ACC spring football primer: Power Rankings, burning questions for every team

Florida State tops the ACC Power Rankings entering spring practices, but the league boasts plenty of depth to challenge the Seminoles.

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The ACC, home to two of the past four national champions, felt especially top-heavy when Florida State and Clemson re-emerged in the early part of this decade as the league’s best teams. While the Seminoles and Tigers have continued to dominate, the rest of the league has gotten deeper in an attempt to catch them. The Coastal Division still feels wide open, but instead of being stocked with mediocre teams, it’s got contenders such as Pittsburgh who can beat the eventual national champ on the road and still not win the division. Meanwhile, the Atlantic Division title isn’t guaranteed to run through Tallahassee or Clemson. Louisville returns a Heisman Trophy winner, and NC State will have one of the nation’s best and most experienced defensive lines.

It used to be an insult to be ranked near the middle of the ACC. Come November, the seventh best team in the ACC might still find itself in the top 25.

1. Florida State Seminoles

RECORD: 2016 10-3

We’ll know how the Seminoles’ national title aspirations stack up when they face Alabama in the season opener in Atlanta. But before they worry too much about a national title, they need to worry about reclaiming the ACC in a year when the league feels deeper than ever.

2. Clemson Tigers

RECORD: 2016 14-1

The defending national champion could have the nation’s best defensive line in 2017, but the Tigers have a lot to replace on offense. After Clemson loses QB Deshaun Watson, WR Mike Williams and RB Wayne Gallman, which new names will produce the points?

3. Miami Hurricanes

RECORD: 2016 9-4

Mark Richt has the U moving in the correct direction, but it’s still too early to determine whether this will be the year the Hurricanes finally break through in terms of beating Florida State or winning an ACC title.

4. Virginia Tech Hokies

RECORD: 2016 10-4

The Hokies looked like the favorite to repeat as Coastal Division champs until QB Jerod Evans turned pro. Could year two for Justin Fuente be tougher than year one?

5. Louisville Cardinals

RECORD: 2016 9-4

Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson returns, but it will be up to new offensive line coach Mike Summers to make sure Jackson gets better protection than he did when things fell apart at the end of last season.

6. North Carolina State Wolfpack

RECORD: 2016 7-6

This is a make-or-break year for Dave Doeren. The defensive line is great. The offense returns eight starters, including QB Ryan Finley. Unfortunately, the division remains brutal. The Wolfpack need to take another step, but who can they step over?

7. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

RECORD: 2016 9-4

The Yellow Jackets must replace three-year starter Justin Thomas at quarterback, but Matthew Jordan seems capable. Georgia Tech should be able to contend for the Coastal Division title this year.

8. Pittsburgh Panthers

RECORD: 2016 8-5

Year three of the Pat Narduzzi era will start with a third different offensive coordinator—this time it’s former Nebraska, Louisville and Texas coordinator Shawn Watson—and another graduate transfer quarterback (Max Browne, late of USC). But the biggest question is whether the Panthers’ defense can become more like the ones Narduzzi ran at Michigan State.

9. Duke Blue Devils

RECORD: 2016 4-8

The Blue Devils snapped their string of four consecutive bowl games last year, but year two with Daniel Jones at quarterback should bring a return to postseason play.

10. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

RECORD: 2016 7-6

The Demon Deacons have climbed steadily under Dave Clawson. After reaching a bowl in ’16, they have the personnel to avoid a step backward.

11. North Carolina Tar Heels

RECORD: 2016 8-5

The Tar Heels must replace their quarterback, top three rushers and top two receivers. Considering the improved depth of the league, this is a tough year to have to rebuild an offense.

12. Syracuse Orange

RECORD: 2016 4-8

The Orange got better in their first year under Dino Babers. Will a unique offense become a true differentiating factor this year?

13. Boston College Eagles

RECORD: 2016 7-6

The Eagles took a leap last season, but with a new athletic director coming in, Steve Addazio can’t afford a slide back toward 2015 levels.

14. Virginia Cavaliers

RECORD: 2016 2-10

The Cavaliers should improve in Bronco Mendenhall’s second year, but with depth and class balance issues that can be solved only through recruiting, that improvement may only be incremental.

10 players to watch in the ACC

Lamar Jackson, Louisville QB

Simon Bruty

The Heisman Trophy winner returns after racking up 3,543 yards passing, 1,571 yards rushing and 51 total touchdowns last season.

Dexter Lawrence, Clemson DL

David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Lawrence wasted no time making a name for himself as a true freshman, recording seven sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss to become the next rising star on the Tigers' defensive line.

Derwin James, Florida State S

Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP

His 2016 season was cut short to just two games, but James remains one of the most feared players on any defense in the country. The defensive back can do it all. As a true freshman in 2015 he made 91 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks while forcing two fumbles.

Bradley Chubb, NC State DE

Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer/TNS/Getty Images

Chubb was a one-man wrecking ball on the Wolfpack's defense in 2016, racking up a ridiculous 22 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks.

Harold Landry, Boston College DE

Damian Strohmeyer

Landry is back to anchor Boston College's defensive line after leading the nation in sacks in 2016 with 16.5.

Quadree Henderson, Pittsburgh AP

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Henderson is a versatile weapon who can burn the opposition no matter how he gets the ball in his hands. In 2016, he led the nation in kick return average among players with 30 returns or more and took three kicks back for touchdowns along with one punt return score. The rising junior also rushed for 631 yards and caught 26 passes last season.

Mark Walton, Miami RB

Chuck Burton/AP

Walton will be one of the top rushing threats in the ACC this season after rushing for 1,117 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2016. With quarterback Brad Kaaya off to the NFL, Walton should see an expanded role in the Hurricanes' offense.

Duke Ejiofor, Wake Forest DE

Brian Westerholt/Four Seam Images/AP

Ejiofor was a leader on a stout Wake Forest defense that helped the Demon Deacons snap a four-year bowl drought. He dominated all season with 17 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks.

Micah Kiser, Virginia LB

Lance King/Getty Images

Kiser passed on the NFL draft after compiling 134 tackles, third most in the country, along with 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He also forced five fumbles.

Deondre Francois, Florida State QB

Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

The redshirt freshman guided Florida State's offense with 3,350 yards passing, 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions, but he also left room for improvement. With star running back Dalvin Cook gone, the Seminoles will look to Francois to lead them to an ACC title and College Football Playoff berth.