2008 ACC Spring Dates and Needs

There are a lot of ACC teams with some big holes to fill, mainly Virginia Tech. The Hokies lost a lot of key players from their ACC Championship teams. Other teams such as Florida State and Miami look to come back to the elite of college football. Duke and Georgia Tech are breaking in new coaches. Atlantic Division Boston College Spring Practice Begins - March 25 Spring Practice Ends - April 26 with their squad scrimmage that day. The Eagles must find someone to take over for Matt Ryan. As it looks right now, Chris Crane, who spent two years backing up Ryan, is the front runner. But he could receive some competition from transfer Codi Boek. Maybe more important, the Eagles must find a replacement at running back for L.V. Whitworth, who was a big part of their offense. Due to injuries, Boston College might have to turn to a true freshman, Josh Haden, who enrolled early. Clemson Spring Practice Begins - March 22 Spring Practice Ends - April 12 with their squad scrimmage that day. The Tigers are one of my teams to watch for next year since they return a lot of starters, and in reality, do not have many holes to fill. Defensive end Phillip Merling left early to go to the NFL and Clemson is hoping that DaQuan Bowers is ready to step out of high school and replace Merling. I'd also keep an eye out for the battle at offensive tackle. It will be key for the Tigers to protect Cullen Harper this fall. Wake Forest Spring Practice Begins - March 26 Spring Practice Ends - April 19 with their squad scrimmage that day. Since the Demon Deacons are losing 3 starters off of their defensive line, I think that would be a good place for them to start. At quarterback Riley Skinner must work on protecting the ball more, and will have to get comfortable with some new receivers this spring. Chip Brinkman, Jordan Williams, and Demir Boldin are the three guys which will catch the majority of Skinner's passes in 2008. Finally, they will have to find a replacement for center Steve Justice, who might be the best offensive lineman ever to play at Wake. NC State Spring Practice Begins - March 18 Spring Practice Ends - April 19 with their squad scrimmage that day. Safety DaJuan Morgan left early for the NFL. Out of the healthy and eligible choices, the Wolfpack will look to Jimmaul Simmons, Robbie Leonard, or Dominique Ellis to fill that spot. Work needs done on the offensive front to get their rushing game moving. The lack of a rushing attack was something that hurt NC State last year, even though they did improve as the season progressed. Their passing game, which saw their quarterbacks throw for a combined 23 interceptions must improve also, which means Daniel Evans and Harrison Beck will battle it out. Maryland Spring Practice Begins - March 25 Spring Practice Ends - April 26 with their squad scrimmage that day. Linebacker Erin Henderson left for the NFL early and leaves Adrian Moten and Alex Wujciak as they main contenders for that job. On offense there is a huge hole in the backfield with the graduations of Keon Lattimore and Lance Ball. Right now Morgan Green and Da’Rel Scott are two sophomores vying for the starting position. The Terps also have to produce a way for a competent quarterback to emerge from junior Chris Turner, senior Jordan Steffy, and junior Josh Portis. Florida State Spring Practice Begins - March 17 Spring Practice Ends - April 12 with their squad scrimmage that day. How does Florida State deal with spring football since they know so many starters will be missing from the first few games? Any way they do it, they must find some playmakers on offense. Quarterback Drew Weatherford and running back Antone Smith have to live up to their potential. Especially Weatherford, who showed flashes of brilliance his freshman year, but hasn't progressed in his maturation since that year. Coastal Division Virginia Tech Spring Practice Begins - March 26 Spring Practice Ends - April 12 with their squad scrimmage that day. The number one question surrounding the Hokies is: Will they use a two quarterback system with Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor, or use this spring as a forum for the competition between the two? Replacing linebackers Xavier Adibi and Vince Hall will be no easy task either. The Hokies also lose their top four wide receivers from 2007. If that wasn't enough, with the depature of cornerback Brandon Flowers to the NFL, Tech must find a replacement in the group of Rashad Carmichael, Stephan Virgil and Cris Hill. Virginia Spring Practice Begins - March 21 Spring Practice Ends - April 12 with their squad scrimmage that day. Al Groh's seat has cooled, but with his returning quarterback Jameel Sewell academically ineligible, he must find a quarterback. Sewell isn't the only one having issues staying academically eligible, defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald and cornerback Chris Cook are two others. Branden Albert left early to go to the NFL which makes the Cavs have to replace both offensive guards this spring. Patrick Slebonick and B.J. Cabbell will be in competition for that position. Duke Spring Practice Begins - March 19 Spring Practice Ends - April 12 with their squad scrimmage that day. It will be the first spring practice under new head coach David Cutcliffe. His first order of business will be to change the attitude of the team. Losing is a disease. Cutcliffe has some nice building blocks for his offense with quarterback Thaddeus Lewis and wide receiver Eron Riley, but he must build an offensive line first so that these athletes can show their skill. Georgia Tech Spring Practice Begins - March 24 Spring Practice Ends - April 19 with their squad scrimmage that day. Paul Johnson begins his first spring with the Yellow Jackets, and all signs point to a rebuilding year in 2008. Taylor Bennett saw the writing on the wall and transferred so that leaves sophomore Josh Nesbitt and Auburn transfer Calvin Booker to take the reigns this fall. Both have the ability to run the offense, but I am sure come recruiting time, Johnson will recruit exactly who he wants for QB. On defense they must replace two linebackers, who were their top two tacklers in 2007. Miami Spring Practice Begins - February 26 Spring Practice Ends - March 29 with their squad scrimmage that day. Kyle Wright has graduated and Kirby Freeman has transferred, so that leaves the starting quarterback job to redshirt freshman Robert Marve. If Marve slips up at all, two early enrolled freshman Jacory Harris and Cannon Smith, could take his job. The Canes must replace two guards and a center who were lost to graduation. On defense, Calais Campbell, a defensive end left early, which makes it Courtney Harris job to lose. Also the Canes lost free safety Kenny Phillips. The two people fighting for that job will be Anthony Reddick and Lovon Ponder. North Carolina Spring Practice Begins -March 3 Spring Practice Ends - April 7 with their squad scrimmage that day. In Butch Davis' second year, he hopes that the kids he recruited can start making an impact, most importantly at defensive line, defensive end, and linebacker. The Tar Heels were putrid running the ball last season, but even with four running backs returning there is no real number one back. Greg Little did a good job running the ball at the end of 2007. Part of their problem is their offensive line, which will also be an area of improvement for the spring.