Justyn Ross – Page 26 – Syndication Server

Will Georgia reporter make the same mistake as Auburn’s?

Moments before Clemson was set to open the 2016 season at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium, an Auburn reporter walked up to then Tigers’ wide receiver Mike Williams and began asking him questions. At the time, Williams was in the middle of warmups. “He …

Moments before Clemson was set to open the 2016 season at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium, an Auburn reporter walked up to then Tigers’ wide receiver Mike Williams and began asking him questions.

At the time, Williams was in the middle of warmups.

“He asked him questions about ‘How are you feeling mentally right now about your neck?’” recalled Tyler Grisham, who was an offensive analyst on Clemson’s staff at the time.

The incident made Grisham mad. The Auburn game was Williams’ first time back since suffering a serious neck injury the year before when he ran into the goal post in the Wofford game and fractured his neck.

“Afterwards, I ended up speaking with this reporter and saying that was not appropriate,” Grisham said. “That was rude. He does not need to have those thoughts in his mind.”

But Grisham soon found out, the incident to not bother Williams at all. In fact, it might have helped. The Clemson receiver dominated Auburn that evening on the plains, as he caught nine passes for 174 yards in Clemson’s 19-13 victory.

“You turn around and you watch his game against Auburn, he played so well,” Clemson’s wide receivers coach said. “He had a lot of conversion throws down the field. Back-shoulder throws from (Deshaun Watson). So, he played well.

“So, even fielding a question like that, clearly he had done the work and he prepared his mind to be successful. Because, for me, I am sitting here thinking, ‘Oh Gosh! Having to answer a question like that.’ But man, he put the work in during the off-season to say, ‘You know what? I have done all I can. If something happens, I can at least have the satisfaction knowing I have done all I can do.”

Williams went on to have an All-ACC season for the Tigers on their run to the national championship, catching a team-best 98 passes for a team-high 1,361 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was later picked by the Los Angeles Chargers with the No. 7 overall pick in the first-round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Grisham and the Tigers are hopeful, when he is cleared to play, Justyn Ross will have a similar kind of season this coming year. Ross missed all of last season due to a congenital spinal issue which required surgery in June of 2020. The health issue jeopardized the future playing career of the 2019 All-ACC wide receiver.

Ross was eventually cleared last season to participate in non-contact drills which carried over to the spring. He now is awaiting the all-go from Clemson on full contact. When he does come back, Grisham is hopeful Ross will come back and have the same kind of success Williams did in 2016.

“He has that example and, hopefully, we have a similar result this year with Ross,” Grisham said.

Maybe a Georgia reporter will approach Ross in a similar fashion the way the Auburn reporter did Williams just moment before the game. And maybe Ross will respond by producing similar numbers.

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!

8 Tigers named to Preseason All-ACC Football Team

Clemson’s football team had eight Tigers named to the Preseason All-ACC Football team, which the conference announced Tuesday morning. In all, Clemson had more players named to the media’s All-ACC Preseason Team than any other school in the …

Clemson’s football team had eight Tigers named to the Preseason All-ACC Football team, which the conference announced Tuesday morning.

In all, Clemson had more players named to the media’s All-ACC Preseason Team than any other school in the conference. Preseason honors were determined by a vote of 147 media members, including several who were credentialed for last week’s ACC Football Kickoff in Charlotte, N.C.

Six of Clemson’s preseason All-ACC selections came on the defensive side. The Tigers led the conference in total defense last season (326.8 total yards per game) and were second in scoring defense (20.2 points per contest).

Wide receiver Justyn Ross and offensive tackle Jordan McFadden were named to the offense by the media that cover the ACC, while defensive tackles Bryan Bresee and Tyler Davis, along with defensive end Myles Murphy, linebacker James Skalski, safety Nolan Turner and cornerback Andrew Booth were named to the defensive team.

Bresee was the only defensive player on the All-ACC team to receive votes for ACC Player of the Year. He led all players in the balloting with 120 votes and record eight votes for Player of the Year. His eight votes were two more than quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, who received six votes.

North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell was tabbed as the media’s pick to win Player of the Year honors. Howell received 118 votes at the quarterback position to lead all offensive players in the Preseason All-ACC Team balloting. He is joined in the preseason All-ACC backfield by running backs Zonovan Knight of NC State and Mataeo Durant of Duke.

Clemson’s Ross, Boston College’s Zay Flowers and Wake Forest’s Jaquarii Roberson form a potent wideout trio, and Virginia Tech tight end James Mitchell completes the receiving corps. Georgia Tech’s Jahmyr Gibbs was chosen as the all-purpose back.

Ross caught 112 passes for 1,865 yards and 17 touchdowns in his first two college seasons before missing last season due to injury. Flowers’ nine touchdown catches led all ACC receivers in 2020, and Roberson’s 102.9 receiving yards per game were a league high.

Boston College boasts a pair of preseason All-ACC offensive linemen in center Alec Lindstrom and guard Zion Johnson. They are joined by NC State tackle Ikem Ekwonu, Clemson’s McFadden and North Carolina guard Joshua Ezeudu.

Ross (110 votes) and Flowers (101) joined Howell among the leading vote-getters on the offensive unit.

NC State’s Payton Wilson, who joined Bresee on the 2020 All-ACC team, joins Skalski and Virginia’s Nick Jackson on the preseason All-ACC linebacking corps. Virginia Tech defensive end Amare’ Barno, North Carolina cornerback Tony Grimes and Miami safety Bubba Bolden complete the first-team defense.

Clemson’s Murphy (108 votes) and Miami’s Bolden (100) joined Bresee among defensive players hitting the century mark in the balloting, and NC State’s Wilson received 99 votes.

Wake Forest veteran Nick Sciba (third-most accurate in ACC history with a career field-goal conversion rate of .891) received the nod as placekicker. Preseason All-ACC punter Lou Hedley returns to Miami after ranking second among FBS players with an average of 47.2 yards per kick in 2020. Gibbs was a dual choice at specialist after leading Georgia Tech in all-purpose yards (968) and scoring (seven TDs) in 2020 despite missing three games due to injury.

2021 Preseason All-ACC Football Team

(Total votes in parenthesis)

Offense

QB Sam Howell, North Carolina (118)

RB Zonovan Knight, NC State (96)

RB Mataeo Durant, Duke (49)

WR Justyn Ross, Clemson (110)

WR Zay Flowers, Boston College (101)

WR Jaquarii Roberson, Wake Forest (80)

TE James Mitchell, Virginia Tech (77)

AP Jahmyr Gibbs, Georgia Tech (56)

OT Ikem Ekwonu, NC State (83)

OT Jordan McFadden, Clemson (53)

OG Zion Johnson, Boston College (82)

OG Joshua Ezeudu, North Carolina (56)

C Alec Lindstrom, Boston College (77)

Defense

DE Myles Murphy, Clemson (108)

DE Amare’ Barno, Virginia Tech (63)

DT Bryan Bresee, Clemson (120)

DT Tyler Davis, Clemson (53)

LB Payton Wilson, NC State (99)

LB James Skalski, Clemson (95)

LB Nick Jackson, Virginia (37)

CB Andrew Booth Jr., Clemson (86)

CB Tony Grimes, North Carolina (55)

S Bubba Bolden, Miami (100)

S Nolan Turner, Clemson (85)

Special Teams

PK Nick Sciba, Wake Forest (69)

P Lou Hedley, Miami (84)

SP Jahmyr Gibbs, Georgia Tech (60)

Preseason Player of the Year

Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina, 114
D’Eriq King, QB, Miami, 11
Bryan Bresee, DE, Clemson, 8
D.J. Uiagalelei, QB, Clemson, 6
Phil Jurkovec, QB, Boston College, 3
Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College, 2
Jahmyr Gibbs, AP, Georgia Tech, 2

–ACC Communications contributed to this story

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Ross, Rencher All In with NIL

Justyn Ross thinks the change in NCAA policy to allow student-athletes to profit of off their name, image and likeness is long overdue. The Clemson wide receiver hosted a meet and greet event in Greenville, S.C. on Sunday afternoon with his teammate …

Justyn Ross thinks the change in NCAA policy to allow student-athletes to profit of off their name, image and likeness is long overdue.

The Clemson wide receiver hosted a meet and greet event in Greenville, S.C. on Sunday afternoon with his teammate Darien Rencher at Charleston Sports Pub. Fans trickled in from noon until 2 p.m. toting Clemson memorabilia, 2018 national championship Sports Illustrateds and received signed photos as they sought an opportunity to meet the two Tigers and perhaps pose for a few pictures.

The sight exemplified the recent shift in college athletics that college athletes across the country have welcomed with open arms.

“It’s basically something that everybody has been waiting on for a long time and we are happy that it is finally here. This is something you can build your brand with and use in the near future,” Ross told The Clemson Insider. “It’s definitely at least seven years overdue.”

The NCAA formally removed rules that restricted student-athletes from profiting in exchange for promotions on July 1 this summer.

Since then several prominent stars in college football announced NIL partnerships. Last week Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei announced a deal with Bojangles at the ACC Kickoff in conjunction with North Carolina signal caller Sam Howell.

At SEC Media Days, Nick Saban estimated that Alabama’s Bryce Young signed close to $1,000,000 in endorsements before taking his first snap. Miami’s D’Eriq King launched a branding agency with Florida State quarterback Mackenzie Milton called Dreamfield and signed several deals of his own including a deal that will allow up to 90 Hurricanes to pull $500 a month from America Top Team in exchange for advertisements.

Even though Rencher serves as a behind the scenes catalyst for the Tigers he participated in two events on Sunday as a result of the NIL including throwing out the first pitch for the Greenville Drive game after the event with Ross.

The two Tigers agreed that the change allows student-athletes to prepare for life without football.

“I think it’s huge and long overdue for us to be able to make money or profit off our brands. Obviously, the market is there for it and I think both of us are trying to maximize it while we’ve got it,” Rencher said. “And we want to do more things after we leave football after we leave Clemson but to make money and build our brands while we are here means the most.”

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TCI Exclusive: Ross opens up about status, recovery process

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Last week, Dabo Swinney said he would soon learn whether Justyn Ross is going to be cleared to return to the field this season after missing all of 2020. The standout wide receiver missed out on last season due to a congenital …

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Last week, Dabo Swinney said he would soon learn whether Justyn Ross is going to be cleared to return to the field this season after missing all of 2020.

The standout wide receiver missed out on last season due to a congenital spine issue that required surgery in June of 2020. The issue brought uncertainty to Ross’ future in football and took a toll on him personally as it forced him to press pause on his athletic ambitions.

Ross opened up to The Clemson Insider Sunday about the process and whether his return is imminent during a name, image and likeness meet-and-greet at the Charleston Sports Pub in Greenville.

“It’s been hard, but my faith goes really big. I can’t really knock myself or be down because I know at the end everything will be alright,” Ross said.

Since the issue was discovered, Ross has been cleared to participate fully in non-contact drills and team workouts. But when asked by TCI if he received official word about his status for the 2021 football season yet, the uncertainty remained.

“Yeah, I’m waiting on Swinney to hit me (up) right now,” Ross said.

This past year has shown Ross football is a gift that can be taken away at a moment’s notice regardless of how much success one might experience on the field.

As he continued with the Tigers in a limited capacity in 2020, the All-ACC wide receiver used the lessons and new appreciation for football to speak to younger players and grow in his leadership development.

“It showed me that it can be taken away from anybody. You can be at the top one second and then the bottom at the next, so I’m grateful for everything,” Ross said. “I always say, ‘Don’t take it for granted.’ I tell the young boys to enjoy the whole process because it can be gone really fast.”

The hiatus from full contact football also allowed Ross to focus on rehabilitation and healing his body, as he prepared for a possible return to the gridiron.

“It has definitely had its advantages being able to sit out and let my body get right and study the game and becoming a student of the game, and I can definitely use that,” he said.

Swinney last Tuesday at the media outing in Clemson, should have the process complete for Ross’ return to full contact “in the next few days.” He said the team and the university was still cutting through all the paperwork and making sure Ross’ return to play is clear and approved by all parties involved.

“Anytime you have a complicated medical issue like we had with Mike Williams and so forth and so on, there are always a lot of ‘I’s and a lot of ‘T’s and a lot of people that have to sign off on those types of things,” Swinney said. “So, I think we are at the finish line. We are very optimistic about that.”

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Mac Lain has very high expectations for Ross, Clemson receiving corps

Former Clemson offensive lineman and current ACC Network analyst Eric Mac Lain has very high expectations for Justyn Ross and the rest of the Tigers’ receiving corps heading into the 2021 season. Mac Lain expects Ross, who missed last season due to …

Former Clemson offensive lineman and current ACC Network analyst Eric Mac Lain has very high expectations for Justyn Ross and the rest of the Tigers’ receiving corps heading into the 2021 season.

Mac Lain expects Ross, who missed last season due to a congenital spinal issue which required surgery in June of 2020, to make a splash in his return to the field this season while setting himself up to make a lot of money in the NFL following his redshirt junior season with the Tigers.

“I think first-round draft pick,” Mac Lain said on the ACC Network when asked about his legitimate expectations for Ross in 2021. “This guy looks like Julio Jones when he walks out. He’s big, he’s from Alabama, a scary sight to see. Of course, wearing No. 8. He’s that good. He’s that dominant of a player.”

Mac Lain’s fellow ACCN analyst, EJ Manuel, pointed out that Ross is certainly not the only Clemson wideout to watch out for this season.

“You’ve also got E.J. Williams. You’ve got Frank Ladson, Jr. You’ve got Joseph Ngata,” Manuel said. “These guys are loaded, man. They might’ve actually got better at receiver, to be completely honest, as far as size, top to bottom. So, it’s pretty crazy.”

Mac Lain believes this year’s Clemson receiving corps has the potential to be as good as the group of receivers he played with that featured several guys who went on to play in the NFL.

“I was in a room with Deandre Hopkins, Sammy Watkins, Martavis Bryant, Charone Peake,” Mac Lain said. “These guys I think can rival that, which is crazy to say. It’s a little unproven. I’s going to be proven early and often this year.”

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!

Projecting the top Candidates for the Biletnikoff Award in 2021

With award watch lists dropping, who are the favorites to win the Biletnikoff Award in 2021?

With announcements being made this week naming the nation’s top players going into the 2022 season, unsurprisingly, many Oklahoma players are making shortlists for awards.

Just like every other list, I expect multiple Sooners to be named on the Biletnikoff shortlist.

Jadon Haselwood

Coming in as the nation’s fourth-ranked player in the 2019 class, expectations were high for Haselwood to be the Sooners’ next great wideout. Unfortunately, after suffering what coaches described as a “freak injury” to his leg in April 2020, he could not play most of the 2020 season.

Haselwood featured in three games in 2020, making four receptions for 65 yards. That being said, he had a productive freshman season, snagging 19 receptions for 272 yards and a touchdown.

Now that he’s back to full strength, I expect him to be listed as a potential Biletnikoff watchlist player.

Marvin Mims

After a terrific freshman season in which Mims caught 37 receptions for 610 yards and nine touchdowns, he was named to both the Rivals and 247Sports Freshman All-American list.

The Football Writers Association also had Mims as a Freshman All-American. I fully expect Mims to be one of the first names on the list on Thursday.

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Grisham using former Clemson WR as benchmark for Ross’s return

Tyler Grisham keeps coming back to a former wide receiver as a benchmark for Justyn Ross’s impending return. Clemson’s wide receivers coach didn’t have an exact update for when Ross will be cleared for contact. Instead, he spent Tuesday’s media …

Tyler Grisham keeps coming back to a former wide receiver as a benchmark for Justyn Ross’s impending return.

Clemson’s wide receivers coach didn’t have an exact update for when Ross will be cleared for contact. Instead, he spent Tuesday’s media session lauding the star wideout’s leadership skills and how hard he’s been working to get back into the mix of things.

Grisham has already prepared Ross for some mental hurdles that will likely come across along the way.

This isn’t new territory for Grisham, though.

He experienced a similar pattern of events with former Clemson and current Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams.

Williams fractured his neck, which caused him to miss nearly the entire 2015 season. His first game back was against Auburn on Sept. 3, 2016. He hauled in nine receptions for 174 receiving yards in a 19-13 Clemson victory.

Grisham indicated that Williams “played well.”

“Once you take the first hit, you just move on,” Grisham said. “You play football. From that point on, what’s my alignment, assignment? Just execute. That’s what we’re going to train [Ross] to do this fall camp. He’ll take some hits in fall camp, that’s part of it. I think that’ll be good for him to kind of get that out of him, heading into our first game.

Grisham wants the All-ACC wideout to operate like normal and prepare like he’ll be suited up against Georgia on Sept. 4.

“He’s ready to go,” Grisham said. “I believe when he gets that word that he is cleared. He’s going to be ready to go and be confident and able to help us.”

He’s emphasized that Ross can’t have those negative thoughts going into it.

“If you’re fearful, you’re not going to play to your standards,” Grisham said. “You want to put your best self on tape. If you are fearful about further injuring yourself, you’re just not going to perform.”

The hope is that Ross will come back stronger than before. Grisham expects him to not miss a beat.

“Take that first hit, brush it off and let’s go,” he said.

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Swinney gives update on when to expect decision on Ross’ playing status

Dabo Swinney says they should have the process complete for wide receiver Justyn Ross’ return to full contact in the next few days. The Clemson wide receiver has missed the last year due to a congenital spinal issue which required surgery in June of …

Dabo Swinney says they should have the process complete for wide receiver Justyn Ross’ return to full contact in the next few days.

The Clemson wide receiver has missed the last year due to a congenital spinal issue which required surgery in June of 2020. The health issue jeopardized the future playing career of the 2019 All-ACC wide receiver.

Swinney says the team and the university is still cutting through all the paperwork and making sure Ross’ return to play is clear and approved by all parties involved.

“Anytime you have a complicated medical issue like we had with Mike Williams and so forth and so on, there are always a lot of ‘I’s and a lot of ‘T’s and a lot of people that have to sign off on those types of things,” Swinney said Tuesday following his Media Olympics at the Allen Reeves Football Complex in Clemson. “So, I think we are at the finish line. We are very optimistic about that.”

Swinney says Ross has had a great summer and is in good spirits and there is nothing that he does not do – lifts, running and training.

“He is really in a good place, and we are hopeful that he will be able to get back out there and do what he loves to do,” the Clemson coach said. “But first and foremost, you want to make sure the medical people feel like he can go play and be safe.”

Swinney said he really did not want to address what Ross’ doctors told him when he last met with his surgeon in Pittsburgh back in early June.

“I don’t think I will get into the specifics of what the doctors say and all of that,” he said. “We will just kind of wait and get the full report and the process over, and then we will talk about it.”

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!

Draft Wire has Texans taking edge defender, receiver in latest 2-round mock

The Houston Texans address defensive end and receiver in the latest two-round mock from the Draft Wire.

The Houston Texans go with an edge defender and a receiver in the latest two-round mock from the Draft Wire.

According to Luke Easterling, who used the latest Super Bowl odds as a basis to generate the draft order, the Texans take Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux with the No. 1 overall pick and then Clemson receiver Justyn Ross at No. 33 overall, the first selection in Round 2.

If reality were to play out as the mock draft, it would indicate the organization believes they have solved quarterback. Otherwise, they would have used a pick at the position. In the mock, Liberty quarterback Malik Willis goes No. 2 overall, North Carolina signal caller Sam Howell No. 7 overall, and Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler No. 9 overall.

Houston drafted Stanford quarterback Davis Mills with their first selection in the 2021 NFL draft at No. 67 overall in Round 3. Mills is working behind former Pro Bowler Tyrod Taylor and former San Francisco 49ers 2016 sixth-round pick Jeff Driskel. It would take tremendous growth throughout the season and a supplanting of Taylor as the starter for Houston to feel comfortable enough to go with an edge defender as the first pick in the draft.

University of Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

Taking Ross that early in the second round would also be the result of the organization parting ways with either Brandin Cooks, who is a post-June 1 cut dead money hit of $2.5 million, or Randall Cobb, who is a $2 million dead money hit. Receiver Keke Coutee is also entering the final year of his contract in 2021.

Ross at 6-4, 205 pounds would provide the Texans with another big target for the future opposite of Nico Collins, who the club took in the 2021 NFL draft from Michigan.

The fall will ultimately reveal where the Texans pick in April 2022 and whether the players they are projected to take now are worth such draft slots.

ACC Preview: Prospects to watch and team predictions

The 2020 college football season is just around the corner and with a bit of luck this COVID situation will be under control and we can finally enjoy sports again. The Atlantic Coast Conference is packed with a ton of NFL caliber talent and we will cover each team’s most intriguing prospects, their Vegas total and our prediction on whether or not they can reach that total.

Atlantic Division

Boston College Eagles: Vegas Win Total- 5

This team is not good after winning only six games last season, the program elected to press the restart button and hire first time head coach and former Ohio State assistant, Jeff Hafley to run the show. The offense looses a bit of talent, most notably, AJ Dillon, a three-time All-ACC member to the NFL and starting quarterback Anthony Brown via the transfer portal. Their offensive line is fantastic and the defense returns seven starters, but without talent at the skill positions and a better than average defense, its tough to see this team going over the projected five wins. Prediction: Under 5

Top Prospects:

Ben Petrula, OT, 6-5, 310 pounds, Sr.: Petrula was second-team All-ACC last season and will likely be first-team this year. He is a big reason the Eagles were eighth in the country in rushing yards in 2019.

Alec Lindstrom, C, 6-4, 290 pounds, Jr.: Lindstrom should have been All-ACC last season as he is easily a top-tier center in college football, but entering his junior campaign, I’m sure he will garner more attention.

Tyler Vrabel, OT, 6-5, 310 pounds, So.: Vrabel is a redshirt sophomore and will be eligible to declare after this season, but will likely need another season of seasoning. Vrabel is the son of Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.

Clemson Tigers: Vegas Win Total- 11.5

There is not a lot of wiggle room with this total. Clemson needs to go undefeated to hit the mark and the ACC is a bit tougher this year and they travel to Notre Dame. The Tigers have gone to the playoffs all five times and taking this bet means you are sure they can reach it for a sixth time. Clemson had a high-powered offense and will likely be lighting up the scoreboard again in 2020, but this line is too close for my liking. Prediction: Under 11.5

Top Prospects:

Travis Etienne, RB, 5-10, 210 pounds, Sr.: Would have been in the running for first running back off the board in 2019. Etienne has elite athleticism and will be looking to improve on his already impressive vision and receiving skills in 2020.

Trevor Lawrence, QB, 6-6, 220 pounds, Jr.: The odds-on favorite to be the number one selection in 2021, Lawrence is on the path to be one of the best NFL prospects in recent history. He will be looking to rebound from his first collegiate loss, which occurred in the CFP championship game.

Justyn Ross, WR, 6-4, 205 pounds, Jr.: Ross is going to miss the entire season due to a serious spinal injury, but he is still an elite prospect with a giant catch radius and lethal athletic profile. His 2019 season was a bit disappointing, but he is still a productive big-play machine.

Florida State Seminoles: Vegas Win Total- 7.5

Mike Norvell is in charge now and if Willie Taggart can win six games than Norvell should be able to tack on at least two more victories with this squad. This isn’t the safest bet considering that the Seminole offensive line is garbage, the quarterback is not a game-breaker and the defense appears lackluster, but it would not be surprising to see a fast turnaround considering that this team didn’t even play hard last year. Norvell will change that issue in a hurry. Prediction: Over 7.5

Top Prospects:

Marvin Wilson, DT, 6-5, 310 pounds, Sr.: The full package interior defensive lineman, Wilson checks every box and although he missed a portion of last season due to a hand injury, he would have likely been a day one or two anyways.

Hamsah Nasirildeen, S, 6-4, 212 pounds, Sr.: All-ACC level performer, Nasirildeen led the Seminoles in tackles the last two seasons. He plays at an elite level and that was most evident in his 22 tackle performance against Boston College last season.

James Blackman, QB, 6-5, 190 pounds, Jr.: By the way people talk about him you would never guess Blackman has 41 career touchdowns and 5,079 career passing yards to his name. He has already started 23 games for Florida State, but with a competent Mike Norvell running the show, expect a big leap from Blackman in 2020.

Louisville Cardinals: Vegas Win Total- 7.5

Louisville had the biggest turnaround of any Power-Five school last season with a six-win improvement from two wins in 2018 to eight in 2019, but this team was very fortunate and will likely come back down to reality in 2020. They lose one of the best offensive lineman in school history with the Mekhi Becton departure and their defense is floating around the below-average tier. Their schedule is also back-loaded with a murderous five-game stretch to end the year. Prediction: Under 7.5

Top Prospects:

Tutu Atwell, WR, 5-10, 153 pounds, Jr.: A dynamic All-ACC level athlete, Atwell has speed for days. He scored 11 receiving touchdowns last season with six of them going for at least 50 yards.

Dez Fitzpatrick, WR, 6-2, 204 pounds, Sr.: Despite only hauling in 35 receptions last season, Fitzpatrick still managed to take six to the house and flirted with declaring for the NFL. He would have been an early-round selection after 2019, and with what we can assume will be more targets in 2020, the sky is the limit in regard to his draft stock.

Javian Hawkins, RB, 5-9, 182 pounds, So.: Another All-ACC performer, Hawkins led all freshmen with an average of 117 rushing yards per game last season. Despite being undersized, Hawkins runs like a big back taking on a full workload and running through oncoming defenders.

NC State Wolfpack: Vegas Win Total- 5

This feels like free money, as the Wolfpack won four games last season and return most of their major contributors. The team is young and if they peak early there is no reason they can’t double those four games in 2020. Dave Doeren is fighting for his job this season and this team has always played with top-notch physicality before. With his feet to the flames, a turnaround should be expected. If you do lose this bet, you can take solace in the fact that Doeren will lose his job. Prediction: Over 5

Ikem Ekwonu, OT, 6-4, 308 pounds, So.: Ekwonu was granted his first start by default after an injury occurred to the regular starting tackle, but Ekwonu was better than expected and earned All-ACC honors.

Trenton Gill, P, 6-4, 217 pounds, Jr.: One of the best punters in the ACC, Gill averaged a healthy 47.6 yards per punt and ended the season with All-ACC honors.

Thayer Thomas, WR, 6-0, 195 pounds, Jr.: Another All-ACC performer, Thomas is an electric return man in addition to being an excellent receiver. the Wolfpack used Thomas all over the field and he even attempted passes before injuries took their toll.

Syracuse Orange: Vegas Win Total- 5.5

Syracuse lost a lot of starters and missing spring ball to COVID-19 is not going to help them. They won five games last season, but I don’t see how they can improve on that mark. The offensive line is just not good enough and the defense as a whole is too disappointing to take the over here. Prediction: Under 5.5

Top Prospects:

Chris Elmore, TE, 6-0, 292 pounds, Sr.: Elmore is a reliable player that can do the dirty work. The NFL will view him as a fullback/H-Back hybrid player and although that is a niche position he could excel at it.

Andre Cisco, S, 6-0, 206 pounds, Jr.: Cisco is an All-ACC performer for good reason as evidenced by his already insane 12 career interceptions, which makes him the active leader in the FBS. Coaches love him and his elite awareness and ball skills make him a perfect safety.

Andre Szmyt, K, 6-1, 191 pounds, Jr.: Another All-ACC player, Szmyt won the Lou Groza award in 2018 and had an equally impressive 2019 season nailing 17 of his 20 field goal attempts.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons: Vegas Win Total- 6.5

Wake Forest won eight games last season and that number would have been larger if not for a cluster of injuries. The offense only returns three starters and the schedule is a tad tougher, but Dave Clawson appears to have this program moving in the right direction and they should be able to surpass the six game mark. Prediction: Over 6.5

Top Prospects:

Carlos “Boogie” Basham Jr., DE, 6-5, 275 pounds, Sr.: Basham is an All-American level performer as evidenced by his dominating 18 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and three forced fumbles last season. Extremely underrated due to coming from Wake Forest, but Basham has early-round potential.

Sage Surratt, WR, 6-3, 215 pounds, Jr.: Surratt was named first-team All-ACC last year despite suffering a season-ending shoulder injury against Virginia Tech halfway through the season. He has managed to haul in 15 career receiving touchdowns in 19 career games.

Nick Sciba, K, 5-9, 190 pounds, Jr.: Like Basham, Sciba earned All-American honors and rightfully so after setting an NCAA record with 34 straight field goals made.

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