conference preview 2021: ACC
By Simon Carroll
A team-by-team analysis of the ACC, the season ahead and final standings predictions.
ATLANTIC
1. Clemson Tigers
It will come as no surprise to most readers that Clemson is The Touchdown’s pick for the ACC in 2021, despite the loss of the incomparable Trevor Lawrence. Head Coach Dabo Swinney has led The Tigers to six straight conference titles, and reached the College Football Playoffs each time to boot. They’ve recorded ten double digit winning seasons in a row, and return both Tony Elliott (6th season) and Brent Venables (9th season) as their co-ordinators. Yeah – this program is going nowhere any time soon.
Lawrence and Travis Etienne both head off to the NFL, but Clemson are still in good shape on the offensive side of the ball. DJ Uiagalelei picks up the reins of the offense, and it’s expected to be as seamless a transition as you could hope for; with a couple of games experience under his belt from 2020 and a more experienced o-line returning to Death Valley this year (sans Jackson Carman) ‘DJ’ stands to have an impact first year as starter. The return of the experienced, explosive Justyn Ross to the receiving corps following his neck injury on;y makes this passing game more deadly.
If there is any dropoff on offense, the defense is ready to pick up the slack. The Tigers bring one of the best d-lines in the country to play in 2021, and with standout names such as Myles Murphy, Bryan Bresee, James Skalski and Baylon Spector garnering early attention from the NFL, expect this unit to dominate in and out of the conference. The talent on this side of the ball will surely help veteran DC Brent Venables land himself a premier head coaching position in 2022.
The schedule, by Clemson’s lofty standards, is more than manageable. The headline game is a tricky matchup with Georgia to open the season at Bank of America Stadium, but calling it a neutral site would be disingenuous; The Tigers have played in the ACC title game at this venue the last four years and won them all. After that, the ACC schedule provides them with just one opponent that had a winning record in conference play last year. Another shot at a national title awaits.
Prediction: 12-0, Division Winners, ACC Champions
2. Boston College Eagles
This is where the Atlantic Division gets interesting. After a promising first year under Jeff Hafley, excitement is starting to build in Chestnut Hill. Boston College looks set to take the next step and challenge for the title of ‘best of the rest’ in this division, with a good proportion of starters returning on both sides of the ball and a schedule that is very favourable.
The offense is led by returning starting quarterback Phil Jurkovec, who showed himself to be one of the conference’s top signal callers last year following his transfer from Notre Dame. BC fans will be salivating at the thought of him operating behind an o-line that is stacked with NFL talent and a receiving corps that is loaded with playmaking ability. Expect Zay Flowers, Kobay White and Jaelan Gill to rack up the stats, whilst linemen Zion Johnson, Alec Lindstrom and Tyler Vrabel should all be on draftniks’ radars come the end of the season.
An opportunistic defense in 2020 that flashed talent should be a lot more consistent this season, as eight starters return. A unit that showed a penchant for a turnover last year should get even more dangerous with the addition of safety Jaiden Lars-Woodbey from Florida State. Expect Hafley – who earned his stripes coaching numerous secondaries at the pro and college level before shining as Ohio State co-defensive coordinator – to get this defense better than the 417 yards per game conceded in 2020.
The battle for second place in the Atlantic is tough, but the Eagles have the upper hand when it comes to the schedule; BC play both NC State and Wake Forest at home, giving them the advantage over similarly talented programs. They also avoid North Carolina, Miami and Pitt from The Coastal. Ten wins is a realistic ceiling for this program if everything falls their way.
Prediction: 9-3
3. North Carolina State Wolfpack
With 19 returning starters there is a case to be made for NC State to finish second to Clemson in the Atlantic this year. Head coach Dave Doeren returns to Raleigh for his ninth season; in his previous eight he boasts a record of 55-46, and whilst never winning a division let alone a conference title, he’s taken the Wolfpack to six bowl games and won 8 wins or more in three of the last four years. Hopes are high for a similarly successful season in 2021.
Quarterback Devin Leary’s injury last year didn’t derail the NC State offense, but his return will be welcomed by offensive coordinator Tim Beck. Leary is surrounded by experienced, playmaking talent, no less than running back Zonovan ‘Bam’ Knight and receiver Emeka Emzie. Knight in particular is predicted to explode in 2021 after putting together back to back 750 yard seasons on the ground at Carter-Finley Stadium. Behind an o-line that returns four starters and sees last year’s left guard Ikem Ekwonu move to the blind side, this offense should be able to move the ball.
The defense loses standout interior lineman Alim McNeil to the NFL, but brings back everyone else. This is a loaded front seven set to give opposing offenses plenty of headaches up front, with linebacker duo Payton Wilson and and Isaiah Moore set to dominate. The Wolfpack also has field-flipping ability on special teams, with Knight being the conference’s leading kick returner. But don’t sleep on receiver Thayer Thomas either, who acts as the team’s punt returner and has the lateral ability to break tacklers’ ankles with a drop of the hips.
With all this talent in place and a strong platform of 8-4 last year (with two of those losses being by three points or less), the schedule ahead isn’t easy. They travel to both Boston College and Wake Forest, and pull North Carolina and Miami from the Coastal Division. With a trip to Starkville to face Mike Leach’s Mississippi State to open the season, the record might not reflect just how good Doeren has done with this program.
Prediction: 8-4
4. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
If you think NC State and Boston College bring back a healthy number of starters, they have nothing on the Demon Deacons. Head Coach Dave Clawson has been credited with creating an identity at Wake Forest, traditionally thought of as a basketball school but being ever more respected for their football program. Despite struggling to a 4-5 record in 2020, a whopping TWENTY starters return to Winston-Salem for this season. And with a favourable schedule, they too will be eyeing second place in the division.
Wake never has a deep roster to count on, but they always seem to have a sprinkling of star power every year. Quarterback Sam Howell stands to benefit most from this season’s top-tier talent as it comes at the skill positions; receiver Jaquarii Roberson is one of the ACC’s biggest playmakers, recording over 900 yards and eight scores in nine games last year. He has a very real shot at 1st Team ACC honours by the end of the season. Meanwhile, Christian Beal-Smith returns to be the bellcow once again, behind an offensive line that has the most experience of Clawson’s reign. If it isn’t one of the best offenses in the ACC, it might be the most fun.
Losing Carlos Basham to the NFL sees last year’s star power depart, and the Deac’s defense might take a step back this year. There’s still plenty of experience up in the front seven, with interior pass-rusher Miles Fox expected to better his 2020 numbers of 10.5 sacks this season. And in the secondary, Ja’Sir Taylor will bring them a significant turnover threat. DC Lyle Hemphill will hope that with so many games under their belt, this unit can get more consistent, even if they do lose Basham’s terrifying speed and power off the edge.
Wake Forest finish the year at North Carolina, a home game against NC State, and then trips to Clemson and Boston College, meaning a quick start in conference play is critical. A season-defining tilt against Florida State to kick off the ACC schedule is almost a must-win, but if they reach their bye week undefeated they will enjoy a bowl game once again. Beyond that, any extra wins on the back half of that slate is almost a bonus, such is the competitiveness of this division.
Prediction: 7-5
5. Florida State Seminoles
Being a Seminole fan hasn’t been easy these last few years. Yet despite having them finishing fifth in their division, there is the sense that this program has turned the corner. The hiring and firing of Willie Taggart after less than two seasons was an unfortunate way to follow up on the tenure of Jimbo Fisher, and the job that new head coach Mike Norvell had on his hands last year was all too evident. Three wins is far from acceptable in Tallahassee, but have we seen a culture change that bodes well for the future?
After installing the fourth offense in four years at Florida State last year – and amidst such a disrupted offseason – it was inevitable this unit would struggle. But surely the only way is up from a team that averaged less than 26 points a game last year? Much, if not all, of the hope of improvement depends upon the arm of McKenzie Milton, who transfers in from UCF. The former Knight is looking for a fresh start following the horrific knee injury he suffered three years ago now, but nobody has forgotten the electric 4,000 yard season he put up in 2017 as UCF went undefeated. If he can work behind a suspect o-line, rely on a solid ground game and strike an affinity with fellow transfer Andrew Parchment (Kansas), they have a shot.
If you thought the offense was bad in 2020, then the defense was worse – hence a 3-6 record. The ‘Noles shipped 456 yards per game and 36 points per game, eye watering numbers when you pair them with the meagre offensive output. Norvel has not been shy in using the transfer portal to get better quickly, with key additions in defensive lineman Jermaine Johnson (Georgia) and hybrid rusher/outside backer Kier Thomas (South Carolina). The secondary also benefitted from an influx of talent, but hopes of a radical swing from atrocious to competitive will be tempered.
A tough ACC schedule (at Clemson, at Wake, at Boston College, plus North Carolina and Miami from the Coastal) is matched only by a brutal non-conference slate, where they host Notre Dame and play their usual rivalry game against Florida. Norvell is an excellent head coach, highlighted by the success he achieved at Memphis, but even the most optimistic FSU fan will be happy escaping this season with a 6-6 record.
Prediction: 5-7
6. Louisville Cardinals
2021 for Louisville is difficult to predict. After a step back in year two of the Scott Satterfield era, the Cardinals have seen a significant amount of talent depart for the NFL. With a unique brand of football and a seemingly endless ability to find speed every year, you wouldn’t be surprised to see this team reload effectively. But in an ultra-competitive Atlantic Division, it’s hard to see a young, unproven roster bounce back in 2021.
Satterfield has chosen not to appoint an offensive coordinator this season, and will continue to call the plays himself. He’ll be hoping for a return to form for starting quarterback Malik Cunningham, who suffered a downturn in production in 2020. But his life won’t be made easy with the departures of playmakers Tutu Atwell, Dez Fitzpatrick and Javian Hawkins to the NFL. The run game should be able to bear the load, with the committee (Jalen Mitchell, Hassan Hall, Maurice Burkley) enjoying plenty of game time the back end of last year. However, the passing game will be counting on an inexperienced group to step up. Interesting wrinkle here; Satterfield brought in Shai Werts from Georgia Southern via the transfer portal – Werts was The Eagles QB but is switching to receiver at Cardinal Stadium, a position he played at high school.
A similar story of departing talent affects the defense too, with five of the team’s top seven tacklers no longer on Louisville’s roster. But the unit has been improving under third year coordinator Bryan Brown – before his arrival with Satterfield from App State, the Cardinals defense had five different DC’s in five years. That consistency should hopefully see more growth, with six starters returning and huge things expected from freshman box safety Benjamin Perry, a four-star prospect from Chicago.
Louisville avoids North Carolina and Miami in the ACC, for which they’ll be thankful, but they’ve still got trips to Tallahassee, Raleigh and Winston-Salem on their schedule. Out of conference they will be lucky to come away with one win considering Ole Miss, UCF and Kentucky loom. Inexperience, a loss of star talent, and a tough schedule doesn’t bode well for The Cardinals, but they have surprised before and can do it again. Just maybe not this year.
Prediction: 5-7
7. Syracuse Orange
Who remembers that insane 2018 season when Syracuse went 10-3? The Orange nearly overturned Clemson that year, yet it remains the only winning season of Dino Babers’ five year tenure in upstate New York. The ‘Cuse might well be considered a basketball school, but when you pay a coach $2.25m a year, you expect better than a 1-10 record that they produced in 2020. Babers can consider himself fortunate to retain his position, although his job prospects don’t get much brighter in 2021.
That being said, there are definite rays of hope to cling to this season. Injury and opt-outs exposed the lack of depth at both offensive line and running back; both these positions see bodies return and bolstered by recruits and transfers. Sean Tucker broke 100 yards on the ground three times last year (once against Notre Dame) and has the all-round game to be a facet through the air. He feels like a future difference maker in this offense, which sees 4th year quarterback Tommy DeVito return. DeVito saw just 4 games due to injury last year and Syracuse floundered as a result; in response, they brought in former Mississippi State QB Garrett Schrader to back him up and provide better insurance – or maybe even challenge him for the starting job. Whoever is under center will be leaning heavily on receiver Taj Harris to improve on his 733 yards and 5 TD’s from last year.
The Orange benefit from ten returning starters on defense, and there is optimism this could be Babers’ best defensive unit of his tenure. A significant increase in experience that saw six freshmen start last year should reap instant dividends, with the secondary particularly intriguing; Garrett Williams is the star of the show and might be relied upon to shadow the ACC’s best receivers. A quick note on special teams – this unit has ranked in the top 21 nationally the last four years, but loses their coordinator Justin Lustig to Vanderbilt.
For all the improvements across the board, Babers will look at the ACC schedule and wonder where his wins are coming from. A late bye week in early November will arrive with expected wins only out of conference against Ohio and Albany – and opening the season away at the Bobcats will be trickier than they may anticipate. The goal for 2021 may very well be survival for those in control of this program.
Prediction: 3-9
COASTAL
1. North Carolina Tar Heels
Mack Brown’s renaissance in his second stint in charge at Chapel Hill continues unabated. Last year, after recruiting very well and coaching up key talent, the Tar Heels finished third in the division-less, COVID disrupted ACC, and went to the Orange Bowl – North Carolina’s first major bowl game since 1949. Heading into 2021, there is optimism for an even better season ahead.
In Sam Howell, UNC have one of the best quarterbacks in the conference, if not the country. Howell has already tied North Carolina’s TD passes record (68), and will be eager to torch some suspect secondaries once again. The offense loses a plethora of weapons to the NFL; Javonte Williams & Michael Carter out of the backfield and Dyami Brown & Dazz Newsome from the receiving corps. Whilst that might mean a small dropoff from the 41.7 points and 537 yards per game, a legit QB operating behind a stout offensive will keep this unit productive. Tennessee running back transfer Ty Chandler and freshman receiver Khafre Brown will be expected to step up.
Big things are expected of the Tar Heels’ defense with ten starters returning. The front seven looks particularly fierce; defensive tackle Raymond Vohasek and linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel lead this unit with untamed ferocity, whilst Tony Grimes and Trey Morrison form part of a dangerous secondary. Co-defensive coordinators Jay Bateman and Tommy Thigpen have dovetailed nicely over the last two seasons to see yearly growth, and 2021 could very well be the season where this defense gets national recognition.
A very manageable schedule sees them avoid Clemson and Boston College, and they host Miami – who may be their main rivals for the Coastal division. Things get a little trickier after the bye, with a trip to South Bend and a season finale at NC State, but if the offense can minimise the regression then double digit wins are very much on the cards for Brown & co. Overcoming Dabo Swinney in the ACC Championship game though, is a different prospect entirely.
Prediction: 10-2, Division Winners
2. Miami Hurricanes
Manny Diaz can be very satisfied with his progress at Hard Rock Stadium so far. The ‘Canes jumped from 6-7 in Diaz’s first year in charge, to 8-3 last year, being ranked #22 nationally. Those three losses? Clemson, North Carolina, and a heartbreaker to Oklahoma State in the Cheez-It Bowl, in which star QB D’Eriq King tore his ACL. There were some big wins on the schedule, such as the 52-10 embarrassment of Florida State and the 48-0 shutout of Duke, but also some close victories too (44-41 at NC State, 25-24 at Virginia Tech). If Miami further improves in 2021, a division title and a major bowl game could very well be on the cards.
King announced this offseason that he should fully ready for the start of the new season following the late injury in 2020, which will be music to the ears of second year OC Rhett Lashlee. This offense goes how the electric former Houston Cougar goes; his dual threat game a true difference maker in the ACC. Miami have given him some help, bringing over receiver Charleston Rambo from Oklahoma. Rambo gives this unit a legitimate deep threat on the outside that maybe The Hurricanes have not had in the Diaz era so far. Paired with Mike Harley and tight end Will Mallory, this passing game is ready to compete with North Carolina’s.
With Diaz taking over playcalling duties, DC Blake Baker decided to head to LSU, leaving Miami without an appointed defensive coordinator for 2021. Despite a talented unit, the defense fell apart down the stretch last year, giving up 598 yards and almost 50 points per game over the last two contests. They’ll be boosted by further transfers, this time in the form of former Georgia corner Tyrique Stevenson, who has 19 SEC games under his belt. Him, Te’Cory Couch and safety Bubba Bolden give The ‘Canes possibly the best secondary in the conference – including Clemson.
Predicting how Miami fares depends upon how D’Eriq King returns from the torn ACL, and just as importantly, if they can keep him healthy from then on out. They have as tough an opening fixture as you could ask against Alabama in Atlanta, but every other game on the slate is winnable for a program as talented as this one. The key game is on October 16th at North Carolina; win that, and they’ll be in the box seat for the division. Whilst that might be just out of their reach, another year of improvement beckons for Manny Diaz.
Prediction: 9-3
3. Pittsburgh Panthers
Pat Narduzzi has found some momentum in Pittsburgh. Just one losing season in six years at the helm shows a consistency this program has lacked for some time, and whilst they have never been able to make the leap to a team capable of double-digit wins, there is the feeling that the talent level on this team heading into 2021 is as high as it has been in the last decade.
With any hope of improving from last year, Pitt needs a hell of a lot more out of this offense. It just so happens that OC Mark Whipple has some talent to utilise; experienced quarterback Kenny Pickett returns for his final season as a Panther, and he has some intriguing weapons to throw to that looked primed for breakout years. The best of these is likely Jordan Addison, who as a true freshman went for 666 yards and 4 TD’s. But the real buzz on offense centers around running back Israel Abanikanda, who had little in the way of snaps last year but is expected to explode in 2021. Leaning on the ground game should allow Pitt to control the clock and rely on their imposing defense to take charge.
Speaking of which. Last year, Pitt allowed the lowest amount of yards per play against ACC competition (4.88). It is undeniable that this unit lost a ton of talent to the NFL; edge rushers Rashad Weaver & Patrick Jones and safety duo Damar Hamlin & Paris Ford all depart, meaning there is some inevitable turnover. But with COVID holdouts and injuries, the next guys up have already been battle tested. The Panthers are expected to produce a top 3 ACC defense once again. Keep an eye out for linebacker SirVocea Dennis, who will earn his fair share of snaps and flashed playmaking ability in 2020.
Pitt plays the dreaded trifecta of Clemson, North Carolina and Miami, but all three big games are at Heinz Field, making the schedule a little more tolerable. The rest of the ACC slate is workable, and there’s even a winnable non-conference tilt at Tennessee that looks like an upset waiting to happen. Narduzzi has a chance to match his best win total so far with the Panthers.
Prediction: 8-4
4. Virginia Cavaliers
The Cavaliers were officially the last team to win the Coastal Division, finishing top of the pile in 2019 before COVID meant a division-less season in the ACC last year. Whilst Virginia are always competitive under head coach Bronco Mendenhall, it’s difficult to see a repeat in 2021.
The Cavs’ offense runs through dual threat quarterback Brennan Armstrong, who took the starting job last year and accounted for more than 3,000 all-purpose yards. An effective if not pretty style of play, Armstrong is expected to improve on his 2020 numbers with an extra year of growth and some added weapons around him; Mike Hollins returns from opting out to offer a double headed backfield alongside Wayne Taulapapa, and former Oklahoma State TE Jelani Woods and Marshall WR Artie Henry should improve the options in the passing game. With four out of the five offensive linemen returning, Virginia will be confident their offense improves from their mediocre showing in 2020.
Defense was a huge problem last season for The Cavaliers. They had no answers in the passing game and couldn’t get off the field; they shipped 443 yards per game in 2020, the worst numbers since Mendenhall has been in Charlottesville. The unit is expected to improve by virtue of the fact that it is unlikely to be as bad as what we saw last year, but outside of linebacker Nick Jackson (who averaged 10.5 tackles a game in 2020) there is little in the way of star power on this side of the ball. Some effort has been made to bolster the secondary via the transfer portal (Anthony Johnson, Louisville, Josh Hayes, NDSU), and we know Mendenhall hails from that side of the ball – can he and co-DC’s Nick Howell and Kelly Poppinga integrate this new talent quickly enough to deliver a competitive defense?
This developing team is going to be put to the test with the 41st most difficult schedule in the country this year. They’re on the road at the three big hitters in the division in UNC, Miami and Pitt, as well as a trip to BYU and hosting Notre Dame at Scott Stadium in non-conference play. Pretty much the only ray of light is they avoid Clemson, yet every home game is winnable outside of The Fighting Irish. If they take back the Commonwealth Cup after defeat to rivals Virginia Tech last year, then a winning record should have been achieved.
Prediction: 7-5
5. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Yellow Jacket football as we know it is dead. For years, Georgia Tech were famous for their option offense under head coach Paul Johnson. Since he retired following the 2018 season, Geoff Collins has slowly begun to reinvent this unit to take better advantage of the attributes of the bigger (and slower) linemen the program has been able to recruit. The transition to a spread offense has not been easy; just six wins in the last two years alludes to that. But there are signs of a shift in momentum ahead of 2021.
Having the same coordinators for the last three years has helped deliver a consistent message, and the offense is beginning to take shape. With the o-line still far from desirable Johnson added three via the transfer portal, although a big blow was delivered when it was announced that former Vanderbilt Commodore Devin Cochran would no longer be enrolling. Slated to start at Left Tackle, that job might end up going to former Norfolk State OT Kenneth Kirby instead.
The o-line rebuild is crucial to the success of this program. Jeff Sims is the presumed starter at quarterback after an up and down first season in Atlanta, but the excitement comes in the form of freshman running back Jahmyr Gibbs, an explosive, jitterbug ball carrier who is a weapon in the passing game. If things go to plan, expect Gibbs to earn ACC 1st Team honours this year.
Much like the offense, the defense is a work in progress, but is probably further behind on the learning curve. They return six starters, but considering the amount of points and yardage per game they gave up last year, it’s unsure as to whether that’s a help or a hindrance. Look to linebacker Quez Jackson and free safety Juanyeh Thomas to lead this unit as they try to take the next step.
With the offense expecting to click in 2021, a target of a .500 record and a bowl bid shouldn’t be out of the question – but an utterly brutal schedule (3rd toughest in the nation) likely scuppers the Yellow Jacket’s dreams. Clemson and North Carolina back to back, before a four game streak to end the season of at Miami, vs Boston College, at Notre Dame, then the Clean Old-Fashioned Hate game vs Georgia? This rebuild might have to wait one more year.
Prediction: 5-7
6. Virginia Tech Hokies
Remember the good old days of Frank Beamer? 2015 seems a million miles away if you’re a Blacksburg native. The early tenure of Justin Fuente promised so much with 19 wins in two years, but they have only recorded the same amount since. For a program that consistently challenged for ACC honours in the early 2000’s, averaging six losses a season the last three years isn’t acceptable and if Fuente doesn’t arrest a gradual decline to conference irrelevance this year, he could pay the price.
A lot lines up for The Hokies in 2021. This program had an astonishing amount of opt-outs last year, returns fifteen of twenty-two starters, and their strength of schedule drops from 7th in 2020 to 52nd this season. On offense, Braxton Burmeister returns at quarterback.. An injury-disrupted 2020 campaign saw promise, but the depth behind him should misfortune strike again remains thin. With the departure of running back Khalil Herbert and the rise of a strong receiving corps, this offense is expected to focus more on the pass than ever before. Keeping ‘BB’ on the field is crucial if they want to be more competitive this year
Tech’s run defense was woeful last year, allowing more than 180 yards on the ground each contest. They fared a little better against the pass but not much, and their 32.1 points conceded per game was the highest since 1973. Defensive coordinator Justin Hamilton, a former Hokie linebacker, enters his second season and expectations of improvement are reasonable given the trials of installing a new system amidst chaos last year. Edge rusher Amare Barno recorded 6.5 sacks in 2020 and should lead the assault on the offensive backfield once again.
You could make an argument that VT are trending up, and having them ranked sixth in the Coastal Division is somewhat disrespectful. Firstly, this program has flattered to deceive in recent seasons and it’s fair to mitigate for a similar fragility in 2021. But also, the schedule is sneaky tough; no team will have a bigger boost than The Hokies for having fans back in the stadium, but home games against The Tar Heels and Fighting Irish still look like losses. Then they have a brutal run of four road games out of five to end the year. 2020 saw their bowl streak of 27 seasons come to an end, and it’s unlikely to be a one year blip.
Prediction: 5-7
7. Duke Blue Devils
David Cutcliffe probably has a job for life in Durham, and he’s more than earned it; a notorious basketball school, Duke doesn’t have the same pulling power when it comes to football, yet Cutcliffe has led the Blue Devils to 74 wins in thirteen seasons, six winning records, a Division title, and six bowl games – which he’s won the last three. In 2013 he had them nationally ranked and won ten games in a season for the first time in their 100 year history. So yeah – at Duke, Cutcliffe is king.
That said, the last two years have seen the Blue Devils regress to the level expected, and 2020 they bottomed out with just one win in ACC play. Their starting QB Chase Brice has defected to App State, leaving an already turnover prone offense searching for it’s new signal caller. Gunnar Holmberg was the favourite early in camp, but redshirt freshman Luca Diamont has pushed him. Whoever wins the job will be behind a suspect o-line that allowed far too many sacks down the stretch last season, which in turn led to an unhealthy turnover ratio. All hopes will be pinned on do-it-all running back Mataeo Durant if they are to steal a few wins this year.
Considering the talent that left for the NFL this past offseason, the Duke defense was far from effective. Pass-rushing duo Victor Dimukeje and Chris Rumph head to the NFL and leave a void on the edge for a unit that struggled to put pressure on the QB the last four games, giving up 54 points and 536 yards per game. Linebacker Shaka Heyward is a production machine; he can line up inside or outside, stuff the run or attack the backfield. He’ll need similar numbers to last year if the Blue Devils’ defense can be remotely competitive in 2021.
ACC wins will be hard to come by – home games against Georgia Tech and Louisville looking their best hope. Northwestern aside though, their non-conference schedule (Charlotte, North Carolina A&T, Kansas) should allow them to find their feet early in the year. It’s an optimistic outlook, but at the very least The Blue Devils should fare better than they did in 2020.
Prediction: 4-8
