ACC spring football review: Part 1

With the last of the ACC's 12 football teams completing spring drills over the weekend, here's the first installment in a three-part look at the conference heading into the offseason, with preseason practice just three months away:

1.   Clemson
Coach: Tommy Bowden, 10th year
2007 Record: 9-4, 5-3 ACC, Chick-fil-A Bowl loss to Auburn.
Offensive Starters Returning (7): QB Cullen Harper, RB James Davis, WR Jacoby Ford, WR Tyler Grisham, WR Aaron Kelly, TE Michael Palmer, OC Thomas Austin.
Defensive Starters Returning (8): DT Rashaad Jackson, DT Dorell Scott, DE Ricky Sapp, LB Cortney Vincent (suspended), S Chris Clemons, S Michael Hamlin, CB Crezdon Butler, CB Chris Chancellor.
Specialists Returning (2): PK Mark Buchholz, P Jimmy Maners.

When coach Tommy Bowden arrived at Clemson in 1999, fresh off an 11-0 season at Tulane, there were expectations that he could put the Tigers back into the national elite on a consistent basis for the first time since the Danny Ford (1979-89) era. Through nine years, that hasn’t happened. Bowden hasn’t had a losing season at Clemson, but he hasn’t posted a top-10 finish or an ACC title, either.

This could be the year. Quarterback Cullen Harper, coming off a break-through 2007 campaign, is back for his senior season. Two top playmakers, tailback James Davis and wide receiver Aaron Kelly, considered early entry into the NFL draft but ultimately decided to stay. Eight defensive starters and both kicking specialists also return, and strong recruiting in recent years is expected to provide additional impact players. If the Tigers’ rebuilt offensive line can come together quickly this fall, watch out.

2.   Wake Forest
Coach: Jim Grobe, eighth year
2007 Record: 9-4, 5-3 ACC, Meineke Bowl win over Connecticut.
Offensive Starters Returning (4): QB Riley Skinner, RB Josh Adams, WR Chip Brinkman, RT Jeff Griffin.
Defensive Starters Returning (9): DT Boo Robinson, DE Matt Robinson, LB Stanley Arnoux, LB Aaron Curry, LB Chantz McClinic, SS Kevin Patterson, FS Chip Vaughn, CB Brandon Ghee, CB Alphonso Smith.
Specialists Returning (2): PK Sam Swank, P Sam Swank.

After seven years in Winston-Salem, where he took over one of the losingest programs in the history of major college football, coach Jim Grobe can’t possibly stay under the radar any longer. His teams played sub-.500 ball overall during his first five campaigns with the Demon Deacons, but then they broke through in 2006 with the best season (11-3, ACC title, Orange Bowl) in school history. After being tagged with the contender label for the first time last summer, the Deacons followed up their magical run with a strong 9-4 mark.

Now Wake looks as if it has in place the pieces needed for another special season. Quarterback Riley Skinner and tailback Josh Adams provide proven, productive starters at crucial offensive positions. Linebacker Aaron Curry and cornerback Alphonso Smith are potential superstars on a defense that returns nine starters. Sam Swank, who adroitly handles both kicking and punting duties for the Deacons, is back for his senior year. The Deacs need a bunch of new faces to come through on the offensive line, but their track record there is strong.

3.   Virginia Tech
Coach: Frank Beamer, 22nd year
2007 Record: 11-3, 7-1 ACC (champs), Orange Bowl loss to Kansas.
Offensive Starters Returning (6): QB Sean Glennon, TE Sam Wheeler, LG Nick Marshman, OC Ryan Shuman, RG Sergio Render, RT Ed Wang.
Defensive Starters Returning (4): DE Orion Martin, LB Cam Martin, RV Kam Chancellor, CB Victor Harris.
Specialists Returning (1): P Brent Bowden.

After 21 years in Blacksburg, coach Frank Beamer has an incredibly smooth-running operation. Since joining the ACC prior to the 2004 season, the Hokies have two conference titles, three first-place finishes and three top-10 national rankings. Even when they lost a school-record nine players to the NFL draft in 2006, they went 10-3 the following fall. Tech’s eight draft selections over the weekend represented the highest number in the nation, but Beamer’s track record suggests that if anyone can overcome such an exodus, he can.

Most teams with only 11 returning starters (out of 24, including kickers) would be projected to finish in the second division. But Tech has two accomplished quarterbacks with much different styles in senior Sean Glennon and sophomore Tyrod Taylor, defensive coordinator Bud Foster always seems to pull together a ferocious, well-schooled unit, and the Hokies have become famous for winning close games with BeamerBall-style special teams plays.

4.   Florida State
Coach: Bobby Bowden, 31st year
2007 Record: 7-6, 4-4 ACC, Music City Bowl loss to Kentucky.
Offensive Starters Returning (7): QB Drew Weatherford, RB Antone Smith, WR Richard Goodman, TE Caz Piurowski, LT Daron Rose, LG Rodney Hudson, OC Ryan McMahon.
Defensive Starters Returning (8): NG Budd Thacker, DE Everette Brown, DE Neefy Moffett, LB Derek Nicholson, LB Dekoda Watson, RV Myron Rolle, CB Tony Carter, CB Michael Ray Garvin.
Specialists Returning (1): P Graham Gano.

Seven years ago, Florida State began its return to mortality — relatively pedestrian records of 8-4, 9-5, 10-3, 9-3, 8-5, 7-6 and (last year) 7-6 — after an incredible 14 straight top-four finishes nationally. The transition has begun from gridiron legend Bobby Bowden to coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher, the Seminoles’ second-year offensive coordinator, but Bowden believes he has at least one more run in him before he hands over the reins entirely.

FSU’s talent level has dropped significantly from where it was during the program’s golden era, but there is still some quality competition on the depth chart. When senior quarterback Drew Weatherford (a three-year starter) went down during spring drills with a knee injury, youngster Christian Ponder played well enough that it could be an interesting battle for the starting job in August. The Seminoles also return eight starters on an experienced defensive unit that’s always well-coached by coordinator Mickey Andrews.

Later This Week: ACC Spring Football Review, Part Two