CFT predicts: the ACC

AP

Like the Big East, the ACC’s reputation in football has taken a dive in recent years. The conference has an insulting BCS bowl record and traditional powers (i.e, Florida State and Miami) can’t get back into the national championship picture.

That has an opportunity to change this season. Florida State is one of those preseason media darlings getting the “Watch out, this team’s back!” treatment. The Seminoles have fallen flat in the face of high expectations, though. Will this year be any different?

Looking ahead to the 2012 season, here’s how the ACC should shake out:

(Let it be known that I reserve the right to change my mind at any time without notice.)

Atlantic Division

1. Florida State (last season: 9-4; won Champs Sports Bowl) 
I know, I know. This is the year the Seminoles finally get back in the BCS championship picture, right? Eh, I’ve heard that musical number before. Florida State should be good this season, but that good? The defense, though? Holy cow. One of the best in the nation last year in points allowed should be equally stout this time around. My concern continues to be the FSU offense. The ‘Noles couldn’t run the ball at all last year and the offensive line was downright awful at times. While the O-line should be more cohesive this season, the emphasis is currently on “should.”

2. Clemson (last season: 10-4; lost Orange Bowl) 
Clemson returns practically all its offensive weapons from a year ago, minus tight end Dwayne Allen and backup running back Mike Bellamy. The real loss for the Tigers is in the trenches along the offensive and defensive line — not to mention receiver Sammy Watkins for the first two games of the season due to a drug-related suspension. That could end up being problematic, and to me, that’s the difference between the Tigers and the ‘Noles. Tajh Boyd put up good numbers last year, but he can’t be under pressure the whole year. New defensive coordinator Brent Venables will try to turn the defense around.

3. North Carolina State (last season: 8-5; won Belk Bowl) 
The Wolfpack has one of the best players in the secondary in all of college football in David Amerson … who somehow was not a unanimous preseason All-ACC first-team selection. Anyway, N.C. State also has one of the better, yet under-the-radar quarterbacks in Mike Glennon. The Wolfpack return most of their starters from a year ago and get the benefit of skipping Virginia Tech on this season’s schedule.

4. Wake Forest (last season: 6-7; lost Music City Bowl) 
Jim Grobe enters his 12th season as the head coach of Wake Forest with an overall record of 68-67. The Demon Deacons were trending down for a few years after their 2007 Orange Bowl appearance, but this program seems to have regained some of its mojo last season. There’s some heavy turnover on the offense, especially along the O-line, but conference slate is manageable enough that Wake can manage a middle-of-the-pack finish.

5. Maryland (last season: 2-10) 
Things couldn’t have gone much worse for Randy Edsall in his first season with Maryland. As much as I don’t think Edsall is the right fit for the Terps, he’s too good a coach — yes, he is; he took UConn (UConn!) to a BCS bowl — to have another season as disastrous as his first. In fact, Maryland can get off to a good start with an easy non-conference schedule (save West Virginia) to give the Terps some confidence heading into their Oct. 6 game against Wake Forest. Once November rolls around, though, things get tough with games against Georgia Tech, Clemson, Florida State and North Carolina.

6. Boston College (last season: 4-8)
Boston College lost its two best players on either side of the ball — running back Montel Harris (rushed for 3,735 career yards) and linebacker Luke Kuechly — and Frank Spaziani has a grueling year ahead of him to try to save his job. BC’s program has tanked fast.

Coastal Division

1. Virginia Tech (last season: 11-3; lost Sugar Bowl) 
The Hokies are almost always the favorite to win the Coastal, and this year is no exception. Logan Thomas is gaining a lot of offseason whispers as a potential high-round NFL draft pick because of his size, but keep in mind this will only be his second full year as a starter. Tech is just one of those teams that always knows who they are, which is why Frank Beamer enjoys annual success. The back-end of the schedule features two big games for the Hokies: at Clemson on Oct. 20 — the Tigers swept Va. Tech in two games last year — and at home against Florida State Nov. 8. According to these projections, and I don’t think I’m alone in thinking this, it could be the first of two games between the Hokies and the Seminoles.

2. North Carolina (last season: 7-6; lost Independence Bowl)
Larry Fedora takes over a program that was firmly in the crosshairs of NCAA – the Tar Heels aren’t eligible to go to a bowl this season. The offense has playmakers in quarterback Bryn Renner and running back Giovani Bernard, so the scoring potential for Fedora’s spread offense is certainly there. Protecting Renner will be an offensive line featuring two all-conference selections in James Hurst and Jonathan Cooper.

3. Georgia Tech (last season: 8-5; lost Sun Bowl) 
The ACC Coastal field levels off and fast here. Georgia Tech returns 17 starters from a year ago, including quarterback Tevin Washington. Who Washington will throw to — when the Yellow Jackets throw — remains a question mark. For a team that runs the triple option, Ga. Tech has had some good receivers come out of the program in recent years, most recently Stephen Hill. The defense is a veteran group led by linebacker Julian Burnett.

4. Virginia (last season: 8-5; lost Chick-fil-A Bowl)
The Cavaliers upgrade their quarterback spot with Alabama transfer Phillip Sims. Linebacker Steve Greer returns after earning all-conference honors last year. I like the direction Mike London has Virginia headed and the schedule this season sets up well. No Florida State. No Clemson.

5. Miami (last season: 6-6)
The Hurricanes are dealing with a lot of turnover on offense and losing Ray-Ray Armstrong due to off-the-field issues hurts this team’s secondary. There really aren’t any guaranteed wins between mid-September and the season-ending game against Duke, either. Al Golden has one year under his belt in Miami, but this could shape up to be a rough one.

6. Duke (last season: 3-9)
The Blue Devils have 16 returning starters. Unfortunately, this team will be playing with wide receiver Blair Holliday on its mind. Holliday was involved in an offseason jet ski accident that put him temporarily in a coma. Coach David Cutcliffe will use it as a rallying point for his team, but it looks like another tough season for the Blue Devils. The final six games for this team (at VT, UNC, at FSU, Clemson, at GT, Miami) are brutal.

ACC champion: Virginia Tech

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Interested in our other 10 conference projections along with Division 1-A (FBS) Independents? View ‘em all below by clicking the individual links or our projections landing page HERE. And don’t forget to check out CFT’s preseason Top 25.

Big East
Big Ten
Big 12
Conference USA
MAC
Mountain West
Pac-12
SEC
Sun Belt
WAC
Independents

AP

Miami’s response to its Notice of Allegations is due today  as the university heads toward a June hearing in front of the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions. The program hasn’t suppressed its feelings about the NCAA’s investigation, however. UM president Donna Shalala has called for no additional sanctions beyond the ones self-imposed by the school and a motion to dismiss the case was reportedly filed in March.

Most of that, of course, stems from the fact that the investigation reached FUBAR status earlier this year when the NCAA revealed it had to investigate itself due to improper conduct by its enforcement staff.

Now, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports an unnamed former Hurricanes assistant is pointing fingers as well, although this time at the SEC.

Here’s what Jackson noted in his Sunday column:

One former UM coach accused of wrongdoings complained privately that what the ex-UM coaches allegedly did paled in comparison to unreported violations committed in the SEC.

Without any names or examples, it’s hard to take that kind of cliché accusation seriously. Or, perhaps SEC programs followed Andy Staples‘ seven steps to successful cheating. Besides, it’s UM that’s under the microscope here, not the SEC. Attempting call someone else out isn’t going to change anything.

What could change the direction of this case, though, is if Miami provides enough evidence to support its case being tossed now that its response to the NOA has reportedly been filed.

Meandering our way through the offseason, a single one-liner at a time…

– Anderson Independent Mail: Clemson’s Sammy Watkins enters ’13 as ACC, national receiver to beat.

– The Sun Belt Conference has unveiled a new logo, motto.

– The Birmingham News reminds us that the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2013 is not just about Nick Saban.

– For what it’s worth, Spartans middle linebacker Max Bullough garnered the most votes in an mlive.com poll that asked “Which Michigan State or Michigan football player would you pick first?”

– Chuck Landon of the Huntington Herald-Dispatch has an interesting view on Twitter seemingly taking over the sports universe.

– In what should serve as hopeful news for Vol Nation, head coach Butch Jones is going nonstop when it comes to beefing up recruiting at Tennessee.

– The Daily Oklahoman takes note of Oklahoma State’s looking to make recruiting inroads out West.

– Is Oklahoma looking to go tall at the wide receiver position on the recruiting trail?

– Arizona Republic: Former Arizona State quarterback Andrew Walter gave signals that he might be suited for politics.

AP

An incident that occurred last weekend has left the future of one member of the UT-San Antonio football program up in the air.

According to multiple media outlets, running back CheRod Simpson was arrested last Friday night and hit with multiple charges.  Those charges include resisting arrest, criminal trespass, public intoxication and disorderly conduct.

KABB-TV writes that the player was arrested “after allegedly getting aggressive with police while trespassing at the Aspen Heights Apartments near the UTSA campus.”

Simpson’s father, 53-year-old Rodney Simpson, was arrested in the incident as well, which involved a pool and a pair of off-duty San Antonio police officers working security at the apartment complex.

“We are aware of the matter regarding one of our football student-athletes and will address it accordingly, based on a full review of the incident,” UTSA head coach Larry Coker said in a statement.

In 2012, Simpson rushed for 78 yards on 22 carries.  He’s played in 22 games the past two seasons for the Roadrunners, which made the jump to the FBS level last season.  UTSA will move from the football-defunct WAC to Conference USA in 2013.

AP

In early November of last year, Ivan McCartney was the second West Virginia wide receiver in a span of four days to leave the football program.

A half a year later, the wayward receiving son has returned home.

Dana Holgorsen confirmed to the Charleston Daily Mail that McCartney is back with the team and will be given the opportunity to make amends for whatever led to his initial departure.  The head coach, though, doesn’t exactly sound optimistic that the return will stick.

“Second chances are few and far between,” the said coach told the Daily Mail. “This kid’s got an opportunity to right the ship. Maybe he makes the best of it. Maybe he doesn’t.”

Holgorsen added that McCartney, a high school teammate of Geno Smith, has been back home in Florida, and that individuals from his high school had reached out to him about a possible return.

A four-star member of WVU’s 2010 recruiting class and a U.S. Army All-American, McCartney was rated as the No. 5 receiver in the country and the No. 5 player at any position in the talent-rich state of Florida.  The 6-2, 183-pound receiver played in 33 games during his first stint in Morgantown, totaling 59 receptions for 701 yards and three touchdowns.

As they have every year since 2007, several former Michigan football players returned to Ann Arbor for a charity near and dear to their collective hearts.  And, as is ofttimes the case, the group surpassed the seven-figure mark yet again.

In a series of events dubbed “Champions for Children’s Hearts,” ex-Wolverines Brian Griese, Steve Hutchinson (pictured) and Charles Woodson helped raise more than $1 million that will be earmarked for Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor.  The events included a Mott Takeover radiothon on WTKA-AM, auction, $1,000-a-plate dinner Saturday night and a golf outing Sunday.

Both current and former members of the football program were involved in the charity, whose goal is to make Mott the top children’s hospital in the country.

“Our goal would be to make Mott No. 1,” Hutchinson said according to mlive.com. “It’s top 10 in the country for children’s hospitals — our goal would be to get it No. 1. Michigan’s trying to be No. 1 in everything. The hospital, we want it No. 1.

“I don’t think we could have ever imagined the amount of money we take in every year now. We’re over $1 million every year — for a one tournament and one night gala, it’s crazy.”

Or, as UM athletic director Dave Brandon, whose saw the lives of his twin sons and a grandchild saved by the hospital, put it, “Whatever Mott wants, Mott gets, as far as I’m concerned.”

Kudos to the entire Michigan football program and community for their tireless efforts for such a worthy cause.

(Photo credit: University of Michigan)

AP

A pair of standout Syracuse signal callers will not so unexpectedly be honored by their alma mater, the school announced Sunday.

In a press release, Syracuse confirmed that former quarterbacks Donovan McNabb and Don McPherson will have their respective jerseys raised to the Carrier Dome roof during retirement ceremonies this coming season.  The latter will be honored during the Oct. 5 game against Clemson, the former during a Nov. 2 game against Wake Forest.

McNabb and McPherson will become the sixth and seventh players honored in this manner by the Orange, joining the likes of Jim Brown, Larry Csonka, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little and John Mackey.

“It is our pleasure to honor Donovan McNabb and Don McPherson and recognize their importance to the history of Syracuse football. Both of these men were catalysts for some of the greatest success in college football during their respectful tenures at Syracuse. We want to recognize these extraordinary men during our inaugural season in the ACC as we look to establish new success,” said Syracuse athletic director Dr. Daryl Gross in a statement. “We celebrate two individuals who were significant in branding Syracuse football as a national power. The nation’s eyes were fixated on these two amazing student-athletes as they helped elevate and maintain SU football’s prominence.

“We truly hope all SU fans will join us during the season to salute the jersey retirement of these two tremendous individuals and their families  as we look to compete at the highest level in the ACC as New York’s College Team.”

McNabb led the Orange to three Big East titles and two BCS bowl berths during his time with the Orange.  He was also the first player in conference history to be named first-team All-Big East four times.

15 years after last playing for the Orange, McNabb still holds Syracuse career records for most touchdown passes thrown, total offense, touchdown responsibility, and highest passing efficiency.

“It is an honor,” McNabb said. “Obviously the number 44 had its impact on the program and now #5 will be honored, too. Hopefully we will have more in the future. When you play high school football your goal is to earn a scholarship and a starting position and win the national championship. You do not think about individual honors such as this. It is really unbelievable. Syracuse prepared me for life away from the game. I came in with a mindset that after football I wanted to be in broadcasting. Syracuse taught me responsibility, maturity and played such a big role in developing me into the man I want to be, to be looked at not only as a great athlete, but a great person.”

McPherson was a 1987 All-American who finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting; won the Maxwell Award, which honors the college football player of the year; the Davey O’Brien Award, which recognizes the best collegiate quarterback; and was the first recipient of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. He led the Orange that year to an undefeated regular season and a Sugar Bowl berth.

He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009.

“There are so many people who are responsible for this honor who should be standing next to me when this happens,” McPherson said. “In sports we wear jerseys because we are part of a team. The number on the jersey is meant to identify the player wearing it. To have my jersey singled out is more a moment of reflection than accomplishment. It makes me think about what I did to deserve this and that makes me think about all of the people who came before me, were at Syracuse with me and who have been there since I graduated. A significant part of my journey has been having somebody like Coach Mac in my life. When Daryl Gross called to tell me about this event, I started to write down the names of those who have impacted who I am and it quickly became too long to list everyone. I am blessed.

AP

Meandering our way through the offseason, a single one-liner at a time…

– Mike Leach might be returning to the Big 12… as an opposing coach.

– 10 of the 12 teams in the Big Ten are investing a combined $1.72 million more this year in football assistant coaches pay than they did last year.

– The Des Moines Register has a 45-minute conversation with Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, replete with video and everything.

– From, again, the Des Moines Register: recruits who keep an open mind are simply playing by the rules.

– al.com takes a look at the surprising development at slot receiver for Auburn this spring.

– If you’re interested in hearing third-generation Michigan State player Riley Bullough singin’ and strummin’, click HERE.

– Michigan will, for now, open the season as 26-point favorites vs. Central Michigan.

– With skill commitments in tow, Vanderbilt will now switch its recruiting focus to the trenches.

AP

In 2012 as a high school senior, Derrick Nash led the state of Michigan in rushing.  In February, the running back signed a National Letter of Intent to play his college football at Central Michigan in what he called “the greatest moment in my life.”  Three months later, Nash received the worst news of his young life.

Leukemia, diagnosed following a trip to the emergency room for what was thought to be mono or the flu.

The prom, his graduation ceremony and even his first year of college football have been replaced by chemotherapy sessions at University Hospital in Ann Arbor.  The good news is Nash was told by doctors that “everything would be fine. I would be able to get better” and play football again after sitting out the 2013 season.

Nash, though, wasn’t sure that would be with the Chippewas, telling Hugh Bernreuter of mlive.com that he was “worried [CMU] coaches were going to give up on me.”  That was one fear in this whole process for which there was no need.

“One of the first things we told him was that he was going to play football again and that he was going to play for CMU,” Chips head coach Dan Enos (pictured) said. “Keeping him on scholarship was a no-brainer. It’s the right thing to do. That’s the philosophy from the president through the athletic director to the coaches. You do the right thing.”

Added Enos, “I can’t wait until he can run onto our field before a game wearing a CMU uniform. That’ll be a great moment for a lot of people.”

Nash will continue undergoing chemo treatments for the next five months or so, but could be released from the hospital as early as late this month.  The website writes that Nash “expects to receive a medical redshirt season and begin working toward the 2014 season” following his release.

Thoughts and prayers go out to Nash as he continues his battle to beat this insidious disease.  And here’s to hoping he realizes his dream by running out on to the field in September of 2014 with his teammates as the Chips take on Purdue.

AP

With “voluntary” summer workouts set to commence in short order, Tulsa has found itself suffering an unexpected bit of personnel attrition.

The school confirmed to Tulsa World late this past week that kicker Daniel Schwarz and wide receiver Adam Boyd will not be a part of the football program for the 2013 season and will apparently seek transfers.  As is ofttimes the case, no reasons for the departures were given.

The bigger of the two departures by far is that of Schwarz.  As a freshman last season, Schwarz was the Golden Hurricanes’ starting kicker, connecting on 12-of-18 field goal attempts and 52-of-59 extra points.  He finished second on the team in scoring with 88 points.

Taking over the kicking duties will apparently be Carl Salazar, a walk-on who has spent time at both Air Force and Oklahoma.

Boyd, a two-star member of Tulsa’s 2012 recruiting class, took a redshirt for his true freshman season.

AP

Thanks to family issues back home, Tulane will be without one its most experienced members of its receiving corp for the 2013 season.

According to the Baton Rouge Advocate, Wilson Van Hooser has asked for a release from his Tulane scholarship and will transfer out of the football program.  The reason for the transfer has nothing to do with problems with the coaching staff or off-field issues or anything of that sort.  Rather, the senior wide receiver wants to move back home to be closer to his mom, who the paper writes has undergone seven back surgeries and several other procedures looking into her brain over the past several months and is currently bedridden.

“I needed to make a big-boy decision, because I’m graduating, my older brother is getting married and Fudge (brother and Tulane teammate Walker Van Hooser) is moving into a position he’s really excited about,” Van Hooser told the Advocate. “I need to step up for my family, and I need to be the one to be back in Montgomery (Ala.) to help out as much as I can.”

While Van Hooser is leaving the Green Wave, he wants to play his final season of college football.  In a classy gesture, Van Hooser said that the Tulane coaching staff has reached out to their counterparts at Auburn and Troy in an attempt to help the player find a roster spot for the 2013 season.

That gesture wasn’t lost on Van Hooser.

“I was so impressed with the way the coaches handled it, and I hoped they would be okay with my decision,” the receiver said. “But I didn’t expect them to sympathize, and they did. These things aren’t easy.”

Van Hooser has played in 37 games the past three years, totaling 55 catches for 805 yards and nine touchdowns.  His best year came during his redshirt sophomore season in 2011 with 36 receptions for 487 yards and four touchdowns.  While he had just 11 catches in 2012, he averaged over 21 yards per reception and his five touchdown catches were tied for second on the team.

Getty Images

A little over a month after signing on as a member of North Carolina’s 2011 recruiting class, Delvon Simmons was released from his Tar Heels scholarship and ultimately landed at Texas Tech.

Two years later, the defensive tackle is on the move yet again.

RedRaiderSports.com is reporting that Simmons has decided to transfer out of the Tech football program.  Apparently this doesn’t come as a shock to those who cover the team on a daily basis as Chris Level of that Rivals.com website wrote on Twitter that the player has “gone back and forth on wanting to transfer several times; this time, it’s happening.”

The Tech athletic department has yet to publicly confirm the defensive lineman’s impending departure.

As for potential transfer destinations, Simmons is already slated to visit USC this weekend.  Simmons was close to signing with the Trojans coming out of high school before (briefly) opting for the Tar Heels.

Additionally, Simmons is reportedly considering Miami, Penn State and Pittsburgh.

Simmons, who will be forced to sit out the 2013 season if he stays at the FBS level, will have two years to use two seasons of eligibility beginning in 2014.

For the 2011 recruiting class, Simmons was a four-star recruit rated as the No. 1 player in the state of Pennsylvania; the No. 5 defensive tackle in the country; and the No. 80 player at any position in the country.  He started all 13 games for the Red Raiders in 2012 after playing in 10 games as a true freshman in 2011.

Getty Images

Ladies and gentlemen, the college football offseason!

According to FOX8-TV in Cleveland, Akron football player Seth Cunningham is facing a charge of aggravated robbery following an incident late Thursday night.  And by “incident,” we mean the cornerback allegedly held up a tobacco pipe store at gunpoint.

Per the television station, “Cunningham, 21, entered the 24-hour store on Pearl Road Monday and waved a 9mm handgun in the air. He stole a water pipe worth $447 before taking off.”

Brunswick (Ohio) police caught up with and arrested Cunningham, who they allege admitted to the robbery.  He was taken to a county jail but was subsequently released after a $30,000 bond was posted.

The Zips subsequently confirmed that Cunningham has been indefinitely suspended from the football program.

The senior cornerback played in nine games in 2012.

Meandering our way through the offseason, a single one-liner at a time…

– Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges has no problem with Devin Gardner fine-tuning his game with the help of a quarterback guru.

– The Omaha World-Herald says all the talk of more neutral site games in college football is a bunch of hot air.

– Graduating from Texas, former UT great Vince Young says the sheepskin trumps any pigskin glory he achieved with the Longhorns.

– Polynesian players are prospering at Utah.

– PennLive.com: Michael Mauti‘s rise to Penn State icon was about so much more than his play.

– al.com: Auburn legend Terry Beasley fights back during week of despair, health scares

– With Nick Saban set to be inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame this weekend, some of the Tide coach’s knickknacks (get it?) will be on display.

– More than $91,000 raised for Mott Children’s Hospital by Michigan football.

AP

In December, it was announced that Daniel Jenkins would be transferring out of the Arizona football program after finishing second among Wildcat running backs in rushing yards last season.  In January, the running back took to Twitter to announce that he would be transferring to Washington State to continue his collegiate playing career.

Four months later?

Lt. Frank Drebin, take it away…

Friday night, UA head coach Rich Rodriguez announced that Jenkins had decided to leave Wazzu and transfer back to the Wildcats.  No reason was given for Jenkins’ decision to transfer back into the program from which he had left just five months ago.

Jenkins participated in spring practice at WSU and would’ve been eligible to play for the Cougars in 2013 as he had graduated from UA in December.  Now, he will be eligible to play for the Wildcats this season as a graduate transfer.

In 2012, Jenkins was third on the team in rushing behind the nation’s leading rusher Ka’Deem Carey (1,929 yards) and quarterback Matt Scott (506) with a career-high 293 yards.  As a four-star member of UA’s 2009 recruiting class, Jenkins was rated as the No. 12 all-purpose back in the country by Rivals.com.

AP

Shortly before National Signing Day this past February, it was reported that Marquise Williams was no longer enrolled at North Carolina. A couple of months later? That’s no longer the case.

UNC confirmed Friday that the quarterback is again enrolled at the school and is attending classes.  Academics prevented Williams from enrolling for the spring semester, which kept the player from participating in spring practice.

Last season, the former four-star recruit served as the primary backup to starter Bryn Renner, who returns to the Tar Heels this fall for his senior season.

Mitch Trubisky exited spring as the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart as a true freshman.  Trubisky was an early enrollee after signing on as a member of the Tar Heels’ 2013 recruiting class.

As a redshirt freshman last season, Williams accounted for 127 yards passing and 186 yards rushing.  He scored four total touchdowns.