The ACC had its moment at the top of the college football pyramid last season when Clemson took down Alabama in the national championship game. The Tigers earned the right to be called champions but for as difficult as it was to get to the top they will have an even more difficult time staying there without Deshaun Watson and with an even tougher road through the ACC. Florida State and Louisville in particular have improved on paper and should provide legitimate challenges to Clemson’s ACC supremacy in 2017. Here is a look at the biggest strengths of the top ACC teams.
Clemson – Defensive Line
The Tigers will have to make up for the loss of star quarterback Deshaun Watson among others but they have plenty of talent on both sides of the football and their biggest strength is their defensive line. Clemson brings back Dexter Lawrence, Clelin Ferrell and Christian Wilkins with emerging talents like Austin Bryant, Xavier Kelly and Nyles Pickney. Brent Venables has coached some talented groups in the past but this defensive line might be the most talented and deepest group he has ever worked with.
We’ll see if their defense is enough to keep them in the running for another ACC crown. They’ll have to carry the mail in the early part of the season until the Tigers offense is ready to shine once again.
Florida State – Pass Rush
The Seminoles deserve to be considered one of the most talented teams in the country. Their biggest strength might very well be an elite pass rush led by defensive ends Josh Sweat and Brian Burns. Florida State lost DeMarcus Walker but Burns led all freshman with 9.5 sacks last season while Sweat had 4.5 sacks over his final three games and will look to build on that strong finish this season. Senior Jacob Pugh has the potential to be a disruptive force while the Seminoles should also be able to find snaps for five-star freshman Joshua Kaindoh. Florida State has one of the most disruptive groups of pass rushers in the country and they should be an absolute force in the ACC this season.
The Seminoles look like the most complete team in the ACC these days and should be the conference frontrunner heading into the season. We’ll see if they can capitalize next season while Clemson goes through the rebuilding process.
Miami – Defensive Line
Miami is another team to look out for in the ACC with its defensive line by far the team’s biggest strength. Every single player on the two-deep returns for a talented group that should be able to challenge Florida State for the title of the second-best group in the conference behind Clemson. Joe Jackson, who led the Hurricanes with 8.5 sacks as a freshman, will team with Chad Thomas, Kendrick Norton, Trent Harris, R.J. McIntosh and Demetrius Jackson. Miami’s 37 sacks last season was its highest total since 2010 and that number could definitely go up again in 2017.
Louisville – Quarterback
There is absolutely no doubt about who the best quarterback in the ACC is heading in to the 2017 season with Lamar Jackson back at Louisville looking to build off his accomplishments from last season. The defending Heisman trophy winner threw for 3,543 yards and 30 touchdowns with an additional 1,571 yards and 21 scores while leading the Cardinals to a 9-4 record that included a 7-1 mark in ACC play last season. Jackson is one of the most talented and electrifying playmakers in the entire nation and his presence should give Louisville a legitimate shot at contending for a conference championship and perhaps even a College Football Playoff berth next season. The main challenge for the Cardinals will be building an offensive line that can protect him. The Cardinals obviously looked strong enough in their front five to compete in ACC play – for the most part – but were eaten alive in their bowl game against the LSU Tigers of the SEC. If Louisville has any plans of making it to the CFP, they need to get Jackson much better protection.
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