2008 ACC Recruiting - What It All Means

How does the 2007 ACC recruiting class really affect the college football world? Which programs, like Florida State getting QB E.J. Manuel, did the best job this recruiting season? Now that the storm has died down, here's what it all really means.

Recruiting 2008 ... ACC
Ranking the ACC classes

Click on each team for the fill class list and top players
Atlantic Boston Coll | Clemson | Florida St | Maryland | NC State | Wake Forest
Coastal Duke | Georgia Tech | Miami | North Carolina | Virginia | Virginia Tech

- CFN's 2007 ACC Recruiting Rankings
- CFN's 2006 ACC Recruiting Rankings

1. Miami
The class is heavy on ... Wide receivers and linebackers. With the offense as woeful as its been in decades, head coach Randy Shannon and his staff went for an overall upgrade in the receiving corps loading up with eight fantastic prospects led by big Aldrarius Johnson and bigger Tommy Streeter to go along with big, fast LaRon Bryd. The linebacker talent brought in is breathtaking with Arthur Brown, Gavin Hardin and Jordan Futch with NFL written all over them.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... DT Marcus Forston
The player you might care about this year ... WR Aldarius Johnson
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Shannon promised he'd make Miami into a superpower again, and this class might do it. The real question will be how much of the amazing talent brought in will start from day one. There's no doubt that most of the top players are better than what's currently in Coral Gables, especially at receiver, so this should be an extremely interesting off-season. If nothing else, the rest of the ACC should be quaking over this class.

2. Florida State
The class is heavy on ... Skill players. The defense wasn't ignored, Nigel Bradham might be the nation's best linebacker recruit, but the focus was on boosting the attack. If the Noles wanted to upgrade the mediocre offense, this might be the class to eventually do it with a boatload of ready-made receivers, QB E.J. Manuel, and some good running backs with JUCO transfer Tavares Pressley ready to hit the ground rolling.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... QB E.J. Manuel
The player you might care about this year ... WR Corey Surrency
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Florida State always gets great athletes, but this class was a bit different with more top players jumping on board earlier. Now the Bobby Bowden retirement issue wasn't a negative with eventual head man Jimbo Fisher able to bring in the skill players to groom over the next few seasons. Next year's class will have to get more of a boost for the D.

3. Clemson
The class is heavy on ... Really, really good prospects. This was one of the the school's best recruiting classes in years with a little something for every spot. The secondary is loaded with safeties with NFL measurables, but the best of the lot might turn out to be CB Xavier Brewer. Considering James Davis is done after next year, and C.J. Spiller is almost certain to leave early for the NFL, the getting a speedy back like Jamie Harper was big.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... RB Jamie Harper
The player you might care about this year ... DE Da'Quan Bowers
What it all means to the real world of college football ... This was a statement class. Clemson might not have gotten the dizzying array of talents that Miami hauled in, but it got its share, including one of the best all-around prospects in the nation, DE Da'Quan Bowers. Considering CU is growing into a bit of a factory for NFL defensive ends, getting Bowers and JUCO transfer Jarrett Crittenton means the pass rush won't skip a beat after losing Phillip Merling early to the big league.

4. Virginia Tech
The class is heavy on ... Wide receivers. Obviously the idea is to switch around some of the prospects into other positions, but bringing in nine receiver prospects shows what a need the Hokies have for an influx of pass catching talents. There isn't an obvious superstar of the bunch, but D.J. Coles, with excellent size and good speed, is close. Interestingly enough, last year's class didn't focus much on defense, and outside of some good linebacker prospects, neither did this year's.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... OG Vinston Painter
The player you might care about this year ... WR Kendrick Pressley
What it all means to the real world of college football ... While some of the new receivers will certainly see time right away, this is a class for Tyrod Taylor in 2009 and 2010. The budding young star QB needs weapons to work with, and he got them. It'll be worth noting what kind of a role new RB Ryan Williams plays right away. He's the type of breakaway threat who should get thrown into the mix early on.

5. North Carolina
The class is heavy on ... Frontline talent. There might not be a bulk of prospects in any one area, but Butch Davis and his staff brought in potential starters. Yeah, everyone does that, but this class was designed to sprinkle in first teamers with the mass athletes brought in last year. There aren't any sure-things for the offensive line, but there's something for every other position.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... TE Christian Wilson
The player you might care about this year ... LB Zach Brown
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Last year was about upgrading the talent level, and Davis and his staff came up with a whopper of a class. Normally, that would mean a big drop-off the following year since most of the pieces are in place for the next few seasons, but that wasn't the case. The defensive back seven got a whole bunch faster with some instant depth, while the defensive line got three players, Joseph Townsend, Robert Quinn and Quinton Coples, who should contribute right away.

6. Boston College
The class is heavy on ... The offensive backfield. The meat of the class might be on the defensive line, but the focus was on getting the stars for Jeff Jagodzinski's offense with four quarterback recruits, led by JUCO transfer Codi Beck and talented freshman Justin Tuggle, while Josh Haden leads a strong group of slashing running backs to fit the style. Christian Klein and Mike Stone are two good tight ends to develop.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... DE Kaleb Ramsey
The player you might care about this year ... QB Codi Beck
What it all means to the real world of college football ... BC suffered a bit last year with the transfer from Tom O'Brien to Jagodzinski, but that all changed this season with an excellent class that should keep the program among the ACC's elite. With Jagodzinski's résumé of working with great offensive players, like Brett Favre and Matt Ryan, Boston College has become a hot place for quarterbacks to consider.

7. NC State
The class is heavy on ... The lines. For the second straight year, Tom O'Brien went heavy on the lines to build a foundation for the future. Two of the biggest stars are offensive tackle prospects R.J. Mattes (who'll need a little while to bulk up) and Sam Jones (who's ready now), but the immediate help comes from the JUCO ranks for the defensive line with tackles Thomas Locus and LeRoy Burgess along with end Shea McKeen. QB Mike Glennon will be the one to build the offense around.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... QB Mike Glennon
The player you might care about this year ... DT Thomas Locust
What it all means to the real world of college football ... O'Brien didn't have time to put together a proper class last season, and he made up for it with a strong season. Glennon could be thrown to the wolves right away if there's offensive inconsistency again, but the real key will be on the defense where there's instant help, and at the very least, good depth. Essentially, the program is building off the momentum coming from the end of last year.

8. Georgia Tech
The class is heavy on ... Finding the pieces to fit the system. It's Paul Johnson coaching the team, so it's about running the option, or at least running the ball more, while getting the right players in the right spots. Last year's star QB Steven Threet is off to Michigan, so incoming prospects Jaybo Shaw and Tevin Washington have to be ready to roll, while RBs Embry Peeples and Marcus Wright will get looks right away.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... OG Omoregie Uzzi
The player you might care about this year ... QB Jaybo Shaw
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Yeah, Georgia Tech is changing up offensive philosophies and systems, but the defense still will be as good as usual with Johnson bringing in several really, really good prospects, especially for the secondary. Johnson succeeded at Navy with sub-D-I talent, and now everyone in the ACC is waiting to see what he'll do with some top prospects.

9. Maryland
The class is heavy on ... Pass catchers. The wide receivers, Kenny Tate, Kevin Dorsey and Kerry Boykins, are the strength of the class, but they're likely for the future. Tight ends Kerry Boykins and Matt Furstenburg might be ready now. Defensive tackles Masengo Kobongo, Cody Blue and Zach Kerr will form the foundation of the interior in 2010 and beyond.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... WR Kenny Tate
The player you might care about this year ... TE Matt Furstenburg
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Ralph Friedgen and his staff aren't brining in the top talents the other ACC teams are; this isn't the hot program it was a few years ago. There aren't many, if any, instant impact players, so Friedgen has to be planning for the future with this group. However, this staff has done more with less, especially at quarterback, where Tyler Bass should eventually be the man.

10. Wake Forest
The class is heavy on ... Skill players. QB Ted Stachitas replaced Tim Tebow at Nease High in Florida, while RBs Chris Givens and Lovell Jackson are quick backs who fit the system. Receivers can thrive in the Jim Grobe offense, and Terence Davis and tight ends Andrew Parker and J.T. Dixon should be playmakers. The defensive line and secondary were all but ignored, but attention was paid to linebacker, especially for prospects in the middle.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... QB Ted Stachitas
The player you might care about this year ... LB Scott Betros
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Wake Forest will never get the four and five-star guys the top programs will, but it doesn't necessarily need them. Over the last two years, Grobe has proven he can bring in guys who fill in the style and system, and he gets players who, for the most part, don't miss. Now he's getting a better class of players and a higher caliber of prospect. In other words, the program is building off the success.

11. Virginia
The class is heavy on ... Offensive tackles. There isn't a sure-thing superstar to count on, but Al Groh and his staff got four decent prospects with frames to get bigger and better. The offensive backfield also got a boost with QBs Bill Schuatz and Riko Smalls, a speedster who might eventually be moved to receiver, and RB Torrey Mack. He's the only running back in the class, but he's a strong one.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... LB Cameron Johnson
The player you might care about this year ... RB Torrey Mack
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Considering the success of last year, the program didn't exactly build on the momentum. This is a pedestrian class coming off a decent 2007 haul, and while there are a few potential playmakers here and there, there isn't anything to get too excited about compared to what the rest of the league did. This class is a far cry from what the program was doing a few years ago.

12. Duke
The class is heavy on ... Offensive backfield and defensive back. David Cutcliffe needs players to mold and tutor, and he got a potential all-around quarterbacking star in Sean Renfree. RBs Jay Hollingsworth and Patrick Kurunwune provide an immediate boost to the backfield talent. The secondary got a huge win with CB Randez James, while Donovan Varner and Lee Butler aren't slouches.
The player who'll someday be a really big deal ... QB Sean Renfree
The player you might care about this year ... CB Rendez James
What it all means to the real world of college football ... Ted Roof didn't leave the cupboard bare with a few decent recruiting classes, at least for Duke, to build on. Cutcliffe didn't get a full year to work, but he still got his quarterback in Renfree, and he came up with a few decent skill players to work with. Next year needs to be about building the future of the lines.