch Davis (4-8 in one season at North Carolina, 55-28 in seven seasons overall)

RETURNING STARTERS: 18 (9 offense, 8 defense, P)

IMPACT PLAYERS RETURNING: WR Hakeem Nicks, QB T.J. Yates, LB Quan Sturdivant, S Deunta Williams

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer, end Hilee Taylor and linebacker Durell Mapp combined for 72 career starts and will be missed. Balmer was a first-round NFL draft pick, and Mapp and Taylor were second-team All-ACC. And don't forget kicker Connor Barth, who was virtually automatic.

OUTLOOK: The Tar Heels are a popular pick to challenge Virginia Tech, and for good reason. Six of their eight losses last year were by a touchdown or less, and you've got to think that could turn around in Davis' second season.

3. Georgia Tech

2007: 7-6 (4-4 ACC); lost to Fresno State 40-28 in the Humanitarian Bowl.

COACH: Paul Johnson (first season at Georgia Tech, 107-39 in 11 seasons overall)

RETURNING STARTERS: 8 (4 offense, 4 defense)

IMPACT PLAYERS RETURNING: OT Andrew Gardner, DT Darryl Richard, DT Vance Walker, DE Michael Johnson

BIG SHOES TO FILL: The Yellow Jackets lost Tashard Choice, who led the ACC in rushing the past two seasons. Also gone are linebacker Philip Wheeler and Gary Guyton, not to mention three secondary starters.

OUTLOOK: Johnson figures to succeed in Atlanta; the only question is how quickly he'll do it. The Yellow Jackets lost a lot from last year, but Johnson has always been successful doing more with less. If he was able to move the ball consistently against superior competition at Navy, there's no reason to think he won't have some success this season with bigger, faster players.

4. Miami

2007: 5-7 (2-6 ACC)

COACH: Randy Shannon (5-7 in one season at Miami)

RETURNING STARTERS: 11 (4 offense, 6 defense, P)

IMPACT PLAYERS RETURNING: T Jason Fox, TB Javarris James, TB Graig Cooper, DE Eric Moncur, LB Darryl Sharpton

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Receivers Darnell Jenkins and Lance Leggett are gone, and so is quarterback Kyle Wright. The defense lost end Calais Campbell, linebacker Tavares Gooden and safety Kenny Phillips.

OUTLOOK: Shannon faces a difficult task in reversing Miami's recent fortunes, because the standard at this place is 10- and 11-win seasons and national contention. It's hard to see this team reaching that level this season, let alone in the next few years.

5. Virginia

2007: 9-4 (6-2 ACC); lost to Texas Tech 31-28 in Gator Bowl.

COACH: Al Groh (51-37 in seven seasons at Virginia, 77-77 in 13 years overall)

RETURNING STARTERS: 11 (6 offense, 5 defense)

IMPACT PLAYERS RETURNING: OT Eugene Monroe, TB Mikell Simpson, TB Cedric Peerman, LB Clint Sintim, LB Jon Copper, LB Antonio Appleby

BIG SHOES TO FILL: The Cavaliers lost some players with eligibility due to academic shortcomings. Included was quarterback Jameel Sewell. The offense also lost linemen Branden Albert, Ian-Yates Cunningham and Jordy Lipsey. And, oh yeah: Defensive end Chris Long is now in the pros.

OUTLOOK: The Cavaliers were amazingly fortunate last year in close games, winning six games by a combined 12 points while also bagging four of two points or less. Tough to think that'll happen again this year. Virginia could easily find last season's record reversed if it doesn't move the ball on offense.

6. Duke

2007: 1-11 (0-8 ACC)

COACH: David Cutcliffe (first year at Duke; 44-29 in seven seasons overall)

RETURNING STARTERS: 18 (6 offense, 10 defense, PK, P)

IMPACT PLAYERS RETURNING: QB Thaddeus Lewis, WR Eron Riley, DT Vince Oghobaase, LB Micahel Tauiliili

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Receiver Jomar Wright is gone after leading Duke in receiving last year with 56 catches. Tailback Re'quan Boyette suffered a leg injury recently and is out indefinitely.

OUTLOOK: Cutcliffe has hopes of making a splash in Durham, and it's not inconceivable to think he can gradually orchestrate significant improvement. First, the Blue Devils need to snap that 25-game ACC losing streak. Simply winning three conference games this year should qualify as a success, given that they've won that number in the past eight seasons.

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