Last year when I started my ACC football team previews, I jokingly said there was a chill in the air and then said there had actually been several days in a row where it was over 90 degrees. Well, this year, there is a definite chill in the air, no joke. Seems as though most days lately are in the 80s and a couple have been in the 70s and tonight, I ran on a nearby high school's track after work and it was in the 60s and almost chilly. This time of year with the weather and the talk of high school, college, and NFL football always gets me fired up. So, like last season, I'll be kicking off my previews in the ACC's Atlantic Division and progressing from North to South, so this first batch of three will include Boston College, Maryland, and Wake Forest.
Boston College
Last year: BC went a disappointing 4-8 overall last season and 3-5 in the ACC, fifth in the division. Running back Montel Harris, the Preseason ACC Player of the Year, was injured before the season began and then got hurt in his second game back against Wake Forest on Oct. 1. He was granted a medical redshirt by the NCAA to play for BC this season but was kicked off the team May 1 for repeated team violations. He transferred to Temple. Chase Rettig developed at quarterback in his second year, completing 53.6 percent of his passes for 1,960 yards, 12 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Luke Kuechly was a standout and All-American linebacker but the Eagles were often inconsistent on offense. They did put together a 3-2 record in their final five games of the season last year with solid wins over Maryland, N.C. State, and Miami.
Offense: Boston College returns 11 players to its offense with starting experience, including an improved Rettig who will be in his third year starting under center. The running back duo of juniors Rolandan Finch and Andre Williams combined for 1,222 yards and seven touchdowns on 4.3 yards per carry last season. Backing them up is a capable sophomore, Tajh Kimble, who rushed for 156 yards and a touchdown and also caught eight passes for 67 yards and a touchdown last season. The two big holes to fill on offense for the Eagles are losing offensive linemen Nathan Richman and Mark Spinney, who had more than 60 games of starting experience combined. The Eagles will most likely be better than last year on offense just because of experience and a new offensive coaching staff. And it can't get too much worse than 2011's mark of scoring just a tad over 18 points per game.
Defense: The Eagles bring back eight starters from a defense that was inconsistent last year but did feature All-American linebacker Kuechly, who set the NCAA record for career tackles per game with 14. Replacing him will obviously be the biggest task. Boston College looks to have good depth at the position and will be OK. The big thing for the defense could be the offense -- if it is more productive this year, the defense can be more productive playing fewer snaps.
Schedule, notes, outlook: Boston College's schedule features eight bowl teams from last year and also Miami who went 6-6 last season but was ineligible to compete in a bowl. The Eagles have two games they should win in non-conference play -- Army and Maine -- and two they could definitely lose-- Northwestern and Notre Dame. BC's ACC schedule is pretty tough as it has to play Florida State, Wake Forest, N.C. State, and Georgia Tech on the road. It gets Miami (season opener), Virginia Tech, and Clemson at home and avoids playing UVa, Duke, and North Carolina. Last year was a big disappointment for the Eagles. Head coach Frank Spaziani led the Eagles to bowl games in both 2009 and 2010, his first two years at the helm. This year's team should be better. The schedule is a bit tough, but the offense returns just about everyone and I think the defense is capable of filling the void left by Kuechly. Also, last year's team finished strong down the stretch and Spaziani might not be able to survive another losing season so the team will have a sense of urgency. I think this season's team gets to 6-6 or 7-5 and a bowl game.
Maryland
Last year: Maryland went just 2-10 last year and 1-7 in the ACC, which placed the Terps last in the division. Coming off a 2010 season in which the Terrapins surprised people by going 9-4 in Ralph Friedgen's last year as head coach, hopes were high heading into last season as Randy Edsall took over at the helm. Edsall had built a successful program at UConn and was expected to begin taking Maryland to new heights. The team was ravaged by injuries all year and poor chemistry as some players did not take to Edsall's style. Maryland started the year with a 32-24 win at home over Miami but won just one more game after that, over FCS program Towson. The defense gave up over 30 points to West Virginia, Temple, UVa, Florida State, Notre Dame, and Wake Forest, and gave up 56 points to N.C. State and Clemson. Danny O'Brien and C.J. Brown split time at quarterback with O'Brien starting seven games and Brown five. O'Brien was more of a pocket passer and Brown more of a scrambler. O'Brien fractured his arm against Notre Dame in November and didn't play after that. He quarreled with Edsall and ended up transferring to Wisconsin in the offseason where he will have two years of eligibility remaining. He can play with the Badgers beginning this year because he graduated from Maryland.
Offense: The Terrapins are likely in some trouble on this side of the ball. With O'Brien transferring, the QB job was supposed to be Brown's. He sustained a season-ending ACL tear earlier in August, however, and true freshman Perry Hills will be barking out the signals for Maryland. Caleb Rowe, another true freshman, is the backup in case Hills doesn't work out. The Terrapins also lost three starters on the offensive line last year, and leading running back Davin Meggett. Sophomore Justus Pickett, who ran the ball 74 times for 274 yards last season, will get the majority of the carries in the backfield and Brandon Ross, a redshirt freshman who was impressive on the scout team last year, will be his backup. At wideout, the Terps lose Quintin McCree, their second-most productive receiver lat year, but return Kevin Dorsey and Kerry Boykins. Matt Furstenburg returns at tight end and is one of the best in the ACC.
Defense: Maryland gave up over 30 points per game last season and must improve here to have any success. The Terps should be better, with 10 starters returning, including All-American linebacker Joe Vellano. There is a new defensive coordinator and that could hold things up, however, as the team is switching from a 4-3 look to a 3-4 scheme.
Schedule, notes, outlook: This year could be another rough one for Maryland. Edsall has seen lots of transfers in his time since he took over as coach and Maryland has a depleted roster. On top of that, his top option at QB is done for the season. I'm not sure how many 2-10 seasons Edsall can endure with his attitude, which rubs some people the wrong way. The Terps need a turnaround but I don't know if it will happen this year. After opening the season at home with William & Mary, the Terps will have three tough non-conference games -- at Temple, Connecticut (Edsall's old team) in Maryland, and at West Virginia. The Terps will likely be 1-3 and no better than 2-2 after those first four. Maryland's ACC slate is a little softer. The Terps avoid playing a tough Virginia Tech squad and get Wake Forest, N.C. State, Georgia Tech, and Florida State all at home. Maryland's toughest road games are at Virginia and at Clemson. The Terps also avoid Duke, however, likely their best chance at an ACC victory. I would be surprised to see Maryland win five games this year, and I think 3-9 is likely with a shot at going 4-8.
N.C. State
Last year: The Wolfpack went 8-5 last season and 4-4 in the ACC, good enough for fourth in the Atlantic. They won the Belk Bowl over Louisville 31-24. Coach Tom O'Brien has the best bowl winning percentage of any coach, at 80 percent. N.C. State started the year slowly at 2-3 with its only wins coming over FCS foes Liberty and South Alabama. They turned it around, however, with back-to-back wins over Central Michigan and Virginia. They got shut out by Florida State 34-0 but crushed Clemson 37-13 and came back from an incredible 41-14 down against Maryland to win 56-41. Mike Glennon had a great year at quarterback, completing 62.5 percent of his passes for more than 3,000 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Cornerback David Amerson led the nation with 13 interceptions and the team led the country in picks as well with 27.
Offense: Glennon returns to lead what could be a dangerous 'Pack offense that returns seven starters. James Washington and Tony Creecy both return in the backfield for N.C. State after rushing for nearly 1,500 yards combined last year and eight touchdowns. Washington is also a threat to catch passes as he recorded 42 catches last year for 315 yards. State's top two wideouts, T.J. Graham and Jay Smith, have graduated, but a player who caught over 30 balls last year, Tobias Palmer, a redshirt senior, and Quintin Payton, who had 16 receptions last year, return. N.C. State also brings back three starters on the offensive line.
Defense: This unit also brings back seven starters, including All-American Amerson, who is just a junior. The entire linebacking corps is gone but three of four starters return on the defensive line and the starting secondary is all back. Safeties Brandan Bishop and Earl Wolff had eight interceptions together last season. The defense got better as the season went along in 2011 and went from giving up 21, 34, 44, and 45 points to Liberty, Wake Forest, Cincinnati, and Georgia Tech, respectively, to giving up 14, 0, 10, and 13 to Virginia, UNC, Boston College, and Clemson, respectively.
Schedule, notes, outlook: N.C. State should have a strong season and could open up 4-0. The Wolfpack begin the season in the Chick-fil-A kickoff game against Tennessee in Atlanta. If they can get over that hump, they have games at Connecticut, and at home vs. South Alabama and the Citadel in the non-conference slate. The Pack's ACC slate isn't terribly challenging, either, as they avoid playing Virginia Tech and get to play Florida State, Virginia, and Wake Forest all at home. They do face both North Carolina and Clemson on the road. The game against the Tigers on Nov. 17 could be pivotal in deciding who wins the division if favorite Florida State falters. N.C. State has lots of veteran leadership returning this season -- 13 starters will be seniors -- and some great playmakers in Glennon, Washington, and Amerson. If State opens up 4-0, they could very well get near nine wins or maybe even more with the momentum they would have built early in the season. I think more realistically, the Wolfpack will go 8-4, but 9-3 isn't out of the realm of possibility.
Boston College
Last year: BC went a disappointing 4-8 overall last season and 3-5 in the ACC, fifth in the division. Running back Montel Harris, the Preseason ACC Player of the Year, was injured before the season began and then got hurt in his second game back against Wake Forest on Oct. 1. He was granted a medical redshirt by the NCAA to play for BC this season but was kicked off the team May 1 for repeated team violations. He transferred to Temple. Chase Rettig developed at quarterback in his second year, completing 53.6 percent of his passes for 1,960 yards, 12 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Luke Kuechly was a standout and All-American linebacker but the Eagles were often inconsistent on offense. They did put together a 3-2 record in their final five games of the season last year with solid wins over Maryland, N.C. State, and Miami.
Offense: Boston College returns 11 players to its offense with starting experience, including an improved Rettig who will be in his third year starting under center. The running back duo of juniors Rolandan Finch and Andre Williams combined for 1,222 yards and seven touchdowns on 4.3 yards per carry last season. Backing them up is a capable sophomore, Tajh Kimble, who rushed for 156 yards and a touchdown and also caught eight passes for 67 yards and a touchdown last season. The two big holes to fill on offense for the Eagles are losing offensive linemen Nathan Richman and Mark Spinney, who had more than 60 games of starting experience combined. The Eagles will most likely be better than last year on offense just because of experience and a new offensive coaching staff. And it can't get too much worse than 2011's mark of scoring just a tad over 18 points per game.
Defense: The Eagles bring back eight starters from a defense that was inconsistent last year but did feature All-American linebacker Kuechly, who set the NCAA record for career tackles per game with 14. Replacing him will obviously be the biggest task. Boston College looks to have good depth at the position and will be OK. The big thing for the defense could be the offense -- if it is more productive this year, the defense can be more productive playing fewer snaps.
Schedule, notes, outlook: Boston College's schedule features eight bowl teams from last year and also Miami who went 6-6 last season but was ineligible to compete in a bowl. The Eagles have two games they should win in non-conference play -- Army and Maine -- and two they could definitely lose-- Northwestern and Notre Dame. BC's ACC schedule is pretty tough as it has to play Florida State, Wake Forest, N.C. State, and Georgia Tech on the road. It gets Miami (season opener), Virginia Tech, and Clemson at home and avoids playing UVa, Duke, and North Carolina. Last year was a big disappointment for the Eagles. Head coach Frank Spaziani led the Eagles to bowl games in both 2009 and 2010, his first two years at the helm. This year's team should be better. The schedule is a bit tough, but the offense returns just about everyone and I think the defense is capable of filling the void left by Kuechly. Also, last year's team finished strong down the stretch and Spaziani might not be able to survive another losing season so the team will have a sense of urgency. I think this season's team gets to 6-6 or 7-5 and a bowl game.
Maryland
Last year: Maryland went just 2-10 last year and 1-7 in the ACC, which placed the Terps last in the division. Coming off a 2010 season in which the Terrapins surprised people by going 9-4 in Ralph Friedgen's last year as head coach, hopes were high heading into last season as Randy Edsall took over at the helm. Edsall had built a successful program at UConn and was expected to begin taking Maryland to new heights. The team was ravaged by injuries all year and poor chemistry as some players did not take to Edsall's style. Maryland started the year with a 32-24 win at home over Miami but won just one more game after that, over FCS program Towson. The defense gave up over 30 points to West Virginia, Temple, UVa, Florida State, Notre Dame, and Wake Forest, and gave up 56 points to N.C. State and Clemson. Danny O'Brien and C.J. Brown split time at quarterback with O'Brien starting seven games and Brown five. O'Brien was more of a pocket passer and Brown more of a scrambler. O'Brien fractured his arm against Notre Dame in November and didn't play after that. He quarreled with Edsall and ended up transferring to Wisconsin in the offseason where he will have two years of eligibility remaining. He can play with the Badgers beginning this year because he graduated from Maryland.
Offense: The Terrapins are likely in some trouble on this side of the ball. With O'Brien transferring, the QB job was supposed to be Brown's. He sustained a season-ending ACL tear earlier in August, however, and true freshman Perry Hills will be barking out the signals for Maryland. Caleb Rowe, another true freshman, is the backup in case Hills doesn't work out. The Terrapins also lost three starters on the offensive line last year, and leading running back Davin Meggett. Sophomore Justus Pickett, who ran the ball 74 times for 274 yards last season, will get the majority of the carries in the backfield and Brandon Ross, a redshirt freshman who was impressive on the scout team last year, will be his backup. At wideout, the Terps lose Quintin McCree, their second-most productive receiver lat year, but return Kevin Dorsey and Kerry Boykins. Matt Furstenburg returns at tight end and is one of the best in the ACC.
Defense: Maryland gave up over 30 points per game last season and must improve here to have any success. The Terps should be better, with 10 starters returning, including All-American linebacker Joe Vellano. There is a new defensive coordinator and that could hold things up, however, as the team is switching from a 4-3 look to a 3-4 scheme.
Schedule, notes, outlook: This year could be another rough one for Maryland. Edsall has seen lots of transfers in his time since he took over as coach and Maryland has a depleted roster. On top of that, his top option at QB is done for the season. I'm not sure how many 2-10 seasons Edsall can endure with his attitude, which rubs some people the wrong way. The Terps need a turnaround but I don't know if it will happen this year. After opening the season at home with William & Mary, the Terps will have three tough non-conference games -- at Temple, Connecticut (Edsall's old team) in Maryland, and at West Virginia. The Terps will likely be 1-3 and no better than 2-2 after those first four. Maryland's ACC slate is a little softer. The Terps avoid playing a tough Virginia Tech squad and get Wake Forest, N.C. State, Georgia Tech, and Florida State all at home. Maryland's toughest road games are at Virginia and at Clemson. The Terps also avoid Duke, however, likely their best chance at an ACC victory. I would be surprised to see Maryland win five games this year, and I think 3-9 is likely with a shot at going 4-8.
N.C. State
Last year: The Wolfpack went 8-5 last season and 4-4 in the ACC, good enough for fourth in the Atlantic. They won the Belk Bowl over Louisville 31-24. Coach Tom O'Brien has the best bowl winning percentage of any coach, at 80 percent. N.C. State started the year slowly at 2-3 with its only wins coming over FCS foes Liberty and South Alabama. They turned it around, however, with back-to-back wins over Central Michigan and Virginia. They got shut out by Florida State 34-0 but crushed Clemson 37-13 and came back from an incredible 41-14 down against Maryland to win 56-41. Mike Glennon had a great year at quarterback, completing 62.5 percent of his passes for more than 3,000 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Cornerback David Amerson led the nation with 13 interceptions and the team led the country in picks as well with 27.
Offense: Glennon returns to lead what could be a dangerous 'Pack offense that returns seven starters. James Washington and Tony Creecy both return in the backfield for N.C. State after rushing for nearly 1,500 yards combined last year and eight touchdowns. Washington is also a threat to catch passes as he recorded 42 catches last year for 315 yards. State's top two wideouts, T.J. Graham and Jay Smith, have graduated, but a player who caught over 30 balls last year, Tobias Palmer, a redshirt senior, and Quintin Payton, who had 16 receptions last year, return. N.C. State also brings back three starters on the offensive line.
Defense: This unit also brings back seven starters, including All-American Amerson, who is just a junior. The entire linebacking corps is gone but three of four starters return on the defensive line and the starting secondary is all back. Safeties Brandan Bishop and Earl Wolff had eight interceptions together last season. The defense got better as the season went along in 2011 and went from giving up 21, 34, 44, and 45 points to Liberty, Wake Forest, Cincinnati, and Georgia Tech, respectively, to giving up 14, 0, 10, and 13 to Virginia, UNC, Boston College, and Clemson, respectively.
Schedule, notes, outlook: N.C. State should have a strong season and could open up 4-0. The Wolfpack begin the season in the Chick-fil-A kickoff game against Tennessee in Atlanta. If they can get over that hump, they have games at Connecticut, and at home vs. South Alabama and the Citadel in the non-conference slate. The Pack's ACC slate isn't terribly challenging, either, as they avoid playing Virginia Tech and get to play Florida State, Virginia, and Wake Forest all at home. They do face both North Carolina and Clemson on the road. The game against the Tigers on Nov. 17 could be pivotal in deciding who wins the division if favorite Florida State falters. N.C. State has lots of veteran leadership returning this season -- 13 starters will be seniors -- and some great playmakers in Glennon, Washington, and Amerson. If State opens up 4-0, they could very well get near nine wins or maybe even more with the momentum they would have built early in the season. I think more realistically, the Wolfpack will go 8-4, but 9-3 isn't out of the realm of possibility.
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