After sorting through the Group-of-Five and Independent teams, we are on to the big dogs of the college football landscape. The Power Five Conferences of the NCAA have the gold-standard teams. Alabama, Texas, USC, Clemson, Ohio State etc… all reside here; with the idea of super conferences looming large we may not have the Power Five much longer, so we should enjoy these classic rivalries and conferences while we still have them.
In this two part article we are going to cover the ACC. The ACC is known for producing QB talent, with seven starters in the NFL currently (8 if you count Russell Wilson’s time at NC State) and presumably more to come this year. Out of the 15 signal callers I have in my preseason Top 100, seven hail from the ACC.
“MIP Scoutings Watchlist” will be dropping multiple times weekly covering every conference in the NCAA FBS. To check out what you might’ve missed as well as all of our other NCAA football content click here.
Duke
Graham Barton OT
6’6 315 lbs
The league is always in need of big, strong athletic guys in the trenches and Graham Barton certainly meets that criteria. Going into his junior year he already has 18 games under his belt. Six at center and another dozen protecting the blind side.
Going into his second full year as the starter at tackle, the Blue Devils will be looking for him to take a step forward. He is a very good run blocker, with a nice first step and the ability to mow down the man across from him. He is effective in space, getting up field to make second level blocks in the run game.
His weak point is in the pass blocking department. He gave up 10 hurries and 6 sacks last season, most of which came from sloppy technique and footwork. He is liable to get beat with an inside move; but cleaning up his fundamentals should help him make the most of his natural talent.
Georgia Tech
Pierce Quick OL
6’5 298 lbs
This is more of a projection pick than a production pick. Pierce Quick was once one of the most highly touted recruits in the nation at offensive tackle. Earning a 5 star designation by ESPN and a 4 star designation by 247sports.com. After committing to Alabama, Quick found playing time hard to come by and transferred to Georgia Tech before the 2021 season.
It’s hard to know the strengths and weaknesses of a guy who has played less than 40 snaps in his entire collegiate career, but he is slated to be the teams starting left tackle for the 2022 campaign. Coming out of high school he was viewed as a sure footed, agile and strong technician on the outside. He was one of the better athletes in his class regardless of position, able to get out on the edge and pave the way in the screen game.
You have to wonder why he didn’t earn playing time at Alabama. Even with their streaky stream of lineman making the jump from the NCAA to the NFL. A recruit with his status should’ve arrived least competed to get on the field.
Miami
Tyler Van Dyke QB
6’4 225 lbs
It’s been a long time since The U was a dominant force in the landscape of college football. If there is one player who can help them reclaim their status as an elite program it’s Tyler Van Dyke. After a promising sophomore season (2,931 yards and 25 TDs) Van Dyke is looking to bring The Hurricanes back into contention for not only the ACC but a National Championship.
The 6’4 225 pound junior has great size for the position. He is tall enough to see the whole field and hefty enough to absorb some punishment. He’s got a live arm, able to make the throws at all three levels. He’s got great touch with the football, knowing exactly how much he needs to put behind it to hit his man. He isn’t a dual threat, but he has functional mobility and can pick up yards when needed.
Van Dyke has a brilliant mind for the game of football. He was given some autonomy to change protections and plays at the line. He scans the field like a seasoned vet and gets through his reads quickly. He has poise and is fearless in the pocket, standing tall until the last possible second looking for the open man. When out of the pocket on a scramble drill, he directs traffic and gets his receivers to the open spot to deliver the ball.
Being able to throw the ball 50 yards down field is great, but he needs to reign the arm strength in sometimes, especially when throwing towards the sidelines. He is prone to sailing a ball or two and he’s paid for those mistakes to the tune of 9 interceptions in 2021. His mechanics may be his biggest knock. He throws without setting his feet far too often and it leads to some erratic throws.
All together Van Dyke is just another one of the tantalizing quarterbacks that could enter the 2023 NFL Draft. His natural arm talent and prototypical size will take him a long way, but first he’s going to try helping “The U” get back to their glory days.
North Carolina
Josh Downs WR
5’10 180 lbs
There’s a lot of chatter about this years class of quarterbacks and defensive lineman, and rightfully so. I wouldn’t sleep on this receiver crop either. Of the many talents we will be covering, Downs is one of the brightest stars in the bunch.
Saying the 5’11 speedster was the TarHeels offense in 2021 wouldn’t be much of a stretch. After losing Dyami Brown, Dazz Newsome and Michael Carter to the NFL Draft in 2021; someone needed to step up. He caught 101 balls for over 1,335 yards; nearly half of Sam Howell’s entire statistical output.
Downs game starts with his elite athleticism. I wouldn’t bet against him in a foot race, with a reported sub 4.4 40 yard dash. There are plenty of fast guys playing football, but what desperate a Downs is his acceleration off the line. He seemingly hits top gear within a few strides, blowing by corners. He is deadly on double moves, able to stop on a dime and explode back up field in the blink of an eye.
He has a quick twitch to his game making him incredibly hard to jam at the line and incredibly hard to tackle in the open field. The way he shimmies and shakes makes it so hard to get a body on him. He is a tremendous route runner, sinking his hips and cutting on a dime. He is an absolute weapon with the ball in his hands and is just as dangerous going deep as he is catching a screen.
His catching instincts and catch radius are both absolutely phenomenal. He uses every inch of his body and every inch of his vertical ability (rumored to be 40+ inches) to snag the ball. He waits until the very last second to shoot his hands out for the catch, giving opposing defender almost no time to react.
As a smaller receiver with a game predicated on speed, he can get lost in traffic. When he’s crossing the middle of the field he can get bumped off of his route and that’s lead to some missed opportunities for big plays. Also due to his size, a skilled and strong press corner might give him some trouble. He normally has no issues releasing, but at the next level you’re going to be going against the best. Smaller guys need to get creative when trying to beat the press.
There were a few incidences of focus drops. He’s looking to turn everything into a big gain and forgets you need to secure the ball first. That can get coached out of him with time.
As a total package there aren’t many receivers in the NCAA with a higher ceiling or more talent. Downs is a virtual lock to be a top 50 pick if he can build on an incredibly productive 2021 season.
Pitt
Kedon Slovis QB
6’2 200 lbs
Slovis was a personal favorite of mine last season. I was convinced he could be the one to take USC back to their glory days, and establish himself as the top QB in the 2022 NFL Draft. Well, you can’t get 100% of them right.
He burst on to the scene as a true freshman in 2019. Completing 72% of his passes for 3,500 yards and 30 touchdowns. In the pandemic shortened 2020 season he threw for 1,900 yards and another 17 touchdowns in six games. He was honored with two All-Conference selections and looked to be a str in the making… then the wheels came off.
2021 was as rough of a year as you could imagine for Slovis and the Trojans. A mid season firing of their head coach, injuries piling up, and their worst record since 1991. Slovis needed a change of scenery, and with the incoming regime of Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams; he found a new home in Pittsburgh.
When Slovis made the move to Pitt, he had a super star receiver waiting for him in Jordan Addison. Unfortunately, Addison decided to transfer to his former school. Joining the Trojans in the latter part of the transfer portal.
Slovis brings experience and proven skill to the Panthers offense. He succeeded with two talented USC teams and he also felt the pain of a lost season. He is a field general in every sense of the word. A natural leader who isn’t afraid to call the shots at the line and change the play when necessary. He is an elite processor of information, getting through his reads in a hurry and delivering the ball to the right man more times than not.
Slovis is exceptionally accurate. He’s completed over 68% of his passes on nearly 1,000 attempts. He puts the ball exactly where it needs to be to give his target the best chance to make a play after the catch. He’s got incredible touch, knowing exactly how much juice to put behind each pass in every situation. He is an anticipation thrower, knowing where his man will be and delivering the ball before he even gets to his spot. His arm strength isn’t elite, but he can make most of the throws required of him.
Slovis isn’t going to be the guy running for first downs and touchdowns on a week to week basis. He isn’t a statue in the pocket but his mobility is more suited to breaking the pocket on scramble drills. There are questions about his decline in velocity. Reports say he has a lingering shoulder injury that took something off his fastball. That could be a huge red flag in the medical portion of the NFL combine. Slovis has a gambler mentality, throwing 24 interceptions in 27 games. You love confidence in your QB, but turning it over nearly once per game isn’t a winning formula.
Slovis could re-emerge as a top flight QB in the 2023 class or he could continue his struggles from last season and be out of the top 100 conversation. There aren’t many prospects more polarizing than him. Only time will tell, but after the failed Clay Helton project at USC; you almost have to root for the kid.
Virginia
Brennan Armstrong QB
6’1 212 lbs
The Virginia quarterback helped turned what is traditionally a basketball school into a dangerous football team in 2021. Behind his arms and legs, The Cavaliers got out to a blazing hot 6-2 start to the season on the strength of their offense that averaged over 500 yards and 35 points per game. Unfortunately their defense was as bad as their offense was good and they lost four straight to end the season.
Armstrong wasn’t thought of as a pro prospect until last year when he showed major growth as a signal caller. He raised his completion rate by nearly 7 percent, he threw for 4,449 yards and 31 touchdowns. That goes without mentioning his 475 yards on the ground and 9 touchdowns bringing his totals for the year up to an ACC record breaking 4,900 yards from scrimmage and 40 touchdowns.
He’s got NFL arm strength, there’s no doubt about that. He rifles it into tight windows with relative ease. There aren’t many throws within 30 yards that he can’t make. He is adept at making plays with his arm on the run. Able to scramble, reset his feet and deliver the ball accurately. When you possess the athleticism Armstrong has, you’re inclined to tuck and run; so it’s good to see him keep his eyes down field at all times.
As previously mentioned he is a very good athlete for the position. He can turn the corner and make defenses pay for not keeping a spy on him. He is a physical runner, which is always a concern for your QB1; but you like to see that fire and confidence in the open field from your dual threat QB.
His accuracy numbers in 2021 are a sharp contrast from the rest of his career where he lingered under 60%. That could be a product of the Virginia QB hitting the “safe” target and matriculating the ball down field. How his accuracy will fare when he opens up and goes downfield is yet to be seen since he didn’t have many big strikes into tight windows last year.
Occasionally his mechanics break down when the pocket is collapsing and there is no where to run. He gets happy feet doesn’t step into his throw. He got away with a few balls that should’ve been intercepted last season. He doesn’t have much autonomy at the line, often times running what’s given to him. Hopefully the coaching staff gives him a little more leeway in 2022 so we can get a good read for his ability to check out and in to plays.
In a stacked 2023 QB class, Armstrong is among the most talented. Can he separate himself from the field and solidify himself as a top 50 draft pick?
Virginia Tech
Dorian Strong CB
6’0 174 lbs
The antithesis of their in-state rival Cavaliers. The Hokies made their bones on defense last season. The reason they stayed competitive with an anemic offense was a defense that gave up around 25 points per game. The talented back end of the defense grabbed 10 interceptions, allowed a completion rate under 60% and gave up under 225 yards per game through the air.
A big part of that was cornerback Dorian Strong. The long and lean sophomore was locking down his assignment all year long, allowing a 76.9 passer rating when thrown at. He’s looking to build on that success in his junior campaign and help the Hokies defense be one of the conferences best yet again.
Everything Strong does looks like it’s done with a certain level of finesse. He has some of the smoothest hips and one of the cleanest back pedals in the country. Getting low, digging hard and snapping into his break with ease. His long arms and closing speed always make him a threat to break up a pass if it’s even slightly off target. He has strong vertical ability, getting up and swatting the ball down when challenging a 50/50 ball. What he lacks in size he makes up for with heart, never backing down from a challenge.
Strong isn’t going to give you much against the run. His slight frame and lack of form got him run over a few times early in his career, and he doesn’t seem rather willing now. Obviously his primary job as a corner is to prevent yards through the air, but teams will run at him intentionally to challenge him.
He is a dynamic zone corner but he doesn’t have the physique or technique to be a press man corner. His scheme dependency will be seen as a weakness when he makes the leap from the NCAA to the NFL.