Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 26, 1995 TAG: 9508310007
SECTION: COLLEGE FOOTBALL PAGE: CF-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: COMPILED BY DOUG DOUGHTY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
1994 record: 10-1-1 overall, 8-0 ACC (first).
Coach: Bobby Bowden, 20th year (249-79-4 overall, 176-47-4 at Florida State).
Major losses: WR Kez McCorvey, DE Derrick Alexander, LB Derrick Brooks, DB Clifton Abraham, DB Devin Bush, DB Corey Fuller.
Top returnees: TE Melvin Pearsall, G Lewis Tyre, C Clay Shiver, QB Danny Kanell, RB Warrick Dunn.
Key newcomers: DB Richard Brown, QB Dan Kendra, WR Peter Warrick, WR Randy Moss.
Strengths: The Seminoles rediscovered the running game last year when Dunn asked coach Bobby Bowden for the ball and produced the fifth 1,000-yard rushing season in Florida State history. Dunn and Kanell rank as the two leading candidates for ACC offensive player of the year.
Concerns: The Seminoles have lost three first-team All-ACC defensive backs in the past two years, not counting first-round NFL draft pick Devin Bush. Opponents may be tempted to pick on a rebuilt secondary, particularly if the Seminoles' pass rush isn't up to standards.
Projection: Florida State set a record last year with its 24th consecutive ACC victory and few doubt the Seminoles will be 32-0 in conference play after this season. FSU plays six of seven games in Florida before visiting Virginia on Nov.2.
2. North Carolina State
1994 record: 9-3 overall, 6-2 ACC (second).
Coach: Mike O'Cain, third year (16-8 overall and at N.C. State).
Major losses: WR Eddie Goines, OL Chris Hennie-Roed, K Steve Videtich, DT Carl Reeves, LB Damien Covington.
Top returnees: G Steve Keim, QB Terry Harvey, RB Tremayne Stephens, DB Ricky Bell, DB Kenny Harris, DB James Walker.
Key newcomers: WR Torry Holt, LB Darwin Walker.
Strengths: There was no better running back in the ACC by the end of the 1994 season than Stephens, who finished third in the conference in rushing. Harvey's career has been marked by late-game heroics. The secondary is among the finest in Division I-A.
Concerns: The loss of pass-rusher Reeves at tackle and run-stopper Covington at middle linebacker will weaken State's front seven on defense. Departed kicker Videtich made 16 of 18 field-goal attempts.
Projection: The Wolfpack has the most fortuitous conference schedule, with home games against Virginia, North Carolina and Clemson - three of the teams with whom it will vie for second place behind Florida State. A trip to Alabama won't help the overall record, though.
3. North Carolina
1994 record: 8-4 overall, 5-3 ACC (tied for third).
Coach: Mack Brown, eighth year (59-66-1 overall, 42-38-1 at North Carolina).
Major losses: TE Greg Delong, OT Roge Purgason, QB Jason Stanicek, RB Curtis Johnson, FB William Henderson, DE Oscar Sturgis, DT Greg Black, LB Mike Morton, DB Jimmy Hitchcock.
Top returnees: WR Octavus Barnes, WR Marcus Wall, QB Mike Thomas, RB Leon Johnson, DL Marcus Jones.
Key newcomers: DL Russell Davis, DL Mike Pringley.
Strengths: Tailback Leon Johnson has rushed for more than 1,800 yards in two seasons and no longer will share time with Curtis Johnson, who passed up his final season of college eligibility. Thomas, a certified starter for the first time this year, was 23-of-39 for 298 yards and two touchdowns in the Sun Bowl. Jones is the ACC's top defensive lineman.
Concerns: The Tar Heels were an inconsistent defensive team last year and won't be much more stable with the departure of leading tackler Morton and the rest of the starting linebackers.
Projection: Carolina has overcome 1-10 records in its first two seasons under Brown to win 40 games during the '90s. The Tar Heels should have little trouble posting their sixth consecutive winning season, but too many questions abound to label Carolina a certain bowl team at this point.
4. Virginia
1994 record: 9-3 overall, 5-3 ACC (tied for third).
Note: See information on the Cavaliers beginning on F2.
5. Clemson
1994 record: 5-6 overall, 4-4 ACC (sixth).
Coach: Tommy West, third year (10-13 overall, 6-6 at Clemson).
Major losses: TE Stephon Wynn, K Nelson Welch, DE Wardell Rouse, LB Michael Barber, LB Tim Jones, LB Darnell Stephens.
Top returnees: WR Antwuan Wyatt, OT Dwayne Morgan, QB Nealon Greene, RB Lamont Pegues, DL Marvin Cross, DB Brian Dawkins, DB Andre Humphrey, DB Dexter McCleon.
Key newcomers: RB Rashidi Brown, LB Adrian Dingle, LB Anthony Simmons.
Strengths: Of the 17 returning starters, 10 are on offense, but the strength of this team is its secondary. The Tigers made a commitment to freshman Greene last year at quarterback and he led them to three consecutive victories.
Concerns: Clemson did not rank among the top 100 Division I-A teams in total offense, so there is considerable work still to be done in that area. Moreover, coach Tommy West must replace all four starting linebackers.
Projection: Clemson fans couldn't wait to get rid of Ken Hatfield, under whom they were 8-3 before West stepped in for the 1983 Peach Bowl. The momentum generated by a three-game winning streak was interrupted by a bad home loss to South Carolina, 33-7 in the finale.
6. Duke
1994 record: 8-4 overall, 5-3 ACC (tied for third).
Coach: Fred Goldsmith, second year (33-42-1 overall, 8-4 at Duke).
Major losses: OT Matt Williams, RB Rob Baldwin, DE David Hawkins, DB Zaid Abdul-Aleem.
Top returnees: WR Corey Thomas, TE Bill Khayat, OT Jon Merrill, C Jeroen Egge, QB Spence Fischer, DE James Kirkland, LB Billy Granville, LB John Zuanich, DB Ray Farmer.
Key newcomers: RB Dawud Rasheed, DB Desi Thomas.
Strengths: The Blue Devils lose ACC offensive player of the year Baldwin, but little else. Quarterback Spence Fischer, the brother of Washington and Lee starter Brooks Fischer, has passed for more than 6,000 yards in three seasons and has the ACC's top receiving tight end in Khayat. Safety Farmer headlines an underrated Blue Devils defense..
Concerns: Matt D'Orio, the leading contender to replace Baldwin, suffered a broken clavicle in the spring and received little work. Duke must prove it can run the ball against the best teams on its schedule; Baldwin was held to fewer than 100 yards against the six bowl teams Duke played in 1994.
Projection: Duke again has a relatively weak nonconference schedule (Rutgers, Army, Navy), so a second consecutive winning season is well within reach for Goldsmith. The Blue Devils didn't lose a lot from last season and should not be viewed as a pushover.
7. Georgia Tech
1994 record: 1-10 overall, 0-8 ACC (ninth).
Coach: George O'Leary, second year (0-3 overall, 0-3 at Georgia Tech).
Major losses: WR Charlie Simmons, QB Tommy Luginbill, LB Jamal Cox, P Jason Bender.
Top returnees: WR Derrick Steagall, OL Curtis McGee, C Michael Cheever, QB Donnie Davis, RB C.J. Williams, DB Nathan Perryman.
Key newcomers: RB Charles Wiley, DE Deshaan Simmons, DB Kofi Smith.
Strengths: Georgia Tech has not had a consistent running game since Bobby Ross left following the 1991 season, due in large part to inconsistency on the line. This year, Tech may have the best offensive line in the ACC.
Concerns: George O'Leary, defensive coordinator of Tech's co-national championship team in 1990, returned last year from San Diego of the NFL and the Yellow Jackets still gave up 450 yards or more in four games.
Projection: Tech has posted three consecutive losing seasons and a fourth seems likely, particularly with a nonconference schedule that includes Arizona and Georgia. Davis' return at quarterback will lend stability, as will O'Leary's elevation to full-time status after replacing Bill Lewis for the last three games of the '94 season.
8. Maryland
1994 record: 4-7 overall, 2-6 ACC (seventh).
Coach: Mark Duffner, fourth year (69-29-1 overall, 9-24 at Maryland).
Major losses: WR Russ Weaver, OT Steve Ingram, G Dave Hack, C Jamie Bragg, RB Allen Williams.
Top returnees: WR Jermaine Lewis, WR Geroy Simon, QB Scott Milanovich, LB Ratcliff Thomas, DB A.J. Johnson.
Key newcomers: RB Darnell Eatmon, LB Jomo Huggins, OL Pete Sorrentino.
Strengths: Simon set an ACC record last year with 77 receptions and teams well with Lewis, who had nine touchdown receptions. Maryland has ranked among the ACC's top passing teams since Duffner came into the league.
Concerns: Maryland cut its defensive yield by more than 100 yards per game last year, but still ranked eighth out of nine teams in the ACC in four major defensive categories.
Projection: The key for the Terrapins will be their four games (Tulane on the road and North Carolina, West Virginia and Duke at home) while quarterback Milanovich is serving an NCAA-imposed suspension for gambling. His replacement, sophomore Brian Cummings, has never thrown a pass in a college game.
9. Wake Forest
1994 record: 3-8 overall, 1-7 ACC (eighth).
Coach: Jim Caldwell, third year (5-17 overall, 5-17 at Wake).
Major losses: E Eddie McKeel, LB Kevin Giles.
Top returnees: WR Dan Ballou, OL Doug Marsigli, OL Elton Ndoma-Ogar, QB Rusty LaRue, LB Tucker Grace, DB Brent Morehead.
Key newcomers: TE Joe Zelenka, FB Wande Shaw, LB Kelvin Moses.
Strengths: With the return of several players who were injured last year, Wake has its best offensive line under coach Jim Caldwell. That should provide some much-needed protection for quarterback LaRue, a three-sport standout who is expected to receive a strong challenge from Brian Kuklick.
Concerns: The Deacons finished 101 among 106 Division I-A teams in total defense and 105th in rushing defense, so there is much room for improvement. Wake gave up 50 or more points in three games last year and loses No.3 all-time tackler Giles.
Projection: The Deacons are 2-14 in ACC games in two seasons under Caldwell and do not figure to make a startling turnaround this year. It helps that Georgia Tech and Maryland, two other teams picked for the second division, will be visiting Winston-Salem, N.C.
by CNB