SnoTap College Football Preview: ACC Atlantic

Finally, the college football previews are beginning on SnoTap. We are trying something new looking at divisions/conferences as a whole versus breaking down every team. We look at the power six conferences, Notre Dame and independents and mid-majors. 

The Atlantic Coast Conference has not been represented in the National Championship game since 2000. While teams in their same region but different conferences have ultimate dominance in the sport, the ACC struggled to find footing with the powerhouses. This might be the first time in a long time where the ACC has three National Champion contenders, and it should not come as a surprise if we see one of those teams playing for the crystal ball.

The ACC Atlantic is first up in the SnoTap college football preview. It is a division filled with highlight reel players and intrigue on the height of some of the team's ceilings.

FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB Jameis Winston (Florida State) - One of the best freshmen (Redshirt but still) in the game right now. He has an absolute cannon for an arm as he displayed during the College World Series and all the tools to be a great player for Florida State. He also seems to have a way with words and people might get on his bandwagon quick. Helping Winston's transition into being a starter will be his very talented offensive line with Bryan Stork, Tre' Jackson and Josue Matias being one of the best inside trios in college football.


WR Sammy Watkins (Clemson) - If you believe in sophomore slumps, look no further than the wide receiver out of Clemson. Watkins missed three games and could not follow up his huge freshman campaign with another big year.  He only had four total touchdowns and two games with over 100 yards of receiving and Clemson still won 11 games. Imagine if Watkins can duplicate the 2011 season, Clemson becomes instantly a better team and a true threat to make it to the big game. Also with him healthy again, I expect him to be more part of the rushing game.

WR Stefon Diggs (Maryland) - I cannot blame if you do not know who Mr. Diggs is because Maryland was not a good football team last year. Diggs dealt with having the scout team linebacker throw him passes at one point of the season and he still had nearly 1,900 all-purpose yards on the year, second-highest for a freshman in school's history. Diggs is one of the most dynamic playmakers in college football that no one really seems to talk about.  Unlike Watkins, Diggs will have a huge second year with the Terrapins and actually make them look like a competent football team again.

CB LaMarcus Joyner (Florida State - One of the best playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. He is only 5'8 but he plays like a big corner out there. Joyner also makes up for his lack of height with blazing fast speed. If he jumps a route, there is a good chance Joyner will be seeing the endzone after picking it off. Terrence Brooks and him form an excellent duo in Florida State's secondary and with many teams passing the football more, the Seminoles should not have a problem stopping the pass.

QB Tajh Boyd (Clemson) - I would be remiss if I did not mention of my favorites in college football. Boyd is one of the favorites to win all of the awards come December. He progressed greatly as a quarterback under offensive coordinator Chad Morris and Boyd is poised to have another huge year. One thing to watch with Boyd is how he will do without having Andre Ellington in the backfield. While Clemson is pass-first, Ellington was a nice change of pace for the team.

FIVE GAMES TO WATCH
Saturday August 31st - Georgia at Clemson - My original hope we would have all ACC Atlantic matchups but let's be honest here, there are some juicy non-conference games with the teams in this division. Clemson looks to continue their run against SEC teams that started with them beating Auburn and LSU last season. This used to be a huge rivalry throughout the years and it is good to see the teams playing each other in their home stadiums. This should be a wild game.

Thursday September 19th - Clemson at NC State - This screams upset alert. The ACC will be hosting Thursday night games from now on ESPN and this could be one where we see SportsCenter open with fans charging the field after it. Boyd and Watkins will be ready for a Thursday night game in a hostile environment but the Tigers defense might not be there yet which could be a major problem. If the Tigers start off with two losses before we get to October, Dabo Sweeney's seat will start getting warm.

October 19th - Florida State at Clemson - For the sake of the article, let's say Clemson does not lose two games, this is the highlight of the ACC Atlantic division. It will probably decide who is playing in the ACC Championship game come December and the Noles will try to win Death Valley for the first time since 2001. Last year, Florida State scored 28 unanswered points in the third and fourth quarter winning 49-37 as the Tigers blew a 10-point lead.

November 30th - Maryland at NC State - Why should we care about this game you ask?  Both of these teams might be fighting to try to get bowl eligible or it could be the last game in the Randy Edsall experience for the Terrapins. Either way, this game will mean something.

November 30th - Florida State at Florida - Imagine if the Seminoles get through the ACC season unscathed and then they have to win in The Swamp to complete a perfect season before heading to the ACC Championship game. It could be some sight. The Seminoles have won twice in the last 10 years when they visit Gainesville. Even if Florida State is not undefeated, these two teams tend to deliver a good game.

FIVE QUESTIONS TO PONDER
Could Clemson be in the National Championship? - While I love the Clemson offense, I am going to say probably not. Yes they get Florida State at home and that's a huge advantage to their schedule, but they have an untested defense facing Georgia in Week 1 and then facing NC State in a tough road game three weeks later. There is also the whole thing about the bottom falling out for Clemson in November and if that's happens again, it might start when they have back-to-back road games against Maryland and Virginia.

Could Florida State be in the National Championship? - Personally, I am really buying into the Noles chances. We will get to Winston in a second, we have not even mentioned the potential huge year for James Wilder Jr. and they have a strong defense again as well.  For the first time in a long time, the game against Miami on November 2nd will hold a ton of meaning for not only the ACC but also the National Championship.

How much will we hear 'Jameis Winston is the next Johnny Manziel?' - Yes Mr. Winston made some comments saying "He did not want Johnny Manziel disease" which is a real stupid comment, but I digress. He will get compared to Manziel because he probably has an outside shot at winning the Heisman as a freshman and people will unfairly put him in with Manziel. Wintson is that good of a quarterback. Trust me, I know I am hyping him up throughout this post, but he will be one of the best players at the end of the year with people for the 2015 NFL Draft salivating.

After Florida State and Clemson, how bare is the ACC Atlantic cupboard? - It is bare as when a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model wears body paint. Sure it looks like there is something there, but in reality, she is not wearing anything. Boston College, Wake Forest and Syracuse is a truly weak bottom. Maryland and NC State both could be bowl teams but probably as 6-6 or 7-5 so not much hope there either. A couple upsets could happen but I do not think they are very deep.

How important are the ACC v. SEC games? - The first weekend of the season features Alabama-Virginia Tech, South Carolina-North Carolina and Georgia-Clemson, if the ACC somehow wins both games, people will probably freak out to epic proportions.  But in the grand scheme of things, it might take some of the superhuman strength of the SEC and that's it. Until one of these teams beat them in the National Championship game, they are the kings of college football.

PROJECTED FINISH
1. Florida State
2. Clemson
3. NC State
4. Maryland
5. Boston College
6. Wake Forest
7. Syracuse

I am all aboard the Florida State bandwagon. I like Clemson, but I feel they will once again find themselves looking on the outside of the BCS bowls.

Charlie.

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SnoTap 12-Pack: College Football Players to Watch

At least for the next two days, the SnoTap 12-Pack will be a thing. I have no idea if it will continue weekly, monthly or whenever I feel like it. I also understand there are so, so many good players left off this list, I would love to hear your list on Twitter or in the comments section. 

12.) Marqise Lee, Wide Receiver, USC, Junior - One of the most electrifying receivers in college football. Lee will definitely put up some big numbers when it comes to grabbing all ball thrown to him looking like no Pac-12 opposing secondary can stop him. Lee had seven games where he had 10 or more catches and only had five games where he did not have 100 yards of receiving. He always has breakaway speed making him a threat for the deep ball. Now, he does need a quarterback to throw him the ball.

11.) Duke Johnson, Running Back, Miami, Sophomore - This man is an absolute beast in the making. He might not be familiar with casual college football fans, but he definitely could be the next in the long linage of Miami running backs. Johnson is an absolute threat to score every single time he touches the football and cuts like the sharpest knife in the drawer. Johnson is one of the reasons why there will be articles from ESPN, Sports Illustrated and others on why 'The U is back.'

10.) Taylor Lewan, Offensive Lineman, Michigan, Senior - Many people would not put a lineman in their 12 players to watch, but most people do not watch the position. I did more so when I still played to learn more about the position, but now and again, I will watch the lineman versus the play happening. Lewan will be the player to watch this year as he might be a top five pick in the NFL Draft next year.  He also has a finger mustache tattoo which is a just a fantastic side note.  

SnoTap 12-Pack Wisconsin Special 
Melvin Gordon, Running Back, Wisconsin, Sophomore - While he will not even start this year for the Badgers, he has to be the most exciting player coming back to the roster right?  Gordon has SEC speed and can catch the ball out of the backfield making him a versatile player. James White is not a bruising back by any means, but Gordon and him could be a thunder/lightening duo on the year wearing down opposing teams. Not outrageous to think Gordon might have Heisman consideration in years to come.

9.) Anthony Barr, Linebacker, UCLA 


Other than the bad man in Columbia, South Carolina, there is not a player in college football who will inflict more pain than Barr.  He is a machine in Jim Mora's 3-4 defense and projected to be a top pick in next year's draft.  Barr is more famously known for his punishing hit on former USC quarterback Matt Barkley, but he is so much more than just one single hit. Barr has fantastic closing speed and can truly get off the ball. He is one of two linebackers (Kyle Van Noy says hello) to really keep a close eye on all Fall.  

8.) Braxton Miller, Quarterback, Ohio State, Junior - When the rumors started about Urban Meyer going to Ohio State, I told my old roommate Seth that 'Braxton Miller might be a Heisman by his junior year.' Miller will definitely have that chance this year. This is his second year in Urban Meyer's system which tends to be the golden ticket...  Alex Smith threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 32 touchdowns along with 600 yards of rushing in year 2 in Meyer's system leading them to an undefeated record. Tim Tebow had over 2,800 yards passing and almost 900 yards rushing to go along with 55 total touchdowns; Tebow won the Heisman and a National Championship. It should be expected that Miller will be excellent.

7.) Marcus Mariota, Quarterback, Oregon, Sophomore - In my opinion, he is the most underrated player in all of college football. People love to talk about Manziel, Miller, Boyd but somehow Mariotta gets forgotten. Why is that?  In part, he is on the west coast and players not in Los Angeles tend to get a little less love than your SEC/B1G players even though Oregon is an extremely public team, some of their games are on when people are sleeping or attempting to get black out drunk. The other might be the system. I am telling you Mariotta is far from a system quarterback and he will be a contender to be one of the best quarterbacks all year.

6.) T.J. Yeldon, Running Back, Alabama, Sophomore - Want the next Adrian Peterson? This might be your answer. We have talked about Johnson and Gordon plus countless other great ones but Yeldon might be the best running back of the year when it is all said and done. Yeldon has the rare combination of size and speed that is unmatched by most in college football. After being in the shadows of Eddie Lacy, he will be ready to shine this season. We all saw a glimpse of Yeldon's potential late last season when he broke out for over 150 yards against Georgia and followed it up with another 100 yard performance against a tough Notre Dame run defense.

 5.) Louis Nix, Defensive Tackle, Notre Dame, Senior - There are some players I am happy to see stay in school because I get to watch them dominate for another year. Louis Nix is one of those players. He is the definition of a space eater but he also has feet like a ballerina. The size and speed Nix brings to the table is a sight to see on a weekly basis. Nix can make plays to disrupt both the pass and the rush as well as clear pathways for linebackers.  Much of Manti Te'o's success in stopping the run and getting through on blitzes is due to Nix and Stephon Tuitt.

4.) Tajh Boyd, Quarterback, Clemson, Senior - Maybe I am alone on an island, but I feel like he could be a hell of an NFL quarterback. I hope we have gotten past 'Well he's too short for the position' because Russell Wilson would love to have a word with you. Clemson is known for their car crash finishes to their season, and Boyd is the type of player that could change things. In the last two years, Boyd's yardage is near 4,000 yards with 35+ touchdowns and last year he increased his running yardage from 200 to 500 yards. What he will do for his final encore could be truly special.  

3.) Teddy Bridgewater, Quarterback, Louisville, Junior - I can still remember watching Louisville-Cincinnati with the Bellevue boys on a Friday night. I kept telling them about the potential Bridgewater possessed; many had not heard of him yet as he was a virtual unknown to casual fans in late October.  I told them I believe he will be a top pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and could make Louisville a National Championship contender. I have no idea why I started so high on Bridgewater, but I love everything about his game. Every single positive adjective used to describe a quarterback can be used for Bridgewater.

2.) Jadeveon Clowney, Defensive End, South Carolina, Junior - Hate to keep going down memory road, but I still recall seeing Clowney commit to college. I worked out early that morning and wondered 'Is this kid really worth the hype?' My self-asked question would be answered quickly and swiftly in the first year Clowney played at South Carolina. He is a beast, freak, and any other word to describe someone whom seems like a superhero in football pads. For his short career, he has 21 sacks, eight forced fumbles, 35.5 tackles for losses and probably many more assists for South Carolina linebackers. He is must-see TV every week.

1.) Johnny Manziel, Quarterback Texas A&M, Sophomore


 He is the number one and maybe not for the reason stated above. Right now, Manziel is the most-talked about college athlete and probably top three most talked about athlete in all sports. If Dirk Notwitzki read ESPN's Wright Thompson's piece on Manziel, he would be shutting it down and going home, it's that good.  Manziel will drive the ratings of the Alabama-Texas A&M to astronomical numbers for the second game of the season.  None of this currently has to do with football, but truthfully, he is one of the most fun players to watch in college football. Let's hope there is no sophomore slump.

Charlie.  

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