With Clemson’s national championship game win over Alabama still fresh in our minds there is no doubt that the ACC has transformed in to an elite conference over the past couple of seasons. The Tigers are still celebrating their first national title in more than 30 years and already we are looking forward to next season. Deshaun Watson will be moving on to the NFL but there will still be an elite class of offensive playmakers looking to keep the ACC on top at the national level. Here is a look at the ACC’s top returning players on offense.
QB: Lamar Jackson
Louisville Cardinals
The reigning Heisman trophy award winner will look to pick up from where he left off in 2016 when he threw for 3,543 yards and ran for another 1,571 yards while registering 51 total touchdowns. Those numbers will be difficult to duplicate but Jackson should be a better quarterback with another year of experience and some intriguing weapons around him. A better offensive line under a new position coach should help Jackson play to his potential with a chance to prove he deserves to be a first round pick in the NFL next season. He’s coming off a disappointing performance in bowl season where the LSU Tigers made him look like an amateur. He’ll be looking to make amends for that ugly effort with another strong campaign in the coming season.
QB: Deondre Francois
Florida State Seminoles
Francois showed his toughness last season when he refused to miss time despite taking a number of big hits that would have knocked other quarterbacks to the sideline. Now the 6’2’’, 205-pound passer needs to stay on his feet and build off an impressive season in which he threw for 3,350 yards and 20 touchdowns compared to just seven interceptions. Francoise should be that much better in his second full season as the starter at Florida State with Seminoles fans hoping he can lead them to an ACC championship and more. With star running back Dalvin Cook leaving moving up to the professional leagues, that means that the Seminoles will be rebalancing their offense. Cook was their go-to last year as Francois was getting his feet under him. Now the Seminoles will have to rely on an experienced quarterback while they find a new running back to shoulder the load.
RB: Mark Walton
Miami Hurricanes
The Hurricanes lost some key pieces on offense to the NFL Draft including quarterback Brad Kaaya, so it only makes sense that they will lean a little more on their star running back in Walton. The 5’9’’, 205-pound back averaged 5.3 yards per carry while rushing for 1,117 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2016 and he added 27 receptions for 240 yards and another score. Walton should be in for a heavy workload in 2017 and will need to prove he is up to the task for Miami. The general perception is that he is a player on the rise and will be one of the Hurricanes top options on offense next year. With Dalvin Cook moving up to the NFL, Walton will be one of the top running backs in the ACC.
OT: Mitch Hyatt
Clemson Tigers
The Clemson offensive line had issues throughout last season but Hyatt did an excellent job overall protecting Watson’s blindside. Watson has graduated to the NFL and that will make the Tigers’ line play that much more important as Hyatt and company block for a new quarterback in 2017.
TE: Jaylen Samuels
NC State Wolfpack
The Wolfpack love what it has at the tight end position in Samuels because he can line up anywhere on the field and make plays. The 5’11, 223-pound Samuels lined up as a tight end, wide receiver and running back last season and made plays all over the field for NC State. Samuels finished with 55 catches for 565 yards and seven touchdowns with another 189 yards and six touchdowns as a rusher in 2016. The Wolfpack will look to build off a strong year and line him up all over the field in 2017 when he will be one of the top offensive players returning in the ACC.
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