Next up are two teams who have new coaches, both of whom are familiar with their schools, especially Miami's new leader. Some trivia: Who was the Mississippi State defensive coordinator in 2014? Geoff Collins. And in 2015? Manny Diaz. They are the new coaches for the Yellow Jackets and Hurricanes. And where did Collins coach from 2017-18? Temple. Which school did Diaz say he was heading to before the Miami job came open? That's right, Temple.
Georgia Tech
Last year: 7-6 (5-3 ACC), lost to Minnesota, 34-10, in Quick Lane Bowl Best win: vs. Virginia, 30-27 in overtime Worst loss: bowl game
Coach: Geoff Collins (first year, 15-10 career)
Starters returning: 10 (4 offense, 3 defense, 3 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: RB Jordan Mason. Mason, a sophomore, ran for 659 yards (6.1 ypc) and seven touchdowns as a true freshman. It is going to be a year of transition away from Paul Johnson's triple-option spread attack and to a more conventional style of offense. But running backs know how to run, and they just need to know which holes to hit. Mason's ability can certainly have a stabilizing effect on an offense that will likely be trying to find its way throwing the ball.
Defensive player to watch: S Tariq Carpenter. In 2018, Carpenter, a junior this season, collected 55 tackles, 1.5 for losses, two INTs, five breakups, and a forced fumble.
Special teams player to watch: KR Juanyeh Thomas. A sophomore this season, Thomas returned
kicks an average of 25.2 yards in 2018 and scored a pair of TDs.
Schedule: at Clemson, vs. South Florida, vs. The Citadel, at Temple, vs. UNC, at Duke, at Miami, vs. Pittsburgh, at Virginia, vs. Virginia Tech, vs. N.C. State, vs. Georgia.
Win-loss prediction: 4-8 or 5-7. Collins is maybe among the more intriguing young coaches in the sport. He has a background in defense, but he's also known as a masterful brand manager. He is trying to change the culture at Tech and wants to use the city of Atlanta to his program's advantage. Early returns have been positive, with the Yellow Jackets possibly on track for a top-25 recruiting class in 2020. Collins has spent time at Georgia Tech before: first as a graduate assistant from 1999-2001 and then again in 2006 as director of player personnel, when he helped the school land its best recruiting class. Collins went 7-6 and then 8-4 in his only two head coaching seasons at Temple from 2017-18, the best first two seasons any coach at Temple has experienced. But his inaugural season in Atlanta could be rough with few experienced players and a change in systems. The QB battle is ongoing, but Lucas Johnson, a redshirt junior who was recruited to the program as a triple-option quarterback but has some throwing ability, appears to have the edge. The top returning receiver is Jalen Camp, and he caught just 11 passes last year. It'll take some time for this team to remember how to throw effectively more than just a handful of times per game. Collins has a good track record as a defensive coordinator, so that unit will probably improve, but it could take time. It's going to probably be more aggressive. Tech only recorded 17 sacks a year ago. The schedule is pretty brutal. At Clemson to open? Wow. And Collins has to play his old school, Temple, which probably won't be a cakewalk. The Jackets played South Florida last season and lost, and November is quite tough, especially if Virginia and Virginia Tech end up being better than 6-6, and oh, Georgia is sitting there at the end, eager to deliver a beatdown. Collins could have a successful career in Atlanta, but expecting a bowl appearance in 2019 looks like a stretch.
Miami
Last year: 7-6 (4-4 ACC), lost to Wisconsin, 35-3, in the Pinstripe Bowl Best win: vs. No. 24 Pittsburgh, 24-3 Worst loss: bowl game
Coach: Manny Diaz (first year)
Starters returning: 17 (8 offense, 6 defense, 3 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: RB DeeJay Dallas. Last year, in a timeshare with Travis Homer, Dallas rushed for 617 yards (5.7 ypc), and six TDs and also caught 10 passes for 85 yards. Homer has moved on to the NFL now, so Dallas will likely get more work.
Defensive player to watch: LB Shaquille Quarterman. A four-year starter, Quarterman last season recorded 82 tackles, 14 for losses, six sacks, an interception, a pair of breakups, and a forced fumble.
Special teams player to watch: Dallas. I don't know if he will remain in both roles, but Dallas returned kicks an average of 21.6 yards, and where he really shone was on punt returns, averaging 17.4 yards on 11 attempts with one score.
Schedule: vs. Florida in Orlando, at North Carolina, vs. Bethune-Cookman, vs. Central Michigan, vs. Virginia Tech, vs. Virginia, vs. Georgia Tech, at Pittsburgh, at Florida State, vs. Louisville, at Florida
International, at Duke.
Win-loss prediction: 7-5 or 8-4. Diaz, a 1995 graduate of Florida State, was Miami's defensive coordinator for three seasons before seemingly taking the head coaching job at Temple in December. But he only ended up being there for a cup of coffee before turning around and coming back to Miami on Dec. 30 once Mark Richt decided to retire. Diaz does not have to start over like Georgia Tech's Collins, thanks to some returning talent and incoming transfers, and a run at the division title is not out of the question. The defense has made the Turnover Chain famous the past two seasons and is likely to be strong again, even with a few starters in the NFL. The secondary lost three great players but brings back cornerback Trajan Brandy (4.5 tackles for losses, three picks, eight breakups) and added USC transfer Bubba Bolden at safety. All of the LBs are back, highlighted by Quarterman, but Michael Pickney also had 74 tackles, 11 for losses, 3.5 sacks, and a pick. The defensive line lost some talent, however, it also gets transfer help from Virginia Tech's Trevon Hill (4.5 tackles for losses and 3.5 sacks in just three games in 2018) and UCLA's Chigozie Nnoruka. The biggest question mark comes at the most important position on offense: quarterback. Whether it was N'Kosi Perry or Malik Rosier taking snaps last season, the QBs underwhelmed. Ohio State transfer Tate Martell was expected to take the job, but instead, redshirt freshman Jarren Williams, a four-star, dual-threat signal-caller who only had three attempts in 2018, was named the starter. He will have three linemen back to protect him, and in addition to Dallas, Williams has a nice weapon back at wideout in Jeff Thomas, who tallied 35 receptions (16.3 yards per catch) and three TDs. Diaz tapped Alabama quarterbacks coach Dan Enos to be the team's offensive coordinator. Before helping develop Tua Tagovailoa last season, Enos was Arkansas' OC for three seasons. He was also Central Michigan's coach from 2010-14, going 26-36. After a brutal opener against Florida at a neutral site, the schedule eases up a lot, and the Hurricanes also get the rarity of playing in five consecutive home games. If they can start to build some momentum at Hard Rock Stadium and knock off Virginia Tech and/or Virginia, Miami could be the clubhouse division leader before a tougher -- but still manageable -- final stretch that puts Miami on the road four times in five contests.
Georgia Tech
Last year: 7-6 (5-3 ACC), lost to Minnesota, 34-10, in Quick Lane Bowl Best win: vs. Virginia, 30-27 in overtime Worst loss: bowl game
Coach: Geoff Collins (first year, 15-10 career)
Starters returning: 10 (4 offense, 3 defense, 3 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: RB Jordan Mason. Mason, a sophomore, ran for 659 yards (6.1 ypc) and seven touchdowns as a true freshman. It is going to be a year of transition away from Paul Johnson's triple-option spread attack and to a more conventional style of offense. But running backs know how to run, and they just need to know which holes to hit. Mason's ability can certainly have a stabilizing effect on an offense that will likely be trying to find its way throwing the ball.
Defensive player to watch: S Tariq Carpenter. In 2018, Carpenter, a junior this season, collected 55 tackles, 1.5 for losses, two INTs, five breakups, and a forced fumble.
Special teams player to watch: KR Juanyeh Thomas. A sophomore this season, Thomas returned
Schedule: at Clemson, vs. South Florida, vs. The Citadel, at Temple, vs. UNC, at Duke, at Miami, vs. Pittsburgh, at Virginia, vs. Virginia Tech, vs. N.C. State, vs. Georgia.
Win-loss prediction: 4-8 or 5-7. Collins is maybe among the more intriguing young coaches in the sport. He has a background in defense, but he's also known as a masterful brand manager. He is trying to change the culture at Tech and wants to use the city of Atlanta to his program's advantage. Early returns have been positive, with the Yellow Jackets possibly on track for a top-25 recruiting class in 2020. Collins has spent time at Georgia Tech before: first as a graduate assistant from 1999-2001 and then again in 2006 as director of player personnel, when he helped the school land its best recruiting class. Collins went 7-6 and then 8-4 in his only two head coaching seasons at Temple from 2017-18, the best first two seasons any coach at Temple has experienced. But his inaugural season in Atlanta could be rough with few experienced players and a change in systems. The QB battle is ongoing, but Lucas Johnson, a redshirt junior who was recruited to the program as a triple-option quarterback but has some throwing ability, appears to have the edge. The top returning receiver is Jalen Camp, and he caught just 11 passes last year. It'll take some time for this team to remember how to throw effectively more than just a handful of times per game. Collins has a good track record as a defensive coordinator, so that unit will probably improve, but it could take time. It's going to probably be more aggressive. Tech only recorded 17 sacks a year ago. The schedule is pretty brutal. At Clemson to open? Wow. And Collins has to play his old school, Temple, which probably won't be a cakewalk. The Jackets played South Florida last season and lost, and November is quite tough, especially if Virginia and Virginia Tech end up being better than 6-6, and oh, Georgia is sitting there at the end, eager to deliver a beatdown. Collins could have a successful career in Atlanta, but expecting a bowl appearance in 2019 looks like a stretch.
Miami
Last year: 7-6 (4-4 ACC), lost to Wisconsin, 35-3, in the Pinstripe Bowl Best win: vs. No. 24 Pittsburgh, 24-3 Worst loss: bowl game
Coach: Manny Diaz (first year)
Starters returning: 17 (8 offense, 6 defense, 3 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: RB DeeJay Dallas. Last year, in a timeshare with Travis Homer, Dallas rushed for 617 yards (5.7 ypc), and six TDs and also caught 10 passes for 85 yards. Homer has moved on to the NFL now, so Dallas will likely get more work.
Defensive player to watch: LB Shaquille Quarterman. A four-year starter, Quarterman last season recorded 82 tackles, 14 for losses, six sacks, an interception, a pair of breakups, and a forced fumble.
Special teams player to watch: Dallas. I don't know if he will remain in both roles, but Dallas returned kicks an average of 21.6 yards, and where he really shone was on punt returns, averaging 17.4 yards on 11 attempts with one score.
Schedule: vs. Florida in Orlando, at North Carolina, vs. Bethune-Cookman, vs. Central Michigan, vs. Virginia Tech, vs. Virginia, vs. Georgia Tech, at Pittsburgh, at Florida State, vs. Louisville, at Florida
Win-loss prediction: 7-5 or 8-4. Diaz, a 1995 graduate of Florida State, was Miami's defensive coordinator for three seasons before seemingly taking the head coaching job at Temple in December. But he only ended up being there for a cup of coffee before turning around and coming back to Miami on Dec. 30 once Mark Richt decided to retire. Diaz does not have to start over like Georgia Tech's Collins, thanks to some returning talent and incoming transfers, and a run at the division title is not out of the question. The defense has made the Turnover Chain famous the past two seasons and is likely to be strong again, even with a few starters in the NFL. The secondary lost three great players but brings back cornerback Trajan Brandy (4.5 tackles for losses, three picks, eight breakups) and added USC transfer Bubba Bolden at safety. All of the LBs are back, highlighted by Quarterman, but Michael Pickney also had 74 tackles, 11 for losses, 3.5 sacks, and a pick. The defensive line lost some talent, however, it also gets transfer help from Virginia Tech's Trevon Hill (4.5 tackles for losses and 3.5 sacks in just three games in 2018) and UCLA's Chigozie Nnoruka. The biggest question mark comes at the most important position on offense: quarterback. Whether it was N'Kosi Perry or Malik Rosier taking snaps last season, the QBs underwhelmed. Ohio State transfer Tate Martell was expected to take the job, but instead, redshirt freshman Jarren Williams, a four-star, dual-threat signal-caller who only had three attempts in 2018, was named the starter. He will have three linemen back to protect him, and in addition to Dallas, Williams has a nice weapon back at wideout in Jeff Thomas, who tallied 35 receptions (16.3 yards per catch) and three TDs. Diaz tapped Alabama quarterbacks coach Dan Enos to be the team's offensive coordinator. Before helping develop Tua Tagovailoa last season, Enos was Arkansas' OC for three seasons. He was also Central Michigan's coach from 2010-14, going 26-36. After a brutal opener against Florida at a neutral site, the schedule eases up a lot, and the Hurricanes also get the rarity of playing in five consecutive home games. If they can start to build some momentum at Hard Rock Stadium and knock off Virginia Tech and/or Virginia, Miami could be the clubhouse division leader before a tougher -- but still manageable -- final stretch that puts Miami on the road four times in five contests.
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