Previewing ACC media days: From Florida State expectations to sleeper

Andrea Adelson Close Andrea Adelson ESPN Senior Author ACC press reporter. Signed up with

ESPN.com in 2010

. Graduate of the University of Florida.David Hale Close David

Hale

ESPN Personnel Author

• ACC reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Graduate of the University of Delaware.Jul 25, 2023, 07:00 AM ET With media days concluding today, it’s time

to turn our attention to the ACC.The ACC media days will begin Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina, with much to talk about.

Florida State has a level of preseason buzz it hasn’t seen in almost a years, while Clemson is breaking in a new– but familiar– quarterback and North Carolina has a real Heisman Trophy contender under center.Elsewhere in the conference, is this the year coach Mario Cristobal can turn around Miami? And who else beyond the preseason favorites might make a run at the ACC title?These are the greatest concerns facing the ACC as we head into media days.Is Florida State deserving of all the hype?Hale: It’s most likely much easier to question the Seminoles.

After all, it’s been nine years given that they last won an ACC title.

But all the buzz surrounding Mike Norvell’s upstart group feels like more than buzz. After a 10-win project in 2022, this FSU team actually has all the players it needs to win big.Start with the QB: Jordan Travis was at ACC Kickoff 2 years ago together with McKenzie Milton, with Norvell acknowledging he had no idea who would win the group’s QB job. It wasn’t until midway through the 2021

season that Travis really secured the job full time, however since then, he has been a revelation. Travis’story echoes Florida State’s: an exceptional increase from the rain gutter to the penthouse. His talent and leadership represent the structure upon which the Seminoles’ expectations are built.But after years of torment in Tallahassee, the Seminoles may have the deepest roster in the ACC too, thanks to Norvell’s magic in the transfer website, where this year, FSU included wide receiver Keon Coleman, cornerback Fentrell Cypress, D-lineman Braden Fiske, O-lineman Jeremiah Byers and tight end Jaheim Bell, amongst others.ACC Kickoff will have a far different feel for Florida State this year. The weight of expectations can be hard to carry. But this group has welcomed the buzz, and talking with other coaches around the league, the Seminoles certainly have their attention.Adelson: Florida State is deserving of all the hype, but whether they measure up to that hype is the larger question. Off a 10-win season, with virtually every crucial player returning on offense and defense, the Seminoles should be pegged as a possible playoff competitor. Travis is terrific; the

receivers must be better; the running back room ought to be much better; and perhaps essential, the offending line needs to be the very best cumulative group the Seminoles have had since Jimbo Fisher was still the coach.End Jared Verse leads the defense, and a line including Verse, Fabien Lovett and Pat Payton has the possible to be amongst the best in the ACC. There is plenty to like about this team, and we will have our answers quickly about the Seminoles– with the opener versus LSU and a journey to Clemson in Week 4 sure to shape the narrative.

If the Seminoles fall short of the playoff but win 10 games again, will that seem like a letdown considering what is anticipated? Or will it be viewed as another action toward making the program a national championship contender again?Is Miami capable of lastly breaking through?Hale: There’s no chance to put a favorable spin on last year’s 5-7 catastrophe, but Cristobal used this offseason to largely tidy house and begin fresh. Stop me if you’ve heard this story before, though. Miami wins the offseason consistently, once September arrives, the narrative changes.Editor’s Picks 2 Related There are sufficient concerns for this Hurricanes group– specifically at the ability positions– but few will loom larger getting in ACC Kickoff than the capability of QB Tyler Van Dyke to flourish in a new offensive system. Two years earlier, he appeared like an emerging star; but in 2015, he fought injuries and appeared lost in previous planner Josh Gattis ‘offense. Get In Shannon Dawson from Houston with hopes of reigniting Van Dyke’s profession. Plenty of lip service will be given to the

brand-new relationship when ACC Kickoff starts, however the truth is, it may be now or never ever for Van Dyke, Cristobal and Miami.Adelson: I will inform you why Miami is capable: The Hurricanes are developing an offending line that has the prospective to be amongst the better units in the league, which has myriad benefits.First, Miami was just not able to run the ball efficiently a season earlier– averaging 3.7 backyards per carry. A few of that related to injuries that struck the running backs room hard, but the offensive line was a significant aspect there too.Second, Miami struggled at pass security last year. Van Dyke injured his shoulder on a sack in October and was not the same when he returned.

In all, the Hurricanes enabled 36 sacks. When you rank in the bottom 3rd in hurrying offense and sacks permitted, then you know there is an issue to address. Cristobal, a previous offending lineman, understands

this all too well. The spring provided some glimpses at where the O-line improvements will come, starting with transfers Javion Cohen(Alabama) and Matt Lee(UCF). True freshmen Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola look like future stars. An enhanced line will no doubt translate into an enhanced offense, which will assist Miami enhance on 5-7. Quarterback Cade Klubnik(2 )and running back Will Shipley (1)are back for Clemson this season. Image by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire Is Cade Klubnik going to blossom into a star?Hale: Clemson spent the bulk of the 2022 season hoping Klubnik would emerge as the apparent starter at QB, and while he certainly had his moments of success, he never seemed to be able to string together enough good days to win the job. That changed when Klubnik picked apart the North Carolina defense in the ACC championship game, leading to DJ Uiagalelei’s benching and ultimate transfer. But Klubnik regressed again in the bowl

game, as he looked entirely confused in the pocket against Tennessee.That performance caused what may be the most seismic modification of the offseason in the ACC, as Clemson fired O-coordinator Brandon Streeter and brought in

Garrett Riley from TCU. Riley’s task is to update the offense in general, however concern No. 1 is making the most of Klubnik’s enormous talent. The performance history– for both Riley and, obviously, his older brother, Lincoln– is exceptional, so the chances remain in Klubnik’s favor. However while ACC Kickoff probably will come with a parade of platitudes about how excellent the brand-new collaboration is going, the previous 2 years of battles for Clemson’s offense indicate a substantial bit of care is still warranted.Adelson: That caution is justified because we still do not have a terrific idea about how the talent around Klubnik will perform. Running backs Will Shipley and Phil Mafah are the only two tested players returning to the offense. Pass receiver continues to be a significant question mark because players have actually underperformed at the position over the past a number of seasons. There is talent in that room, however Adam Randall, Beaux Collins, Antonio Williams and Cole Turner have to step it up.If this all sounds familiar, it should. These are the same questions that were formerly asked when Uiagalelei was the starter. It is clear the blame for the absence of offensive production lies with a combination of everything– the quarterbacks, the system and the ability players. The factor for real hope is because Riley has tangible results. But scheme is only successful if players are able to make plays.Has North Carolina developed a supporting cast worthwhile of Drake Maye’s talent?Hale: Much like at Clemson, North Carolina used its own frustrating finish to the season as an impetus for huge changes. New O-coordinator Chip Lindsey was generated with a goal of constructing out an offense that can take some pressure off Maye. The Tar Heels dove into the transfer portal to nab a number of wide receivers efficient in picking up a few of the slack for departed star Josh Downs.

And the defense, which was downright awful at times in 2015, waved bye-bye to a host of transfers– particularly in the secondary– while including some fresh blood via the portal.Is it enough to make a difference for a group that threaded the needle for much of last season before collapsing in the last stretch?Maye’s talk this offseason about an offense more reliant on the run game and smarter with the football definitely influences hope, and there will no doubt be

more of that sales pitch at ACC Kickoff. However that defense has up until now to go from how in 2015 ended to where it needs to be to challenge for the conference crown in 2023 that it’s hard to purchase in just yet. If the pass rush, secondary, ground game and O-line all take strides– well, that’s a great deal of ifs. One thing is certain though: Maye is so great, the rest of the team might not need a major turnaround. Small advances could be enough when the QB is this talented.Adelson: Even after enjoying North Carolina practice in the spring, I believe it is too early to say. Hale points out nearly every aspect that has to get better other than a quite huge one– the offending line. North Carolina struggled here; Maye often needed to rush away from pressure, and the run game was just not able to be constant sufficient to keep defenses from simply dropping everyone into coverage.The run game talk is not just lip service; offending linemen wore “Run the Dang Ball”Tee shirts throughout the spring, knowing just how much this need to be a point of focus. I do believe there were lessons found out with Maye a season ago that the Tar Heels will take with them, especially as Lindsey takes control of the playcalling. Part of the factor they wish to run the ball is to keep Maye from doing it. However it likewise assists control the game, as it will keep the defense off the field. Since Hale is right: No matter who replaces Downs and Antoine Green at wideout, a great deal of what occurs this season will rest on the defense.Who’s finest fit to compete for an ACC title beyond Clemson and Florida State?Hale: If all goes according to plan in the ACC, Florida State and Clemson will face off in late September then have a rematch in the conference title game with a playoff spot on the line.But how frequently do things go according to plan in the ACC?Louisville likes its opportunities versus a favorable schedule with new head coach Jeff Brohm at the helm. North Carolina, naturally, bet a champion just in 2015. Wake Forest was in the title game in 2021, and the Satanic force Deacons return a great deal of skill too. NC State has actually reunited QB Brennan Armstrong with O-coordinator Robert Anae, a combination that equated to severe points for Virginia 2 years back. Oh, and Duke won 9 games last year– even if many people outside Durham, North Carolina, didn’t realize it.But if you’re trying to find a sleeper in the ACC, I’ll choose the group that won the league in 2021: Pitt.Don’t be shocked if Panthers coach Pat Narduzzi is the star of ACC Kickoff. He has made headlines all offseason with some difficult talk on tampering and coaches cleaning up house via the website, and he’ll probably have a few hot takes at ACC Kickoff too. But what’s not gotten nearly enough talk is the group Narduzzi plans to place on the field.

He needs to deal with a lot of turnover on defense from in 2015, however he loves his

new-look D-line; the group returns a veteran secondary; and now the Panthers have the best QB to lead the offense with transfer Phil Jurkovec.Pitt has 20 wins over the past two years, and yet the Panthers mostly appear to be prowling in the shadows this offseason.At ACC Kickoff, they should

most likely be front and center.Adelson: Pitt has been a good option here just recently, but I am going with Louisville. Hale pointed out a favorable schedule and coach Brohm, and those are two big reasons the Cardinals ought to be considered a contender– particularly with departments going away. Louisville, previously of the Atlantic Department, does not get Clemson or Florida State this year. Instead, the Cards will play all 5 ACC teams that failed to make a bowl game a year ago. Favorable schedules contribute in supreme outcomes, specifically when there is a first-year coach in charge.That brings us to Brohm, who likewise has actually done an excellent job with the transfer website. Quarterback Jack Plummer knows the offensive system after having played for Brohm at Purdue. Pass receiver Jamari Thrash was an all-conference player at Georgia State. Eric Miller(Purdue )and John Paul Flores(Virginia )ought to assist the offensive line, and 6 essential additions to the secondary– including veterans who were once ACC starters– will assist. Brohm is coming off a Huge Ten championship group a year earlier. He understands how to take full advantage of the talent he has. In a short time period, he has upgraded the lineup and gotten the good luck of a beneficial schedule. Louisville is the answer.