Conference Review: ACC

Rob Willette

brissett

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With college football in full swing, we’ll be bringing you a review of the “Big Five” conferences each and every week. These recaps will feature sections for “Premier Conference Performer,” “Rising Players,” “Falling Players,” and a special Freshman spotlight. These weekly reviews will keep you up-to-date on all the happenings in devy leagues and allow you to keep tabs on future dynasty league assets. By the time the NFL Draft rolls around, you won’t see too many strangers.

Premier Conference Performer

Brad Kaaya, QB Miami
17/24 for 286 yards and three touchdowns; one rushing touchdown

When you’re a moribund program such as Miami, you’re always keeping your eye out for the catalyst that can return your program to its glory days. For Al Golden’s crew, that may be true freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya. The California native’s trip from the west coast has been a natural one, with Kaaya demonstrating impeccable poise and patience in the pocket while utilizing all the talent in his arsenal. While a strong performance against Cincinnati at home is not quite marching into Tallahassee and stealing a win, the overall makeup of Kaaya gives hope that Golden’s rebuilding project is nearing its end with a new era of Hurricane dominance on the horizon.

Rising

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Joseph Yearby, RB Miami
Eight carries for 113 yards

Having young players perform is an absolute must for rebuilding programs. True freshman running back Joseph Yearby has teamed with the aforementioned Brad Kaaya to give the ‘Canes a potentially lethal backfield combo in the ACC. The highly touted Yearby is on the small side and lacks the elite long speed of Duke Johnson but he’s an incredibly savvy runner with a slashing and decisive style. As he matures physically, he could become one of the better backs to emerge from the 2014 class at running back.

Dalvin Cook, RB Florida State
23 carries for 122 yards and one touchdown; two catches for 17 yards

A high school teammate of Josepy Yearby, Dalvin Cook had his own breakout party this past weekend as the Seminoles worked their way to a methodical win at the Carrier Dome. A dynamic speedster that offers more physicality than you’d expect, Cook surged past Mario Pender to take on the lead role in Florida State’s backfield with Karlos Williams out due to injury. Thanks to Williams’ inability to really seize control of the backfield, Cook could be well on his way to more playing time as the season progresses.

Quinshad Davis, WR North Carolina
Three receptions for 57 yards and one touchdown

It is not that Quinshad Davis really went anywhere; a spotty Tar Heel passing game suppressed his numbers to the point that he was having his stock dip through no fault of his own. With spring loaded legs and a history of finding the endzone, Davis is an elite redzone weapon that is just scratching the surface of his long-term potential. He’s not yet a finished product, though he offers intriguing upside and may hear his name called earlier than most people expect should he declare in 2015.

Mike Williams, WR Clemson
One reception for 23 yards

Ignore the quiet day that Mike Williams had against Louisville. That can be solely attributed to Cole Stoudt’s reinsertion following injury to Deshaun Watson. Instead, focus on the contests against North Carolina and North Carolina State in which Williams was physically dominant, using his big frame to make plays downfield and his sneaky speed to chew up yardage all over the field. A jumbo receiver with fluid movements, he figured to join the recent influx of receivers that prove to be matchup nightmares due to unique athletic traits.

Falling

Ryan Green, RB Florida State
No statistics available

With both Devonta Freeman and James Wilder Jr. off to the NFL, it appeared there was ample opportunity for Ryan Green to emerge as the change of pace runner behind starter Karlos Williams. Instead, Green has logged only four carries on the season – all in one game against Wake Forest – and has been relegated to mostly to special teams for the second straight season. Injuries that caused him to miss much of the spring have not helped, but Green is currently buried in the depth chart with little hope of making a jump. 

Jacoby Brissett, QB North Carolina State
14/30 for 174 yards, one touchdown and one interception

After a blazing start to the season, Jacoby Brissett has been slowed in a big way with both Clemson and Boston College exposing flaws that you’d expect from a quarterback with limited starting experience. There’s still some long-term appeal here, as Brissett possesses a decent toolkit and will get an opportunity to air it out in the ACC; however, there’s still plenty of work to be done as well, cooling Brissett’s stock and placing him as merely a watch list type of prospect at this point.

Freshman Spotlight

Adam Choice, RB Clemson
16 carries for 61 yards, one reception for eight yards

Clemson has struggled with their ground game all year. Long gone are the days when James Davis and C.J. Spiller could bend defenses to their will, or Andre Ellington could carve them up by darting to the second level. The Tigers have been hungry for a lead back since those days, and while Adam Choice has yet to really leave an indelible mark in the coaches’ memory, he has looked to be the back best equipped to become Clemson’s bellcow. A solid, north-south runner, he’s not the devy prospect that elite runners such as Spiller and Ellington were but he’s certainly worth monitoring over the rest of the 2014 campaign.

Steve Ishmael, WR Syracuse
3 receptions for 93 yards and two touchdowns 

Steve Ishmael is the type of name you toss out in a devy draft just to prove you know who he is and that you watch college football from noon till midnight on Saturdays. Despite toiling in relative obscurity in the charmless Carrier Dome, Ishmael has serious game and that was on display against Florida State. An effortless stide hides his true long speed, and a tall, lanky frame with plenty of room to build upon belies the physical dominance that is buried somewhere beneath the surface. If you’re looking for under the radar prospects heading into 2015, he fits.

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rob willette