Tag: ACC Fooball

Miami leads the 2024 ACC’s final recruiting rankings

In a year that saw the ACC’s competitive landscape redefine itself, the 2024 recruiting class rankings are revealed.

The ACC’s 2024 recruiting class rankings have crystallized following National Signing Day, showcasing a league brimming with talent and ambition. Miami commands the spotlight with a top-tier class, while Clemson and Florida State keep the pressure on with their impressive hauls. Florida State has revitalized its program in recent years, leveraging the transfer portal to great effect. It was a perfect 13-0 season that propelled the Seminoles to secure their most impressive recruiting class under the guidance of Mike Norvell.

From SMU and Cal’s foundational efforts aimed at future competitiveness to the intrigue of coaching changes at Boston College and Duke. This year’s recruitment efforts set the stage for a fiercely competitive landscape season in a conference ripe for the taking. Below are the final recruiting rankings for the ACC per 247 Sports.

The Hurricanes led by Mario Cristobal, nabbed the top spot with 27 commits, including three five-stars. Their class, highlighted by a strong defensive line, aims to elevate Miami back to national prominence. Headlined by defensive stars Justin Scott, Armondo Blount, and Marquise Lightfoot, this class boasts seven top-100 talents, with an impressive average rating of 91.01.

Dabo Swinney’s Tigers focused on revamping their offense, adding two top-50 wide receivers. Their class of 22 commits includes two five-stars, with the addition of five-star TJ Moore and four-star Bryant Wesco, alongside standout linebacker Sammy Brown, Clemson’s recruits are poised for early impact.

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Despite losing KJ Bolden to Georgia and five-star edge Armondo Blount to Miami during the early signing period, the Seminoles secured a robust class with 16 four-stars, showcasing their continued appeal to top talent.

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The Tar Heels’ 27-man class lacked a blue-chip quarterback but added depth across other positions, maintaining their explosive offensive reputation.

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Focusing on future stability, NC State’s class is highlighted by four-star quarterback Cedrick Bailey, signaling potential growth under Dave Doeren.

The Cardinal’s class is marked by resilience and talent, in highly touted QB Elijah Brown who led the Monarchs to their second state championship in three years and finished off a remarkable four-year run as a starter. Also in four-star defensive lineman Benedict Umeh, who battled through Hodgkin lymphoma.

With a focus on tapping into Georgia’s rich talent pool, the Yellow Jackets’ class includes key four-star prospects, aiming to elevate the program’s profile. Wide receiver Isiah Canion from Warner Robins High and tight end Luke Harpring from Marist School in Atlanta, whose father is basketball player Matt Harpring, are notable additions.

Fran Brown’s impact on recruiting at Syracuse is immediately evident, as the team secured four four-star recruits under his tenure—surpassing the total from the last four years combined, with three committing after Brown took the helm as head coach

Feeling the effects of a tough 3-9 season, Pittsburgh’s recruiting is highlighted by four-star offensive lineman Caleb Holmes.

The Hokies led by coach Brent Pry significantly bolstered their in-state presence by securing Virginia’s premier talent, including the state’s leading receivers, Virginia Beach’s Keylen Adams and King George’s Chanz Wiggins.

Without a top-500 player, Wake Forest aims to find hidden gems, like quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski, to return to their competitive ways.

With a strategy shift toward Texas recruits signing nine this cycle, Cal’s class, including a standout four-star receiver Trevor Rogers from Northern California, might signal a new direction for the program.

Leaning heavily on the transfer portal, Louisville’s approach under Jeff Brohm focuses on immediate-impact players, possibly at the expense of high school recruiting depth. Louisville alum Jeff Brohm added only one Kentucky native to his roster: three-star wide receiver Shaun Boykins Jr.

After coaching changes and player defections including four-star quarterback Tyler Cherry heading to Indiana and four-star offensive tackle Robert Bourdon joining Elko at Texas A&M. Diaz, known for his recruiting prowess at Miami, faces the challenge of gaining momentum at Duke.

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Struggling in high school ranks and securing only two players ranked in the top 1,000. Virginia’s class looks to the transfer portal for immediate impact, hoping to improve under Tony Elliott.

Following coaching changes, Boston College’s class faces uncertainty, with the program aiming to stabilize and build for the future with new head coach Bill O’Brien.

Transitioning to the ACC, SMU’s small class of ten signees focuses on long-term growth, with the program already eyeing talent upgrades in upcoming cycles. The Mustangs boast three top-500 prospects for their 2025 class, positioning SMU under Rhett Lashlee’s leadership for a substantial talent boost in the coming years.

Quarterback Thomas Castellanos is the key to Boston College’s future success

If Boston College wants to join the 12-team playoff in 2024 it will be on the shoulders of the Eagles quarterback.

After a rollercoaster first year as a starter, marked by impressive stats but inconsistent play, Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos stands at a crucial point in his career.

Last season, he etched his name in BC lore as the first Eagles quarterback to pass for 2000 yards and rush for another 1000. This showcased a blend of arm strength and mobility. Alone, he made Boston College a fun-to-watch team in several games throughout the year.

Yet, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Castellanos was responsible for 24 turnover plays, a number that ranked him fourth among FBS quarterbacks who had a minimum of 150 dropbacks per Pro Football Focus.

His journey was peppered with highs and lows, reflecting a young athlete grappling with the complexities of Power Five football. With a year of experience and a winter of healing behind him, the spotlight will intensify.

The question on the lips of Eagle fans: Can Castellanos refine his raw talent into consistent excellence? As BC fans and coaches await with bated breath, this upcoming season promises to be a defining chapter in Castellanos’ burgeoning career and the Eagles’ football aspirations.

So, the burning question as Boston College gears up for the new season is, “What must Thomas Castellanos do to take the next step?”

Castellanos dazzled us with his arms and legs, but his 14 interceptions reveal a need for sharper decision-making. His first year starting was a patchwork of dazzling highs and frustrating lows. He often missed lurking defenders and telegraphed passes.

Solution? Enhanced film study and mental reps. With more experience and a deeper understanding of the offense, expect better anticipation and fewer risky throws. Also, focus on playing quarterback from the pocket, and not be so quick to tuck and run.

He will need to elevate his accuracy and ball placement if he wants to continue on the correct trajectory. With a 57.3% completion rate, Castellanos showed promise in short-range throws. However, his deep ball needs work, as indicated by a steep drop in accuracy beyond 10 yards. Focusing on consistent footwork and refining his throwing mechanics can boost his accuracy, particularly with longer throws.

Castellanos’ shift from an RPO-centric system to a more traditional setup at BC wasn’t seamless. The coaching staff must continue evolving the offense to play to his strengths. Maintaining a balance between pushing his development and leveraging his current skill set is key. Expect a mix of RPOs, quick throws, and designed runs, aiding his decision-making and playmaking abilities.

Castellanos has the raw talent to ascend as one of the ACC’s premier quarterbacks. He spent the second half of the season playing through injuries and it was noticeable. With focused offseason work, particularly on mental aspects and passing accuracy, he can lead the kind of offense that can sneak up on you and steal a game right from under your nose. 

Florida State survives low-scoring affair with Louisville to win the ACC Championship

The Seminoles added a punctuation mark on a 13-0 season with a defensive victory over Louisville in the Charlotte rain.

The Florida State Seminoles outlasted the Charlotte rain and Louisville’s defense for a 16-6 victory in the ACC Championship on Saturday night, cementing a 13-0 season and likely clinching a playoff berth.

The Seminoles, who entered the game No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings, entered the game with visions of the semifinals. Wins by Texas and Alabama earlier on Saturday took away their margin for error, however, assuring a loss would eliminate them from the final four. Multiple injuries left the responsibility of that last win on true freshman quarterback Brock Glenn, who had thrown four career passes before Saturday’s game.

The first half was, in a word, ugly. In the opening 30 minutes, the Louisville and Florida State offenses combined for 149 total yards, 10 first downs, and 11 punts. Glenn performed admirably, completing six of his 12 passes for 44 yards, but a missed field goal from 45 yards meant Florida State only led 3-0 at halftime.

The Louisville offense didn’t come alive in the second half, but it started to stir. After gaining 69 yards as a team in the opening half, they gained 56 on the first drive of the third quarter on a drive full of runs and designed screens. The momentum resulted in a game-tying field goal.

The FSU offense wouldn’t let the momentum stay one-sided, however. Junior running back Lawrence Toafili broke off a 73-yard run just minutes later, setting the Seminoles up for the game’s first touchdown.

After exchanging a few more punts, Louisville broke off another long play. Maurice Turner found a seam and raced 41 yards deep into Florida State territory to set up another Louisville field goal.

Then, the Cardinals’ special teams made what looked like the play of the game. Florida State lined up to punt, but Louisville got pressure on Florida State punter Alex Mastromanno and tackled him before he could get the punt off, setting up the Louisville offense just 11 yards from the go-ahead touchdown.

Instead of a glory-sealing touchdown drive, however, Cardinals quarterback Jack Plummer threw an interception in the end zone to hand the Seminoles the ball back, giving FSU life after life. A few punts later, the Cardinals were forced to go for a fourth down and Plummer was pulled down for a sack, bringing the evening’s offense to a merciful end.

Florida State’s win puts them in the driver’s seat for one of the four playoff spots. The CFP committee has never left out an undefeated Power 5 conference champion. All logic points to the Seminoles ending up in the semifinals, leaving the committee to the momentous decision of whether or not to leave Alabama at home.

Wake Forest starting quarterback Mitch Griffis out against Pittsburgh

Griffis, the Demon Deacons’ starter so far this year, won’t dress against the Panthers, nor will backup Michael Kern.

Wake Forest quarterback Mitch Griffis won’t play today against Pittsburgh, according to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Griffis, who has started each of the Demon Deacons’ previous six games, has completed 59.1% of his passes this year for 1,211 yards, nine touchdowns, and six interceptions. His QBR of 35.7 was 117th in the country and last among starters in the conference entering Saturday.

The report came after multiple Wake Forest beat reporters noticed Griffis wasn’t visible during the team’s pregame warmups.

Griffis’ backup, Michael Kern, also won’t be available for the Demon Deacons.

The Demon Deacons will turn to redshirt sophomore Santino Marucci against Pittsburgh.

Tigers turn to Klubnik late to win top 15 thriller over Syracuse

After trailing by double digits at the half, No. 5 Clemson decided to turn to true freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik late in the third quarter, a decision which proved to be just what the Tigers needed to spark the 27-21 comeback victory. Klubnik …

After trailing by double digits at the half, No. 5 Clemson decided to turn to true freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik late in the third quarter, a decision which proved to be just what the Tigers needed to spark the 27-21 comeback victory.

Klubnik led the Tigers to the end zone two times in his first two drives at the helm, which gave Clemson the lead for good, knocking off an undefeated Syracuse to remain perfect at home for 38-straight games. With their latest win, the Tigers take ownership of the ACC’s longest home winning streak, surpassing Florida State who held the 37-game streak from 1997-2001.

In the first half of play, the Tigers were able to get on the board first with a big first drive that resulted in a Will Shipley trip to the end zone and while Clemson’s run game exploded at moments, the two costly turnovers seemed to lead the Tigers down a path of no return.

The turnover issue continued to plague quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei into the second half, giving up his second interception of the day along with a fumble to turn the ball over in back-to-back drives once again.

With Uiagalelei continually getting burned at the helm for the Tigers, Clemson turned to backup Cade Klubnik late in the third quarter. In his first drive of the game, Klubnik led the Tigers back to the end zone for just the second time thanks to Phil Mafah’s one yard rushing touchdown, cutting Syracuse’s lead to five early in the fourth.

Wes Goodwin’s defense had a huge drive directly after the score, holding quarterback Garrett Shrader and the rest of Syracuse’s offense to just 25 yards with the Tigers bringing the pressure upfront.

Klubnik proved to be just what the doctor ordered for Clemson’s offense, who took back the lead later in the fourth quarter thanks to a clutch 50-yard rush up the middle by Will Shipley for his second rushing touchdown of the day, along with a successful two-point conversion.

After taking the 24-21 lead midway through the fourth, Clemson’s defense seemed to come alive, keeping Syracuse at bay with the three-and-out on the following two drives and holding the Orange to just two first downs while forcing six punts in just the second half alone.

Kicker B.T. Potter extended the Tigers lead with just under two minutes remaining with a 44-yard field goal for a final score of 27-21. With just under a minute to go, safety R.J. Mickens came up with the big interception, Shrader’s first, to seal Clemson’s fate in Saturday’s win over the Orange.

With the win, Clemson remains a perfect 8-0 (6-0 ACC) while knocking off its fifth undefeated opponent of the season. The Tigers extend the nation’s longest winning streak to 14 games and are still in the hunt for their sixth playoff appearance since 2016.

Following the bye week next week, Clemson travels to Notre Dame on Saturday, November 5, for its final road matchup of the regular season at Notre Dame Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on NBC.

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce a limited edition football and poster signed by Clemson’s Avengers.

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