Signing Day Checklist: Wrapping up the ACC
Atlantic Division
Signees: 15
247Sports Composite Rank: 91
Overview: New coach Steve Addazio will be working slowly to turn around an Eagles team that finished with progressively worse records every year under Frank Spaziani. The former Temple coach promotes a physical brand of football and began to build out that vision in the 2013 class. The transition, however, did hurt the class and ranks it near the bottom of the ACC.
Headliner: Tevin Montgomery might need some time before he is ready to make a splash on Boston College's defensive line, but at 6-foot-5, 295 pounds, the No. 3 prospect from the state of Massachusetts could be a player ready to grow and dominate in the ACC.
Instant Impact: The instant impact player likely won't come from high school but instead from graduate-student transfer Matt Patchan. He was a five-star offensive lineman when Addazio recruited him to Florida, and the 6-foot-6, 304-pound tackle will be eligible immediately.
Best-Case Scenario: Addazio will need another full recruiting cycle to get a class that fits his style, but there are a few players who could be building blocks if they get off to a fast start this offseason.
Signees: 23
247Sports Composite Rank: 13
Overview: The fact that the Tigers have been in the running for several key prospects on National Signing Day in recent years is a nod to the program's resurgence under Dabo Swinney. Missing out on some of those players, like defensive tackle Montravius Adams, can sting a fan base. But at the end of the day Clemson has one of the best classes in the ACC and was able to address needs on defense.
Headliner: MacKensie Alexander has the chance to be a special cornerback. His aggressiveness and commitment to the position were praised by scouts, and Clemson's defense has not had the luxury of a dominant corner to scheme around.
Instant Impact: Shaq Lawson, by virtue of a year at Hargrave and early enrollment, will likely be the most physically prepared player to make an impact in 2013. That is great news for defensive coordinator Brent Venables, who would like to see more consistent play from the defensive line.
Best-Case Scenario: Alexander is the star, but Clemson brought in six talented defensive backs. If Cordrea Tankersley, Korrin Wiggins and others exceed expectations, the Tigers could have a very strong secondary for the future.
Signees: 22
247Sports Composite Rank: 8
Overview: Jimbo Fisher and his newly hired staff did an impressive job assembling yet another top-10 class despite losing six assistants in a five-week span across December and January. Florida State got big-time commitments from cornerback Jalen Ramsey and linebacker Matthew Thomas, while defensive tackle Keith Bryant and early enrollee DeMarcus Walker will try to fill voids on a defensive line that lost all four starters. The only area in which Seminole fans feel like they missed on landing a game changer is along the offensive line, but Fisher feels good about the 22-prospect class that he is welcoming -- or, in the case of the early enrollees, has welcomed -- to Tallahassee.
Headliner: Ramsey was one of the top-rated prospects in Tennessee and was a USC commit until new defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt helped flip his decision in the weeks leading up to National Signing Day. The three-sport athlete has tremendous athletic ability and will likely run track for the Seminoles as well.
Instant Impact: Walker rated the No. 8 prospect in Florida, and the 6-foot-3, 265-pound defensive end is "already up to 275," according to Fisher. He is enrolled in classes and will be able to participate in both spring practice and the offseason conditioning. Come August, he could be ready for the big time.
Best-Case Scenario: This might not be the top-five class of years past. But if Ramsey, Thomas, Walker and Bryant pan out like they are projected, the Seminoles' defense should not miss a beat moving forward.
Signees: 23
247Sports Composite Rank: 34
Overview: Randy Edsall's hiring of offensive coordinator Mike Locksley and defensive coordinator Brian Stewart paid off in 2012 with the signing of Stefon Diggs and a defensive unit that was arguably one of the five best in the ACC. After two years of transfers, injury woes and coaching turnover, the Terps pulled in some of the best four-star talent that the Washington, D.C./Maryland/Virginia area has to offer. You keep laughing about those "Maryland Pride" uniforms inspired by the state flag while Edsall and Locksley continue to build relationships with the area high schools.
Headliner: Four-star offensive tackle Derwin Gray is the top-rated prospect from Washington, D.C., in the 2013 class and considered a top-10 player at his position. The 6-foot-5 1/2, 295-pound lineman had offers from Auburn, Florida, Florida State and Clemson but chose to stay in the area and will be a cornerstone of the Terps' offensive line.
Instant Impact: Gray told reporters, "What Stefon Diggs did as a wide receiver, I can be that for the offensive line." Maryland fans will re-read that quote all offseason, after Diggs averaged 172.4 all-purpose yards per game and finished second in the ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year voting behind Miami's Duke Johnson.
Best-Case Scenario: Maryland's move to the Big Ten might have helped them on the recruiting trail this year. But if the on-field product can improve in 2013, the momentum will only grow as the Terps prepare to make the transition. Instant-impact guys like Diggs and Gray are what Maryland needs. They also need to stay healthy, but that is another issue unrelated to recruiting.
Signees: 23
247Sports Composite Rank: 60
Overview: New coach Dave Doeren is a noted recruiter but unfortunately is entering a situation in which he does not share some of the same views as the previous staff. The former Northern Illinois coach was able to make up ground quickly, signing nine players from the state of North Carolina and pulling seven from Florida.
Headliner: Four-star athlete Johnathan Alston's commit was huge for multiple reasons. First, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Alston has starred at outside linebacker and wide receiver. Doeren called him a "great two-way player," and the staff might play him that way. It was also crucial for Doeren, who has few North Carolina ties, to lock up one of the better players in the state. Alston, from Bunn, N.C., also had offers from North Carolina, South Carolina and even Notre Dame.
Instant Impact: Without much consistency at the running back position, three-star Matt Dayes (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) could have a chance to step in and earn snaps. Doeren considers him a great multi-purpose threat because of his ability to catch out of the backfield. Vanderbilt came on strong late, but Dayes stuck with the Pack and could see the field in 2013.
Best-Case Scenario: Tom O'Brien left a talented team in Raleigh, which did not put a ton of pressure on the new staff to sign immediate impact players. Doeren, a former recruiting coordinator, was able to get some key last-minute signees but should have the Wolfpack higher in the rankings in 2014.
Signees: 19
247Sports Composite Rank: 77
Overview: Of all the coaching transitions in the ACC, no school was more negatively affected than Syracuse. Four of the top verbal commits in the 2013 class decided to change their allegiance when Doug Marrone left for the Buffalo Bills and Scott Shafer was left to pick up the pieces. The class lacks star power but did address the position needs.
Headliner: Marrone's departure hurt with the in-state recruits (only two signees from New York), but defensive tackle Wayne Williams did not waver and honored his verbal commitment -- made way back in May 2012. Williams, one of the top junior-college defensive linemen in the 2013 class, had offers from Texas A&M and Temple.
Instant Impact: The Syracuse coaches cannot wait to get the 6-foot-5, 335-pound Williams down on the defensive line. If he can stay healthy -- there are injury concerns -- the three-star defensive tackle could compete for a starting job in the fall.
Best-Case Scenario: Shafer called this class a group of "high character" guys and used a lot of coach-speak when describing the class to local reporters. Of all the classes in the ACC, Syracuse seems to have the most "wait and see" prospects.
Signees: 25
247Sports Composite Rank: 73
Overview: Jim Grobe signed the largest class since his arrival at Wake Forest. But other than total number, it resembles many of the previous Demon Deacons groups. Nine are three-star prospects from either Florida or Texas, a recruiting strategy that has paid off with the help of strong player development. The large class also allowed Grobe's staff to address nearly every position on the roster, for what could be a fresh reboot for the team.
Headliner: Michael Stevenson, a 3A All-State First-Team safety from Clearwater, Fla., had offers from South Florida, Central Florida, West Virginia and Pittsburgh but opted to follow through on his verbal commitment to Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons are at their best defensively when they have ball-hawking playmakers, and Stevenson could play that role.
Instant Impact: Most of Wake Forest's recruits enter a five-year plan when they arrive on campus, so do not expect many of these players to show up in starting lineups for the fall. The most likely to make a splash early is defensive tackle James Looney. The Lake Worth, Fla., native is the brother of former Demon Deacons offensive tackle (and current San Francisco 49er) Joe Looney. He is already enrolled this semester and should have no trouble fitting in when fall camp opens in August.
Best-Case Scenario: In a program that focuses heavily on player development, the best-case scenario is that all of these recruits exceed expectations and Wake Forest has one of those years in which it can win eight or nine games and possibly challenge for its first ACC title since 2006.
Coastal Division
Signees: 20
247Sports Composite Rank: 69
Overview: David Cutcliffe's first recruiting classes at Duke yielded the school's first bowl appearance since 1994. Now that the staff is fully settled and has the backing of the school -- by way of a massive stadium renovation -- the challenge is to build on that success and make the Blue Devils competitive year-in and year-out.
Headliner: Cornerback Evrett Edwards is already enrolled and on his way to becoming a key player in the secondary. Edwards received double-digit offers that included Penn State, Clemson, Northwestern, West Virginia and Georgia Tech but chose Duke and enrolled in December.
Instant Impact: Like Wake Forest, Duke might opt to redshirt several members and focus on player development. But if there is someone who seems ready to play right away, it is Edwards. The Blue Devils graduated three starters from the secondary in their 4-2-5 scheme, so the chances are greater that Edwards, the star of the class, will see the field early.
Best-Case Scenario: Duke signed two dual-threat quarterbacks: Parker Boehme (Jacksonville, Fla.) and Quayshawn Chambers (Monroe, N.C.). Cutcliffe has been able to use multiple quarterbacks in different ways with Sean Renfree, Anthony Boone and Brandon Connette, but will it work again? If that is the plan and it does work out, then Duke could be in good shape under center for the future.
Signees: 14
247Sports Composite Rank: 79
Overview: With only 10 players graduating or otherwise leaving the team, there were not many scholarships to hand out. Coach Paul Johnson was prepared to take more. But due to a handful of late flips, the Yellow Jackets finished with only 14 signees. They were able to fill some needs and also land a star running back, Travis Custis. According to Johnson, he will play B-back -- a good fit for the 6-foot, 210-pound power back.
Headliner: Offensive tackle Shamire DeVine is the other star of this class. The 6-foot-6, 340-pound offensive tackle is the only four-star prospect and could compete for playing time almost immediately. It was also key for Johnson to land DeVine -- who had offers from the likes of Georgia, Florida, Kentucky and Mississippi State -- because he is one of the top prospects from Atlanta.
Instant Impact: Along with DeVine, look for wide receiver Ricky Jeune to have an opportunity to play early. Georgia Tech's leading receiver, Jeff Greene, left the team in December, and the Yellow Jackets do not have a consistent threat at that position. Jeune had offers from Purdue, Boston College and Rutgers, and the staff hopes he can be the kind of threat that stretches the field vertically in the flexbone offense.
Best-Case Scenario: With a thin class that ranks near the bottom of the ACC, the best-case scenario is for a lot of player development and exceeded expectations in the years ahead for this class.
Signees: 17
247Sports Composite Rank: 18
Overview: The ongoing NCAA investigation has been a black cloud over the Miami football program for two years, yet Al Golden has been able to maintain a nationally ranked recruiting class every year since his arrival in Coral Gables thanks to some of the best talent that South Florida has to offer.
Headliner: The big win on National Signing Day was the commitment of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., wide receiver Stacy Coley. He was torn between Florida State and Miami while also holding offers from South Florida, Florida and Louisville. Coley was selected to play in the 2013 Under Armour All-American Game and is ranked as the No. 3 wide receiver in the nation.
Instant Impact: Beau Sandland is the No. 1 junior-college tight end and is already making an impact due to early enrollment. The 6-foot-6, 260-pound Sandland will also have some of the best mentoring in the country thanks to newly-hired tight ends coach Mario Cristobal.
Best-Case Scenario: Scholarship counting will likely become a tricky science for Miami's staff in a few years, as it already burned them in the recruitment of Miami, Fla., OL Denver Kirkland. The Hurricanes ran out of scholarships and had to pull his offer, leading to criticism from Kirkland's head coach, Tim Harris. Golden is working to establish his own relationships with the local high school coaches, and the best-case scenario is for the area recruits who did sign to help bring their teammates to The U in the future.
Signees: 17
247Sports Composite Rank: 28
Overview: Like Miami, North Carolina's staff had to battle the negative recruiting tied to an NCAA investigation. Unlike Miami, the Tar Heels have been handed their sanctions and now know the numbers game that they must play on the recruiting trail. Second-year coach Larry Fedora and his staff pulled in one of the better classes in the ACC despite the setbacks, and the Tar Heels were able address some needs on defense.
Headliner: Nothing makes a head coach happier than when the prized recruit comes on campus early and is able to participate in spring practice. Such is the case with dual-threat quarterback Mitch Trubisky, rated by 247Sports as the No. 1 dual-threat prospect in the country. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound signal caller will also benefit from backup quarterback Marquise Williams being absent from spring drills while he spends the semester away with plans to return in the summer of fall. Trubisky was also targeted/offered by Ohio State, Alabama and Michigan State. Needless to say -- a good get for the Tar Heels.
Instant Impact: Arguably as much of a headliner as Trubisky, four-star running back T.J. Logan could have the opportunity to make a splash early as a multi-purpose threat out of the backfield. Logan earned Second Team All-America honors from 247Sports.com as an athlete after finishing his senior year with a 510-yard, eight-touchdown performance in the 3A North Carolina state championship game.
Best-Case Scenario: Fedora boasted about "quality, not quantity" when speaking about his class. The key for the staff will be figuring out the best ways to put that quality -- particularly on defense -- to use and maintain the Tar Heels' success after NCAA sanctions are lifted.
Signees: 27
247Sports Composite Rank: 32
Overview: Paul Chryst did not always look cheery during his first season as a head coach, but he was all smiles after officially announcing the 27-player Class of 2013. According to 247Sports, the class ranks in the middle pack of the ACC, but the large, dynamic class addresses roster needs, has star power and, most importantly, builds a strong in-state pipeline with 14 signees from Pennsylvania.
Headliner: When you are able to keep the No. 2 offensive tackle in the nation from leaving the state to join the juggernaut that is Alabama, you have yourself a headliner. Belle Vernon, Pa., native Dorian Johnson gave Chryst back-to-back five-star signees from Pennsylvania. He grades out as a "100" according to 247Sports and, according to Chryst, will have the opportunity to start this fall.
Instant Impact: Along with Johnson, Chryst believes four-star wide receiver Tyler Boyd can play immediately. Another Pennsylvania product, Boyd can be a skill receiver, slot receiver and even played some wildcat in high school. Chryst said on Wednesday the staff believes it "can put a lot on his plate."
Best-Case Scenario: The class will not change Pittsburgh football, but it does seem like Chryst is building the foundations of the program that he wants to run. For Pittsburgh fans -- who could play a full game of "Guess Who" with all their head coaches from the last decade -- the best-case scenario is for Chryst to stay put and build the type of physical football that Pennsylvania prospects will want to play.
Signees: 22
247Sports Composite Rank: 29
Overview: Mike London faced the same challenge as Jimbo Fisher after undergoing massive staff turnover in the offseason. Most of the defensive assistants were replaced while former offensive coordinator Bill Lazor left to join Chip Kelly with the Philadelphia Eagles. Still, London used his strong Virginia connections to pull in nearly half of the 2013 class from the Commonwealth.
Headliner: Taquan "Smoke" Mizzell from Virginia Beach is the type of in-state playmaker London wants to start pulling in on an annual basis. Mizzell received 22 offers and was recruited by the likes of Notre Dame, Ohio State and Tennessee. Keeping him in the state was a huge win for the Cavaliers and should benefit London and his staff.
Instant Impact: The Cavaliers needed some help along the defensive line, and few players could step in quite like junior-college defensive tackle Tyrell Chavis. There are only three defensive tackles with game experience on the roster, and the 6-foot-3, 295-pound product from Fork Union Military Academy should be ready to go when he arrives on campus.
Best-Case Scenario: With lots of turnover on the coaching staff, London needs this class to help rejuvenate Virginia football. The talent was there in 2012, but something did not click for the Cavaliers. The 10 players from Virginia can help keep the pipelines open as the Cavaliers strive for their first ACC title since 1995.
Signees: 20
247Sports Composite Rank: 20
Overview: Frank Beamer and his staff bounced back from a disappointing 2012 regular season with a strong recruiting class. While the streak of 10-win seasons came to an end, the streak of pulling some of the best talent from the state did not. The Hokies were able to address needs at running back and in the secondary, adding some star power to those positions and possibly finding the quarterback to replace Logan Thomas.
Headliner: Kendall Fuller, younger brother of Hokie star Kyle Fuller, has the potential to be the next in a long line of NFL-caliber defensive backs coming from Blacksburg. The coaches are already talking about ways to use the speedy 6-foot, 175-pound cornerback on offense, as well.
Instant Impact: If running back Drew Harris can get through the NCAA clearinghouse and officially sign with Virginia Tech, the top junior-college running back could have an immediate impact on the Hokies' struggling ground game.
Best-Case Scenario: Harris is cleared and able to create a dominant offensive backfield with 6-foot-6, 225-pound dual-threat quarterback Bucky Hodges. Together, they might be able to recreate the threat that Thomas and David Wilson were in 2011.
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