Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 28, 1994 TAG: 9408260033
SECTION: COLLEGE FOOTBALL PAGE: FB13 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
1993 record: 12-1 overall, 8-0 ACC (first)
Coach: Bobby Bowden, 15th year (239-78-3 overall, 166-46-3 at Florida State)
Top returnees:DB Clifton Abraham, DE Derrick Alexander, PK Scott Bentley, LB Derrick Brooks, DB Devin Bush, RB Warrick Dunn, WR Kez McCorvey, OG Patrick McNeil, C Clay Shiver.
Major losses: LB Ken Alexander, DL Jon Nance, DB Corey Sawyer, WR Tamarick Vanover, QB Charlie Ward.
Key newcomers: LB Lamont Green, DB Robert Hammond.
Strengths: No team in college football runs better than Florida State, which should be able to withstand the loss of 12 starters because freshmen have gotten ample playing time in blowouts.The defense could be better than last year with potential All-Americans Brooks, Abraham and Alexander.
Concerns: No one can expect quarterback Danny Kanell to be another Charlie Ward in his first year as starter, but Kanell has the benefit of only one wide receiver, Kez McCovey, with more than 10 receptions last year.
Projection: Clearly the schedule sets up for Florida State to make another run at the national championship, with preseason No. 1-ranked Florida at home and Notre Dame in Orlando, Fla. Watch out for Miami at the Orange Bowl. 12-0, 8-0.
\ North Carolina
1993 record: 10-3 overall, 6-2 ACC (second)
Coach: Mack Brown, seventh year (41-59-1 overall, 34-34-1 at North Carolina)
Top returnees: DB Sean Boyd, TE Greg Delong, RB Curtis Johnson, RB Leon Johnson, DL Marcus Jones, QB Jason Stanicek.
Major losses: OT Ethan Albright, DB Sean Crocker, LB Bernardo Harris, OG Shawn Hocker, WR Corey Holliday, OT Curtis Parker, LB Rick Steinbacher, DB Bracey Walker.
Key newcomers: WR Octavus Barnes, DB Terry Billups, DB Omar Brown.
Strengths: Curtis Johnson and Leon Johnson each rushed for 1,000 yards last year, when Leon Johnson was named ACC rookie of the year. All-purpose quarterback Jason Stanicek is preparing to break the school record for total offense in a career.
Concerns: Center Patrick Conneely is the only returnee of any stature on the offensive line. The Tar Heels had problems against the pass last year, even before they lost Bracey Walker and Sean Crocker to the NFL.
Projection: The Tar Heels are rebuilding in several areas, but should continue to prosper because most of the ACC programs are in a similar state and because the Tar Heels play a weak non-conference schedule (Texas Christian, Tulane and Southern Methodist). 10-1, 7-1
\ Clemson
1992 record: 9-3 overall, 5-3 Big East (tied for third)
Coach: Tommy West, first year (1-0 at Clemson, 5-7 overall)
Top returnees: DB Brian Dawkins, DB Andre Humphrey, LB Tim Jones, LB Wardell Rouse, PK Nelson Welch.
Major losses: DL Brentson Buckner,OG Stacy Seegars, WR Terry Smith.
Key newcomers: OT Jim Bundren, OT Dwayne Morgan.
Strengths: Clemson ranked fifth in Division I-A in total defense last year and has great speed at the linebacker and secondary positions. Standout special-teams units are headed by return specialists Andre Humphrey and Dexter McCleon.
Concerns: Clemson was last in the ACC in scoring (16.7 points per game) and total offense (316.4 yards) last season and had to move a wide receiver to tailback in order to get through spring practice. Strong-armed Patrick Sapp has not fulfilled potential at quarterback
Projection: The Tigers were the first team in ACC history to finish last in scoring and total offense and play in a bowl. They are good enough defensivively to do it again. 7-4, 5-3.
\ Georgia Tech
1993 record: 5-6 overall, 3-5 ACC (sixth)
Coach: Bill Lewis, third year (10-12 overall, 45-44-2 at Syracuse)
Top returneees: OG Brian Bravy, C Mike Cheever, LB Jamal Cox, DL Elliott Fortune RB Jimy Lincoln.
Major losses: RB William Bell, RB Dorsey Levens.
Key newcomers: DB Gary Joseph, LB Ron Rogers, DB C.J. Williams
Strengths: Jamal Cox and Rodney Wilkerson form one of the ACC's top inside-linebacker tandems. A maturing offensive line was overlooked in improvement of running game last year.
Concerns: Quarterback Donnie Davis had an up-and-down sophomore year and missed all of spring practice after the first of two shoulder operations. Running backs Dorsey Levens and William Bell, both of whom rushed for more than 750 yards, will be hard to replace.
Projection: Return of defensive coordinator George O'Leary from the San Diego Chargers lends stability on that side of the ball, but Yellow Jackets have a lot of iffs on offense and a tough out-of-conference schedule with Arizona and Georgia. 5-6, 4-4.
\ N.C. State
1993 record: 7-5 overall, 4-4 ACC (fifth)
Coach: Mike O'Cain, second year (7-5 overall)
Top returnees: LB Damien Covington, WR Eddie Goines, QB Terry Harvey, DL Carl Reeves, PK Steve Videtich, DB James Walker.
Major losses: RB Gary Downs, LB Tyler Lawrence, OT Eric Taylor, C Todd Ward, DB Dwayne Washington.
Key newcomers: LB Kit Carpenter, DB Duan Everett.
Strengths: Free safety James Walker had 139 tackles last season, tied for first in the ACC, and cornerback William Strong was second in pass break-ups with 10.
Concerns: Injuries and attrition have had a crippling effect on the offensive line. State would love to match the production it got from last year's senior tailback, 835-yard rusher Gary Downs.
Projection: The Wolfpack won four consecutive games last year in which it trailed in the fourth quarter. Season-ending drubbings by Florida State (62-3) and Michigan (42-7) were a cause for alarm. 5-6, 3-5.
\ Maryland
1993 record: 2-9 overall, 2-6 ACC (tied for seventh)
Coach: Mark Duffner, third year (65-22-1 overall, 5-17 at Maryland)
Top returnees: OT Steve Ingram, WR Jermaine Lewis, QB-P Scott Milanovich, LB Ratcliffe Thomas, WR Russ Weaver.
Major loss: RB Mark Mason.
Key newcomers: PK Brad Rhodes, RB Brian Underwood, LB BrettWhite.
Strengths: Quarterback Scott Milanovich passed for 3,499 yards last season, most by an ACC sophomore, and set a conference record with 26 touchdown passes. Jermaine Lewis had nearly 1,000 yards in receptions in nine games.
Concerns: Maryland last year became the first team in ACC history to give up 6,000 yards in a season and gave up 40 or more points in seven games.
Projection: Maryland has finished the season with a victory the last two seasons - the only ACC team other than Florida State to do so. The Terrapins need to become more of a factor in weeks 1-10. 3-8, 2-6.
\ Duke
1993 record: 3-8 overall, 2-6 ACC (tied for seventh)
Coach: Fred Goldsmith, first year (25-38-1 overall)
Top returnees: DB Ray Farmer, QB Spence Fischer, P John Krueger, OT Jon Merrill.
Major losses: LB Brad Sherrod, DL Scott Youmans.
Key newcomers: DE Johannes Brugger OG Chad Melita, WR Corey Thomas.
Strengths: Quarterback Spence Fischer passed for more than 2,500 yards last season and has a seasoned back-up in Joe Pickens, a transfer from Notre Dame.
Concerns: Duke gave up 31.7 points per game last year, eighth in the league. On offense, the Blue Devils lose three wide receivers who had 24 or more receptions.
Projection: Duke opens against Maryland, East Carolina and Navy at home and should be 3-0. It's hard to see where the wins are after an Oct. 1 date at Navy. 4-7, 1-7.
\ Wake Forest
1993 record: 2-9 overall, 1-7 ACC (ninth)
Coach: Jim Caldwell, second year (7-5 overall and at school)
Top returnees: LB Kevin Giles, QB Rusty LaRue, C Eddie McKeel, OT Elton Nodoma-Ogar.
Major losses: DT Dred Booe, WR Todd Dixon, RB John Leach, TE Walter Rasby.
Key newcomers: QB David Cerchio, OG Tim Goodson
Strengths: Junior linebacker Kevin Giles had more than 100 tackles last year for the second year in a row. Richard Goodpasture from Salem, Va., is one of three returning starters in the secondary.
Concerns: With the departure of ACC rushing champion John Leach, Wake's first 1,000-yard rusher since 1979, the Deacons do not have a returning tailback who rushed for as much as 25 yards last season. Quarterback Rusty LaRue, a part-time starter in 1993, underwent wrist surgery after the season.
Projection: Wake Forest has beaten Clemson in back-to-back seasons, but needs to get its act together against the rest of the ACC. 3-8, 1-7.
by CNB