While waiting for the frosty weather to pass by, several sports fans are focused on the middle of the ACC basketball season. Many are witnessing Malcolm Delaney's rise to stardom, the revitalization of Wake Forest under Dino Gaudio and the fade of Maryland's relevance, but there are some who aren't focused on ACC hoops.
Many fans have turned their attention to the next football season.
Scores of dedicated ACC fans have let 2008 go and are now focused on the 2009 campaign. Even though there are many months until the official kickoff of the first game, Signing Day is here. Many ACC teams have already received significant commitments, but which teams received an infusion of talent that can help right away? Which teams may have failed to improve? Only time will tell, but there is something known for sure -- several schools have picked up quality prospects to begin building or continue building their programs.
ATLANTIC DIVISION
Boston College (9-5, 5-3 in ACC):
It has been well documented that recruiting in New England is nothing easy. For a team going through what Boston College is going through, the prospect of making it to the ACC Championship for the third straight year does not look great. After firing Jeff Jagodzinski for interviewing for the New York Jets job, BC named Frank Spaziani as their new head coach. Spaziani will inherit a mediocre class in his first year.
The Eagles' class is lead by Dillon Quinn (DT -- 6'6", 295 lbs) from New York. Quinn, ranked as a a four-star recruit by the recruiting network Rivals.com, is slated in as the number 10 defensive tackle in this year's class. Boston College has also picked up a few quality three-star linebackers.
Two three-star running backs are in BC's class also -- Roland Finch (5'10", 204 lbs) and Sterlin Phifer (5'11", 205 lbs) -- but with the emergence of Montel Harris last year (179 carries for 900 yards), it may take a little while for them to get quality touches.
Florida State (9-4, 5-3 ACC):
Bobby Bowden signed a one-year deal and is ready to roll in 2009. The Seminoles have the 13th best class in the nation this season, highlighted by a monster DT. Five-star stud Jacobbi McDaniel (6', 267 lbs) from Greenville, Fla., is the 15th best player in the country. FSU has also picked up four-star prospects at many positions (defensive end, wide receiver, running back, linebacker). With wide receiver Greg Carr heading to the NFL, Rodney Smith might be the answer down the road. Bowden's boys do have some decent receivers, but Smith is a guy to look out for. With monstrous size (6'6", 202 lbs), he is another addition to a very good redzone offense. With quarterback Christian Ponder having a quality year under his belt, the Seminoles will certainly pose a threat to everyone in the ACC. The big question will be who will carry the load at running back. Lonnie Pryor (6'1", 195 lbs) and Chris Thompson (5'8", 173 lbs) are both four-star signees from Florida who may get some carries, along holdover Jermaine Thomas (69 carries for 482 yards last season).
FSU has also picked up fine recruits on the offensive line and in the defensive backfield.
With defensive end Everett Brown leaving for the NFL, the defense may not be as powerful as last year. They will need someone to get to the QB (Brown finished with 14 sacks last season) and someone to replace safety Myron Rolle. Bowden may have the players to bring FSU back to national prominence.
Maryland (8-5, 4-4 ACC):
The Terps have picked up five commitments from four-star prospects: RB D.J. Adams (5'10", 210 lbs) from Norcross, Ga., and four homegrown recruits -- DE DeOnte Arnett (6'4", 243 lbs), DB Travis Hawkins (5'10", 181 lbs), DE David Mackall (6'3", 240 lbs) and RB Caleb Porzel (5'9" 170 lbs).
With Da'Rel Scott evolving into one of the top backs in the ACC, Maryland is going to need someone to come through at the wide receiver position to replace Darrius Heyward-Bey, who bolted for the NFL, and Chris Turner must be more consistent throwing the ball.
With a quality class coming in, the future looks decent for the kids in College Park -- that is, of course, unless they get into another tough match with the football titans at Middle Tennessee State.
Wake Forest (8-5, 4-4 ACC):
A decent class is headed to Winston-Salem in 2009. Wake has some quality kids coming in at almost every position, including two three-star linebackers -- Daniel Mack (6', 196 lbs) from Miami and Justin Jackson (6'1", 212 lbs) from Rockingham, N.C.
The Deacons will look to improve in the trenches and may have grabbed a couple guys to do just that. After allowing 29 sacks on Riley Skinner and their young running back duo averaging less than four yards a carry, the Deacons need help in the offensive backfield.
Devin Bolling (6'5", 270 lbs) from Lynchburg and Whit Barnes (6'4", 270 lbs) from Rocky Mount, N.C., are both offensive linemen who should make contributions down the road.
Clemson (7-6, 4-4 ACC):
Clemson seemed to have everything entering last season. The Tigers had a high ranking, the preseason pick for player of the year in Cullen Harper, two electric backs in James Davis and C.J. Spiller, a star wide out in Aaron Kelly, a top-15 recruiting class and a defense that was in the top 20 nationally. Many may think this equals success, whether it's an ACC Championship or a shot at the national title. But after losing to Alabama in the season opener, the Tigers were never the same -- failing to meet expectations. Clemson will now look to some new faces to help it reach its goal of making it to the ACC Championship and beyond. The elite new faces will get to learn from some of the best.
With defensive ends Dequan Bowers and Ricky Sapp in combined with a four-star end in this year's class -- DE Malliciah Goodman (6'4", 255 lbs) -- the Tigers might not remember Gaines Adams and Phillip Merring in a few years. The Tigers have also replenished their defense with three quality linebackers.
The big catch in Clemson's class is a pro-style QB from Phoebus High in Hampton. Tajh Boyd, who is ranked the third best prospect in Virginia, de-committed from West Virginia and Tennessee before settling on Clemson. At 6' and 208 pounds, he does not have the height of a typical pro-style QB, but after earning co-MVP at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Boyd showed that he has what it takes to become a star in the ACC.
NC State (6-7, 4-4 ACC):
What quarterback Russell Wilson did last year was truly amazing, leading State while tossing 17 touchdowns and only one interception. Now Tom O'Brien will look to add to the Wolfpack's firepower. NC State has the 10th ranked class in the ACC and not too many highly touted players to be ecstatic about. Wilson was only a two-star coming out of Richmond; has coach O'Brien found another diamond in the rough?
The Wolfpack has a well-rounded class with nine offensive players, 14 defensive players, three athletes and a kicker.
Eight three-star prospects on the defensive line are headed to Raleigh and three on the O-line.
The player to keep an eye on is DB Jarvis Byrd (5'10", 173 lbs) from Pahokee, Fla. He is the 31st best corner in the class and a four-star prospect that NC State was able to steal from FSU. A physical corner with good speed, he will look to help NC State improve on their defensive rating from last year (84th nationally).
COASTAL DIVISION
Georgia Tech (9-4, 5-3 ACC):
An amazing season last year for the Yellow Jackets has other teams in the ACC fearing that they may be even better next year. The duo of QB Josh Nesbitt and ACC Player of the Year Jonathan Dwyer will lead Tech next season.
The talented recruits coming in will look to do the same in the future. Entering his second year, Paul Johnson has recruited the state of Georgia very well. Fourteen of 21 recruits are from the Peach State.
Finishing 25th nationally in defense last year, Georgia Tech brings in some solid players on the defensive line and defensive backfield.
The best may be massive DT J.C. Lanier (6'3", 335 lbs). A powerful lineman with a great first step, issues have come up about him controlling his weight. If Lanier can do so, he may cause havoc in the ACC.
GT has also picked up three three-star offensive linemen to help out a team that rushed over 600 times last season.
North Carolina (8-5, 4-4 ACC):
Butch Davis just keeps reeling in top recruit after top recruit. The feeling in Chapel Hill as of late is that the hometown Heels may soon be controlling the ACC. With the sixth best class in the nation heading to UNC, the expected success may come sooner rather than later. One five-star recruit, DE Donte Moss (6'4", 235 lbs) will pair with Marvin Austin on the line.
With Hakeem Nicks preparing for April's NFL Draft, North Carolina may have found his replacement in WR Jheranie Boyd (6'2", 184 lbs) from Gastonia, N.C.
Boyd is a tremendous athlete with terrific speed and exceptional jumping ability. Boyd is one of the 13 four-star recruits Coach Davis has landed including two on the O-line, defensive backfield and LB core.
UNC also landed a very good QB in four-star Bryn Renner (6'3", 192 lbs) from West Springfield, Va. Renner may not see the field for a while however, sitting behind T.J. Yates, Cameron Sexton and Mike Paulus.
Miami (7-6, 4-4 ACC):
The 'Canes eighth-ranked class is highlighted by a player who many consider to be the best, RB Bryce Brown (6', 215 lbs) from Wichita, Kan. The talented back is the guy who can bring The U back to the national stage.
Brown leads a class that is loaded at running back, offensive line and defenisve line. Brown's verbal is considered "soft." We will see whether he actually ends up in Miami.
Head coach Randy Shannon has done a fairly decent job recruiting the Miami area and has also reached out to the north of Florida to land some great players.
Brandon Washington (6'5", 330 lbs) from New York is a massive lineman who will protect the QB for years.
Virginia (5-7, 3-5 ACC):
The grumbling has already begun in Charlottesville. With a new offensive coordinator, a new quarterback and star players leaving, it's going to be interesting to see the Cavs in '09.
UVa's '09 class is loaded with three-stars, mainly on the O- and D-lines. In a class with not many big players, the most exciting may be Dominique Wallace. At 6'1" and 231 lbs, the running back from Fredericksburg is a massive back who should be a nice addition, especially if Mikell Simpson returns to his form from two years ago.
The Wahoos also picked up a very skilled receiver in Tim Smith (6', 182 lbs) from Chesapeake. Though undersized, Smith will look to contribute to a team that has been lacking a solid wide receiving core for a quite a while. We shall see how this mediocre class turns out, especially since the brilliant classes Al Groh had early on did not amount to much ACC success.
Duke (4-8, 1-7 ACC):
The Blue Devils are developing into a decent program under David Cutcliffe. After earning four wins last year, Duke is bringing in two four-star recruits along with 13 three-stars.
Desmond Scott (5'9", 185 lbs) is ranked as the fifth-best all-purpose running back in the class. The quick back from Durham decided to stay home instead of going to Florida, Georgia or other elite programs.
Another fantastic prospect for Duke is four-star DT John Drew (6'1", 303 lbs) from Columbus, Ga.
The Blue Devils also landed Tyree Watkins (6'2", 185 lbs) from Camden, N.J., and Connor Vernon (6'1", 179 lbs) from Miami who are both three-star wide receivers who may develop into a quick duo for the Blue Devils in the coming years.