With all only the ACC and SEC remaining, our conference roundtable series is almost complete. We’ll tackle the ACC this week before concluding with the SEC next week.
Yesh Ginsburg kicked things off earlier this week by grading the Atlantic and Coastal Division’s non-conference schedules. Today, we’ll discuss players before moving onto surprise teams, and, of course, who’s going to win the league in 2016.
Q. Who is the player to watch in the ACC this year?
Phil Harrison
On Twitter @PhilHarrisonCFB
DeShaun Watson and anybody telling you any different has either been bumped on the head a time too many or has a smartphone with a ringtone of a team in the ACC not named Clemson.
It’s not like this is some sort of bold prediction or off-the-reservation type of pick. We know what Watson can do. He’s not only shown that he’s a bona fide Heisman front-runner, but he’s capable of carrying a team on his back with his legs, arm and play making ability like he did against Alabama in the national championship game, narrowly missing winning the whole thing.
You’ll see much of the same in 2016, but with Watson a year wiser, you can expect more growth in his game, more news clippings, and more gasps for unbelievable feats. There’s a good chance he’ll be hoisting a trophy in New York of the bronze variety too.
Bart Doan
On Twitter @TheCoachBart
I think we all know Clemson is going to score almost at will on most opponents. But even the most hardened Tiger fan knows that come winning CFB championships, you have a few three and outs, have a turnover or two in an untimely way, and just flat out need stops on D to snare the prize.
If Clemson truly is going to achieve all that they can, keep an eye on guys like DT Christian Wilkins to be the keys in helping them get it done. You don’t win in college football anymore without stout play along the DL, and Wilkins, a 6’4″ 315 pound sophomore could be the next great Tiger lineman.
You may remember him most for his dual threat debut in hauling in a 31-yard pass against Oklahoma in the CFB Playoff first round on a fake punt, but make no mistake, the place you’re more liable to hear about him is on what needs to be a harrowing DL come the fall. As a freshman, he appeared in 15 games, was named to numerous Freshman All-American teams, and recorded 10 tackles in only 35 snaps against the Sooners.
If you’re looking for a name to impress your friends with here in a few months and con them into thinking, “whoa, dude knows his college football,” Wilkins is your guy from the ACC. Big things cometh.
Terry Johnson
On Twitter @SectionTPJ
I’ll go with Dalvin Cook.
Make no mistake about it: Cook is one of — if not the — top running backs in the country. He was certainly the best back in the ACC last year, averaging 140.92 yards per game, which was over 30 yards better than anyone else in the league. He was especially dangerous in the conference play, running for 947 yards (7.89 ypc) and nine touchdowns in seven games against ACC foes last season.
He’s also the most explosive player in the conference. Cook led the league in long plays from scrimmage last year, with 62 of his 229 touches resulting in a gain of 10 yards or more. Four of those plays gained 70 yards or more, which was tops in the nation last year.
Of course, the stat that stands out the most is his ability to keep the chains moving. On second down last season, Cook rushed for 718 yards on 75 carries, with 34 of those runs resulting in a first down. His 9.57 yards per carry on second down was the best in country among runners with more than 50 attempts,.
It was also two full yards better than Leonard Fournette and three yards better than Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry averaged on second down.
That last sentence speaks volumes about how good Cook really is. Keep an eye on him this fall… opposing defensive coordinators certainly will be.
*Editors note: We’ve previewed Duke, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, and North Carolina in our Top 50 countdown. These articles contain 4 key players for each team as well as a list of bold predictions about how they’ll fare this fall.
Previous Conference Roundtables
Sun Belt
MAC
Conference USA
Mountain West
AAC
Big 12
Big Ten
