One of the most important elements to success in college football is the ability to restock the front lines with talent on an annual basis. The structure of the game means leads to the majority of the best players exiting for the NFL every single year. In order to stay at the top coaches have to recruit at the highest level and make sure they continue to bring in quality talent that can help them pick up from where they left off the year before. Clemson stood alone atop the ACC last year and challenged for a national title but after falling just short they will have a tough road ahead of them as they look to take care of unfinished business. Here is a look at the top incoming freshman that could make the biggest difference in the ACC this season.
DE – Dexter Beasley, Clemson Tigers
Vic Beasley, Shaq Lawson, Grady Jarrett and Kevin Dodd have paved the way and it looks as though Dexter Beasley is next in line to become a star on the Clemson defensive line as a true freshman this season. The 6’4’’, 327-pound tackle has incredible power and athleticism with an explosive first step and solid hands. Beasley has impressed his coaches and scouts in spring practice and there is a very good chance that he pushes either sophomore Christian Wilkins or senior Carlos Watkins in order to earn a starting job for the Tigers this season.
One of the reasons Clemson has made an ascent up the ranks in Dabo Swinney’s time is because their defense has gotten much better. They’ve done a great job of recruiting on that side of the ball and are now the strongest unit in the ACC. Combined with what they do on offense, this school has become the team to beat in the ACC on a yearly basis.
CB – Levonta Taylor, Florida State Seminoles
The Seminoles are projected to be Clemson’s biggest threat in terms of ACC supremacy and an absolutely loaded defense will be a big part of the equation. Jalen Ramsey might very well be the most talented player in this year’s NFL Draft so replacing him won’t be easy, but Florida State appears to have found another gem in the freshman cornerback Taylor. The 5’10’’, 170-pound Taylor has excellent speed, quickness and recovery skills so the expectation is that he will step in right away as a starter and replacement for Ramsey this season.
QB – Deondre Francois, Florida State Seminoles
Sean Maquire will return for his senior season but he was sidelined for the spring because of ankle surgery and there are obvious concerns about what he will bring to the table. Maguire struggled to seize the starting quarterback job from Everett Golson last season and Jimbo Fisher could ultimately choose to turn to Deondre Francois if he shows enough to merit earning the starting job this spring. Francois is a dual-threat passer that sat, learned and developed his craft as a redshirt freshman last season so the coaching staff should feel comfortable with what he brings to the table. Maguire is still penciled in as the expected starter but Francois has the talent to challenge him for the No. 1 job. This quarterback battle will be one of the most important things to watch this offseason as it could very well shape the conference.
LB – Johnathon Sutton, North Carolina Tar Heels
Sutton turned down offers from Florida State, Clemson and Auburn to sign with the Tar Heels, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he got the opportunity to play some valuable minutes this year after he redshirted his freshman season. North Carolina lost two senior starters at the linebacker position, leaving sophomore Andre Smith, junior Cayson Collins, JUCO transfer J.B. Copeland and Sutton to challenge for the three starting jobs. Sutton has all of the skills needed to man one of the two outside linebacker spots so don’t be surprised if he got a strong push and started this season.
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