Conference Review: ACC

Rob Willette Posted On November 11, 2014

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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

Rashad Greene, WR Florida State
13 receptions for 136 yards and one touchdown

Florida State is a handful of plays away from being considered this year’s biggest disappointment. As is, they’re navigating their way towards another shot at a national title despite some tense moments. The one constant for the up and down Seminoles has been Rashad Greene. The senior receiver turned down an opportunity to be a day two pick in 2014 and is now quite possibly the nation’s most polished receiver. A savvy route runner with sure hands and short-area quickness, he wins in enough areas to be a long-time number two receiver at the NFL level and could thrive as a slot receiver on a dominant passing offense. He has limited fantasy upside but figures to find himself on dynasty rosters for years to come.

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Rising

DeVante Parker, WR Louisville
Eight receptions for 144 yards and one touchdown

It is hard to be placed in the “Rising” category when you’re routinely mentioned as one of the top receivers in this year’s class. However, DeVante Parker has not just been good since returning from injury; he’s been dominant, and it is possible the best is yet to come as he has not fully shaken off the foot ailment that wiped away the first six weeks of his senior season. Silky smooth with a big frame and condor like wingspan, Parker is the top receiver on my board and a potentially dominant number one receiver in the right system.

Artavis Scott, WR Clemson
Eight receptions for 122 yards and two touchdowns

Scott has already established himself as a reliable intermediate threat for Clemson. He has been the perfect complement to downfield ballhawk Mike Williams as the Tigers asked big things of their young receivers following the departure of both Sammy Watkins and Martavis Bryant. Against Wake Forest, Scott demonstrated explosion we had not yet seen, taking a seemingly innocuous pitch from Cole Stoudt 68 yards to the house and leaving multiple Demon Deacon defenders grasping at air in his wake. Already having a fantastic freshman season, it is worth taking notice of Scott as he continues his maturation. Clemson should take off in 2015 with Scott, the aforementioned Williams, and fellow true freshman Demarre Kitt catching passes from Deshaun Watson.

Bucky Hodges, TE Virginia Tech
DNP

Fans around the nation were pining for Logan Thomas to move to tight end for years, as the athletic yet erratic quarterback continued to look more athlete than signal-caller during his time in Blacksburg. The move never happened, yet with a similar talent in Bucky Hodges, it has. The move has gone better than anyone could have expected, with Hodges standing out in spring practice and now become a linchpin of the Hokies’ passing game. Big, fluid, and strong at the catch point, he’s quickly emerged as one of the better NFL prospects at the position, and quite possibly the number two devy prospect at the position behind Minnesota’s Maxx Williams.

Bo Hines, WR North Carolina State
Six receptions for 70 yards

Quietly one of the nation’s best freshman receivers, Hines has been a stabilizing force for a Wolfpack passing game that has seemingly regressed each week. Ever since embarrassing a Florida State defender on the opening drive of the game against the Seminoles, he has been on my watch list. He’s a bit of an awkward strider, yet gets the job done consistently. At the very least, he’s likely to develop into one of the conference’s better receivers.

Falling

Michael Dyer, RB Louisville
12 carries for 42 yards

It looks more and more as though Michael Dyer is going to be placed in the “What Could Have Been” files. After two strong performances – one against the Seminoles – Dyer returned to a complementary role against Boston College and cobbled together a rather pedestrian performance. His otherworldy physical tools are on display, yet key ingredients have been missing since he was destroying SEC defenses at Auburn. An older back with off-the-field baggage, it is becoming less and less likely that we see him do anything of note in the NFL.

Freshman Spotlight

Ermon Lane, WR Florida State
Two receptions for 53 yards

Florida State brought in two elite recruits at receiver this off-season. Travis Rudolph has already made his mark as a savvy beyond his years pass catcher that appears to be the heir apparent to Rashad Greene. However, it is Lane who possesses the superior upside. A big bodied receiver that excels in jump ball situations, Lane has posted a 40+ yard reception in each of the past two games and profiles as a downfield and redzone monster in the not too distant future. The buy low windown in devy may be slamming shut.

Isaiah Ford, WR Virginia Tech
DNP

The Hokies have never been known for winning games by flaunting an elite aerial attack, yet it has the young pieces to become a passing team over the next few years. Along with Hodges, Isaiah Ford has become an integral part of the offense. Unlike Hodges, Ford did not have the benefit of a redshirt season; he’s stepped on campus and contributed immediately. We’ve yet to really see all that he has in his toolkit, as he’s been doing his work in the intermediate passing game. If his role expands, he can flash the talent necessary to pop up on the devy radar.

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