Given the departures of Kenny Pickett and Jordan Addison this offseason, it is not a positive factor to say that Pittsburgh is the favourite to repeat as Coastal Division champions within the ACC. 

With groups like Miami and North Carolina trying to make a run for the crown of the division, simply how excessive and the way low can these Coastal groups go? By breaking down rosters, schedules and different elements, we will get a glimpse of simply what these groups are able to. 

Miami Hurricanes

Ceiling: 10-2

Flooring: 8-4

The Miami Hurricanes head into this season with a few of the most promise they’ve seen in many years as Mario Cristobal took over as the top coach this offseason and has introduced with him an elite employees to raise this group. Cristobal walks right into a program that includes one of many premier quarterbacks within the nation in Tyler Van Dyke, who captured ACC Rookie of the 12 months honors in 2021 after stepping in for D’Eriq King attributable to damage. Van Dyke went on to throw 25 touchdowns in ten video games and has put himself into the dialog to be a first-round draft choice in 2023.

This roster additionally options promising expertise on the defensive facet, as second-year gamers James Williams and Leonard Taylor seem able to develop upon promising freshman seasons. 

Wanting on the Hurricanes’ schedule, their two hardest opponents will probably be on the street in opposition to Texas A&M and Clemson. Regardless of expectations being by the roof with a brand new teaching employees, followers needs to be ecstatic if they’ll stroll away with a 10-2 season. Nevertheless, this workforce might additionally see simply minor enchancment from the prior season if they’re unable to get constant manufacturing from their huge receiver room. Total, the expertise on this roster is thru the roof however Cristobal would possibly want a while to regulate earlier than the Canes are title contenders.

Pittsburgh Panthers

Ceiling: 10-2

Flooring: 7-5

Regardless of their departures this offseason, this Panthers workforce nonetheless has a aggressive roster that makes them third in odds to win the ACC. The Panthers return all of their offensive line starters and their working again group from final season. At quarterback, Pitt hopes to maintain their high-level quarterback play by including USC’s Kedon Slovis through the switch portal. When it comes to his weapons, Slovis will nonetheless have huge receiver Jared Wayne and tight finish Gavin Bartholomew, who had been each starters on final yr’s offense. Nevertheless, with a brand new offensive guru in Frank Cignetti Jr. taking management because the offensive coordinator, the ceiling on this offense is sky excessive.

Looking on the defensive facet of the ball, the Panthers return their high two go rushers from final season in Habakkuk Baldonado and Calijah Kancey. Within the switch portal, they added a beginning linebacker in former four-star Shayne Simon from Notre Dame who will look to interrupt out in a beginning position. Whereas this workforce was depending on elite offensive manufacturing final season, this veteran protection might show to be a powerful unit. 

Wanting on the schedule, Pitt will begin off the season with residence stands in opposition to West Virginia and Tennessee. Regardless of Pitt being favored in opposition to the Mountaineers, this sport isn’t any sport to write down off as they added former five-star QB J.T. Daniels through the switch portal. Tennessee will certainly be a troublesome sport, because the Volunteers will probably head into Pittsburgh as favorites. With every thing thought of, this workforce might both replicate final season’s numbers or be a mediocre workforce.

North Carolina Tar Heels

Ceiling: 9-3

Flooring: 6-6

North Carolina will now transition into a brand new period as longtime starter Sam Howell has moved on to the NFL. A real dual-threat quarterback, Howell accounted for 800+ yards on the bottom and 11 TDs along with 3,000 yards within the air. Manufacturing that’s positively arduous to interchange, however Tar Heel followers will now look in the direction of blue-chip recruit Drake Maye to take over below middle. A pure pocket passer who has all of the instruments to succeed on the subsequent degree, he’ll inherit Josh Downs as his high goal within the slot. Downs excelled in 2021 with 101 receptions, 1,335 yards and eight TDs en path to an All-ACC second-team choice. When it comes to the opposite offensive items, they may probably hand off the lead-back position to former walk-on British Brooks who averaged 9.5 YPC final season. Additionally they return their high two tight ends and their high exterior receiver in Antoine Inexperienced. If Maye performs as much as his standing, this could stay a High 30 offensive unit.

As a lot as this offense is a good unit, this protection is within the backside half of the nation. The Tar Heels misplaced their high edge rusher Tomon Fox to the NFL this offseason, who put up 9 sacks this previous yr. UNC does return two of their high defenders with security Cam’Ron Kelly and lineman Myles Murphy (to not be mistaken with the Clemson participant of the identical title). When it comes to transfers, they may look to raise Ohio State switch Lejond Cavazos, who will look to steer that cornerback group. In order a lot as this unit won’t be as unhealthy as final season, they don’t seem to be they’ll be a high ACC unit.

Relating to UNC’s schedule, the Tar Heels may have a troublesome ACC slate dealing with NC State, Wake Forest and Miami. Out of convention, they may go up in opposition to Notre Dame and Appalachian State. It’s probably that North Carolina will probably be closely reliant on this offense to hold the load, however they’ll face some robust defenses that’ll maintain them at bay.

Virginia Tech Hokies

Ceiling: 8-4

Flooring: 6-6

Whereas a workforce like North Carolina is closely reliant on their offense, the Hokies satisfaction themselves on their stout protection. Regardless of shedding a few of their All-ACC abilities, they may carry again their high two linebackers in Alan Tisdale and Dax Hollifield to command the protection. Along with that, they will even return 4 gamers from their beginning secondary, which ought to solely assist this workforce climb up the workforce defensive rankings. Regardless of a terrific linebacking duo and returning starters within the secondary, this workforce has a bottom-level go rush as they lack any kind of edge rusher. On condition that push rush is likely one of the most significant components of a protection, this unit would possibly crumble if they’ll’t get any strain.

On the offensive facet of the ball, this unit will look towards latest Temple huge receiver switch Jadan Blue to be the spark to carry this offense to a decent degree. Blue is a proficient receiver who put up 1,067 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2019 throughout his breakout season. Upon that, he was positioned on the Biletnikoff watch listing in 2020 however poor quarterback play in 2020 and 2021 have set him again. Now with a switch to Virginia Tech, Blue will accomplice up with Marshall quarterback switch Grant Wells. The projected starter in Blacksburg, Wells completed 2021 at No. 15 within the nation in passing yards and hopes to herald some juice to an offense that hasn’t had an excellent air assault since 2016. For the run sport, the Hokies will have a look at Malachi Thomas to step into the beginning position in his sophomore season. 

Wanting on the schedule, Virginia Tech will face three of their hardest ACC video games on the street at Pitt, UNC and NC State. When it comes to massive residence matchups they’ll have Miami and West Virginia come to city. All 5 of those video games will probably be robust matchups for the Hokies the place they might be underdogs in all of them. With lots up within the air with this workforce and new head coach Brent Pry from Penn State, this workforce might be pushing eight wins at greatest or barely squeaking right into a bowl sport. If Wells can take a step up in his third season behind middle, this Hokies workforce will probably be one to look at within the ACC.

Virginia Cavaliers

Ceiling: 7-5

Flooring: 5-7

In contrast to the opposite ACC workforce in Virginia, the Cavaliers are closely reliant on their high-powered aerial assault. This offense nevertheless simply received a lift, with the addition of longtime Clemson coordinator Tony Elliot as head coach. Elliot takes over an offense that completed quantity two within the NCAA in passing yards per sport and quantity three in offensive yards per sport. The primary a part of this success got here from Brennan Armstrong, who enters his redshirt senior season after throwing for the fourth most yards within the nation final season. Armstrong additionally brings again his three high offensive weapons, together with Dontayvion Wicks who broke out with 1,203 yards and 9 touchdowns final season. Elliot will tackle the problem of revitalizing this run sport, who’s high again went for a mere 324 yards this previous season.

As a lot as this Cavaliers workforce wows on offense, this protection allowed a few of the most yards within the nation final season, ending on the backside of the NCAA. Virginia had one lone defensive participant obtain an All-ACC nod in deal with machine Nick Jackson who returns to the Cavaliers for his senior season. When it comes to notable additions to the workforce, the Cavaliers added Miami (Ohio) switch Kam Butler on the sting. Butler put up eight sacks in his senior season at Miami and can absolutely add to a unit whose go rush was non-existent final season. With an upperclassmen protection, Elliot might want to capitalize on their expertise to try to maintain Virginia from taking part in too many shootouts.

Regarding the Cavaliers’ schedule, they may face their hardest matchups at residence in Charlottesville. Going up in opposition to Louisville, Miami, UNC, Pitt and Coastal Carolina at residence would be the video games the Cavaliers might want to make the most of their residence turf benefit to the fullest. A profitable run for Virginia right here would possibly simply be successful certainly one of these video games, nonetheless giving them sufficient video games to be bowl eligible. Virginia could begin off 5-0 although, as their first 5 video games needs to be ones they’re favored in. Nonetheless, Virginia followers needs to be excited with the Elliot period in Charlottesville.

Duke Blue Devils

Ceiling: 3-9

Flooring: 2-10

Duke is thought for being among the finest tutorial colleges within the nation. Additionally they have one of many premier blue blood applications in faculty basketball. Nevertheless, they aren’t a soccer college. Daniel Jones is the final related participant to stroll by there, and Duke seems to be on observe to complete on the backside of the ACC but once more. Looking on the offense, the Blue Devils will probably be with out their high again Mataeo Durant as he heads to the professionals. With that, Duke’s greatest returning offensive participant is Jalon Cahoun, who caught 56 passes for 713 yards final season. Outdoors of that, the offense doesn’t have a lot else to provide. Duke will trout out a brand new starter in Riley Leonard for the 2022 season, as he’ll hope to carry again respectable quarterback play to Durham. 

The protection doesn’t want a lot of an introduction. Duke completed final season with essentially the most yards allowed in all of FBS. To this unit, Duke added only one switch to this unit in Iowa State switch Datrone Younger. Nevertheless, he isn’t the caliber of participant that’s going to vary this unit round. Ideally, new head coach Mike Elko, a former defensive coordinator, ought to be capable to make Duke’s protection extra respectable, however for now you may anticipate one other backside end in defensive rankings.

Wanting on the schedule, Duke at the very least has some winnable video games on the docket. They’ll face Temple, Northwestern, Kansas and North Carolina A&T all to open the season. Outdoors of that, the opposite video games appear out of attain for this Duke workforce. They may win three of these first 4 video games, or break up them. Total, this Duke workforce must see some drastic adjustments in the event that they wish to turn out to be even a troublesome out in video games.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Ceiling: 2-10

Flooring: 1-11

Laborious to see any enchancment from a roster that simply misplaced their greatest offensive participant and didn’t actually fill the void. With Jahmyr Gibbs transferring to the Crimson Tide, Georgia Tech loses a participant that accounted for 1,211 yards from scrimmage and 6 touchdowns in 2021. Now, Georgia Tech will put out a roster which will compete for one of many worst amongst Energy 5 colleges. Underneath middle for the Yellow Jackets is the as soon as four-star prospect Jeff Sims, who regardless of being a dual-threat quarterback has seen regression in his speeding makes an attempt throughout his two seasons in Atlanta. Georgia Tech’s greatest returning weapon from final season is senior huge receiver Malachi Carter, who had 489 yards final season. With solely additions on the offensive line when it comes to key transfers, don’t anticipate this offense to enhance a lot in any respect.

When it comes to the returning gamers on this Georgia Tech protection, the one one to notice is Charlie Thomas, who put up 10 TFLs and 70 tackles en path to an All-ACC honorable point out choice. Moreover, this protection brings nothing else actually of notice, as they’ll carry again a worse core than their bottom-ranked unit from final yr.

Wanting on the schedule, the Yellow Jackets have a troublesome one as they’ll face Ole Miss, Clemson and Georgia, all of which completed with double-digit wins final season. The one sport on their schedule that needs to be a win is Western Carolina, which is an FCS program. In any other case, they honestly have one of many hardest ACC schedules however will get a matchup in opposition to Duke in October as they duel it out for final place within the Coastal division.

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