ESPN College Football

Seven ACC players have been named to the 2013 Watch List for the Lott IMPACT Award, honoring the top defensive player in the nation who has made an impact both on and off the field.

In all, 42 players from 37 different programs made the list. The Pac-12 led the way with 11 selections, while the ACC, Big 12 and Big Ten each had seven. The SEC had five players chosen.

Virginia Tech was one of seven schools nationally to have multiple selections on the watch list. The Hokies were joined by Baylor, Northwestern, Ohio State, Stanford, UCLA and Washington.

Here are the ACC players on the watch list:

• Duke CB Ross Cockrell
• Pittsburgh DT Aaron Donald
• Boston College LB Steele Divitto
• Virginia Tech CB Antone Exum
• Florida State CB/S Lamarcus Joyner
• Clemson LB Spencer Shuey
• Virginia Tech LB Jack Tyler

The ACC has had one previous winner in the Lott IMPACT Award's nine-year history -- Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly in 2011.

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- Earlier this month, the NCAA suspended recruiting deregulations that would have allowed unlimited text messaging from coaches to prospective student-athletes.

You can bet the ACC coaches let out a collective cheer. Duke coach David Cutcliffe, the coaches' chair, reiterated during the ACC spring meetings that his group is completely against recruiting deregulation.

"We far more favor regulation than total deregulation," he said. "We have concerns with deregulation, that it turns into a free-for-all. We are not in favor of earlier communications with prospects. We are not in favor of unlimited calling or text messaging. We feel that’s a distraction to the student-athlete, particularly juniors or even seniors for that matter.

"The theme coming out of that room is regulation as opposed to deregulation. We also took the approach and I think our coaches did a great job of this, not voting or talking legislation based on what’s good for our program but what’s good for the student-athletes and what’s good for the game. As the chair this year I would commend our entire group of ACC coaches. It was well done in that regard."

On one more recruiting issue, Cutcliffe said the ACC coaches still want an early signing period. That issue has been debated for years now without a resolution.

"When it comes to the recruiting rules, we’re not really in favor of any big changes to our calendar," he said. "The one thing we think needs to have serious study is an early signing period, with not any change to the calendar."

The current bowl math doesn’t favor the expanded version of the ACC.

With eight bowls and 14 teams in the conference, that means only 57 percent of the ACC will make the postseason this year, at most.

3682361With 14 teams in the conference, including Pittsburgh and Syracuse, there has to be more than the current eight guaranteed bowl slots moving forward, but what number will constitute the “sweet spot” ACC commissioner John Swofford said he is looking for? Especially considering how Notre Dame will soon be elbowing its way into the league’s bowl lineup and taking one of those coveted spots? (If Notre Dame is ranked higher than or equal to an ACC bowl-eligible team, or is within one victory of a bowl eligible team, the Irish can be selected for that bowl spot.) Swofford recently told ESPN.com that the league could increase its bowl tie-ins to nine or 10 games. Will that be enough? Too many?

Last year, when the SEC went to 14 teams, it added the Independence Bowl as its 10th bowl tie in, but only nine teams qualified, and one -- Alabama -- was playing in the national championship. With the new College Football Playoff system to start in 2014, the ACC will have to replace the Chick-fil-A Bowl in its lineup, as that bowl will be one of the host bowls in the playoff. The ACC also has to consider the possibility of having a team in the playoff. It also has to acknowledge the reality of having only eight bowl-eligible teams on average:

ACC’s bowl eligible teams during 12-team era

2012: 6 (not including UNC and Miami, which were ineligible)

2011: 9

2010: 9

2009: 7

2008: 10 (ACC record)

2007: 8

2006: 8

2005: 8

The number of bowl games is currently up for debate. Cast your votes now.

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- ACC coaches are in favor of having the coaches' poll be a part of the criteria used by the selection committee to determine the four teams in the College Football Playoff.

Duke coach David Cutcliffe, serving as league coaches' chair, told ESPN.com on Wednesday during the league's spring meetings that his group also is in favor of having every single coach have a vote in the poll and complete transparency in the voting. They also favor doing away with a preseason poll, and releasing their first poll at some point during the season -- much in the way the BCS standings are released.

League coaches also favor the model used by the NCAA basketball selection committee, with either current athletic directors or conference representatives serving on the committee, as opposed to retired coaches.

"For the most part, we wanted to see conference representation and institutional representation rotated to some degree but the biggest item for us is the criteria of selecting those four teams. We want our coaches’ poll to matter," Cutcliffe said. "In another sense, all the coaches have a vote on the committee, and we think that’s good for the game, for the coaches to be good stewards of who’s in that national championship picture.

"All of us having a vote, the vote becoming transparent and the vote being conscientiously done. We think we’re qualified. We’re not watching every game on the East Coast, on the West Coast, but no one else is, either. We see a lot of film of a lot of people. We know who’s good, and who’s best -- maybe moreso than anybody else is looking at the game."

The one key piece to the College Football Playoff puzzle that remains unresolved is how the selection committee will look, and how they will go about selecting the four teams to make the playoff. Conference commissioners left meetings last month without any clear consensus, though it appears unlikely the committee will feature a representative from all 10 FBS leagues.

Cutliffe said there was no consensus from the coaches on who should serve on the committee, only that they favored having various leagues represented.

The coaches' poll is currently used in the BCS formula, but those with a vote have come under some heavy criticism in the past for their final votes. Some have shown bias in favoring their own conference in their final rankings. Others have pointed out that some coaches do not even do their own voting.

The BCS standings are being eliminated this year.

"Part of our concern was when you start naming individual coaches, it’s so hard to not have bias by coaches that have coached in certain leagues so the way we looked at it is if we allowed all the coaches to vote in the coaches poll and the coaches poll was looked at as a major contributing factor to the selection process, then all college coaches would have some input into the selection process," Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe said. "We’re just throwing things out right now because I don’t think anybody has a firm grasp of things.

"Will you have some bias from each coach? Absolutely you will, but through the country if it got balanced out, you’d probably still have a pretty legitimate idea of at least who the coaches thought the top four teams were."

Coaches agree bias cannot be completely eliminated in this process. That is why they are hopeful football adopts the basketball committee model. Ten members serve on the NCAA Division I basketball committee, and the group is balanced geographically. Georgia Tech athletic director Mike Bobinski served as committee chair for the last two tournaments.

"There is a model because basketball’s had a committee for a long time," North Carolina coach Larry Fedora said. "You’re going to have some of that. There’s nobody going to be out there that’s an expert on football that doesn’t have some affiliation somewhere in the past with a league or a team or anything so I don’t think you can do away with that."

Ingrained biases or perceptions do not concern at least one league coach.

"With the schedule that Clemson plays every year, if we take care of our business, all that stuff takes care of itself," Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said. "All I can tell you is Clemson worries about Clemson. We go and handle our business on the field, if we’re a one-loss team or no-loss team, Clemson with the brand we have, we’re right there."

More from Amelia Island today.

• ESPNU 150 receiver Demarre Kitt is going to choose between Clemson, Ohio State and Tennessee on June 10.
• Here is an early look at how Duke's recruiting class is shaping up.
• Athlon Sports asks, "How many games will Florida State win in 2013?" Here is an early Seminoles preview.
• Running back Johnathan Thomas talks about his decision to commit to Maryland.
• Miami coach Al Golden just wants closure from the NCAA. The Hurricanes' new athletics facility is nearly complete.
• Pitt coach Paul Chryst says he is holding his players to higher standards.
• Syracuse is one of the many schools vying for a commitment from defensive end Thomas Holley, quickly rising up recruiting rankings.
• Virginia and Virginia Tech try to balance business and football with their nonconference scheduling.

Stay tuned for updates from the spring meetings.

• Here are a few notes from Day 1.
• Several ACC records are in reach for Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd.
• Injured Duke receiver Blair Holliday will enroll in summer classes.
• Will Myles Autry join his brother on the Georgia Tech football team?
• Here is a Maryland recruiting update from Alex Prewitt of The Washington Post.
• Miami picked up a commitment from quarterback Brad Kaaya, but commit Alin Edouard is wavering.
• Torry Holt has been selected for the NC State Hall of Fame.
• Who else deserves to have their jersey retired at Syracuse?
• Andy Bitter of the Virginian-Pilot recaps how the Virginia Tech defensive line did this spring.

Headed to the ACC spring meetings in Amelia Island, Fla.

• Quarterback Deshaun Watson is committed to Clemson, but that hasn't stopped a long line of schools from keeping up their sales pitches.
• Duke receiver Blair Holliday honored the woman who saved his life.
• The AJC catches up with Georgia Tech signee Travis Custis.
• Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald has an item on Miami's pursuit of a few quarterbacks in his notes column.
• Former Maryland defensive end A.J. Francis wrote a farewell guest column in the student newspaper.
• Larry Fedora talks about his vision for the future, playing South Carolina and facing Jadeveon Clowney.
• Three players from the class of 2012 are leaving the Pitt football team.
• Former Syracuse great Donovan McNabb tweets that the school will retire his jersey this season.
• Former Virginia lineman Oday Aboushi blazes a new trail as one of a handful of Palestinian-Americans in the NFL.
• Here is a quick recap of the Virginia Tech offensive line after spring practice.

Inspired by Florida's "#ComePlayWRFortheJoker" campaign, our recruiting writers looked at other ways schools can sell themselves on the trail. Here's a look at recruiting pitches for the ACC:

Boston College Eagles
What they're selling: B.C. has a metropolitan area to sell prospects. There are several top professional sports teams to enhance the college atmosphere.
What they're missing: Other than Matt Ryan, B.C. hasn't had great success and they were only marginally successful when he was there. Also, the professional sports teams in the area limit exposure for B.C.

Clemson Tigers
What they're selling: Clemson sports a beautiful campus in a picturesque area of the country. Head coach Dabo Swinney's public demeanor must appeal to prospects as well.
What they're missing: Other than enjoying college life, there's not a lot to do nearby. Despite high expectations, Clemson still hasn't produced championship results.

Duke Blue Devils
What they're selling: Education, first and foremost. Quarterbacks should also appreciate the chance to be tutored by head coach David Cutcliffe, who has coached Peyton and Eli Manning.
What they're missing: Because of academic requirements, there will always be a ceiling of success at Duke. Also Duke football will always play second fiddle to Duke basketball.

Florida State Seminoles
What they're selling: Florida State has a brand that is known nationally. They also have the ability to win at a high level thanks to nearby talent.
What they're missing: Other than a refurbished stadium, facilities at Florida State aren't great. The Seminoles also have the tough challenge of recruiting against nearby SEC schools.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
What they're selling: Tech prospects often laud Atlanta and its big-city feel. With a campus downtown, there's plenty to do. Sports-wise, there are plenty of professional teams to enjoy.
What they're missing: Exposure is the toughest challenge for Tech. Georgia Tech is overshadowed by local pro teams and nearby Georgia.

Maryland Terrapins
What they're selling: Since Randy Edsall took over as head coach, the Terrapins have had good success wooing local prospects. Under Armour has helped. Following the Oregon model, Maryland has won prospects over with flashy uniforms.
What they're missing: Winning is the biggest knock on Edsall's regime at Maryland. Despite all the hype, he has posted two losing seasons.

Miami Hurricanes
What they're selling: Coral Gables isn't a bad place to live. Miami's educational offerings are a plus too. Miami's greatest advantage is the local talent who grows up rooting for the Canes.
What they're missing: The continued wrangling between Miami and the NCAA about possible improper benefits to players has to scare some prospects. Miami also has struggled recently. They're not the high-flying team that was once so dominant.

North Carolina Tar Heels
What they're selling: Coach Larry Fedora's offense has excited prospects. It seems to sell well to skill-position players. Yet offensive linemen have also been enticed since they can perfect pass-blocking while still being physical.
What they're missing: Fedora will have to prove he can win at a high level to convince nearby prospects to stay close to home. North Carolina basketball will always overshadow North Carolina football.

North Carolina State Wolfpack
What they're selling: The Wolfpack have been selling early playing time to prospects recently. That always resonates with high school players.
What they're missing: The Wolfpack have so much nearby competition that it's tough to see them recruiting at an elite level. North Carolina is the state school. Duke and Wake Forest can offer elite educations. Where does N.C. State fit in?

Pittsburgh Panthers
What they're selling: Pitt has a metropolitan city with several professional team to sell. Coach Paul Chryst also relates to prospects well.
What they're missing: Competition for media coverage in Pittsburgh can be tough.

Syracuse Orange
What they're selling: Syracuse offers prospects from a talent-rich area the opportunity to stay close to home. There's also the Syracuse basketball team that keeps the school on a national sports stage.
What they're missing: Just when it seemed like Syracuse was up and coming, it lost coach Doug Marrone to the Buffalo Bills.

Virginia Cavaliers
What they're selling: Virginia coach Mike London has done an incredible job of relating to prospects. He's tapped into several talent-rich areas in Virginia and nabbed top prospects.
What they're missing: Winning. At some point, London and company will have to prove they can win on Saturdays to continue to nab top prospects in February. If he can do that, watch out.

Virginia Tech Hokies
What they're selling: As always, Tech sells a kind of toughness that appeals to some prospects. It may not be for all but it tends to resonate with some. Tech has built a successful program on that. Coach Frank Beamer's stability helps the Hokies recruit as well.
What they're missing: Tech has slid recently. It once was playing for national championships. That time seems to have passed. Tech needs to land a star player to achieve a higher level.

Have I mentioned Mother's Day lately?

• Former Georgia Tech receiver Jeff Greene will walk on at Ohio State.
• Duke quarterback Anthony Boone is ready to take over as starter.
• Might Maryland be one of the top "bounce back" teams of 2013?
• Clemson got a commitment from Herschel Walker's nephew, a tight end.
• And Milan Richard plans to make a name for himself.
• Syracuse will face the ACC's top draft prospects for 2014.
• Is there a big enough audience for an ACC channel?
• Get ready for Virginia Tech-Michigan. Well, you have some time.

Fifty-one players from ACC schools have signed free-agent contracts or received invitations to attend free agent camps from teams in the NFL, the league announced Thursday.

Combined with the 31 ACC players drafted by the NFL, a total of 82 players from ACC schools will head to NFL training camps this year.

When draftees (3) and free agents (10) from Pittsburgh and Syracuse are included, the number of players headed to the NFL grows to a total of 95 players.

ACC NFL Free Agent signees (as of May 9)

Boston College (5)

Nick Clancy, LB, Atlanta Falcons

Emmett Cleary, T, Indianapolis Colts

Jim Noel, DB, Seattle Seahawks

Chris Pantale, TE, New York Jets

John Wetzel, T, Oakland Raiders

Clemson (6)

Dalton Freeman, C, New York Jets

Xavier Brewer, DB, Dallas Cowboys

Spencer Benton, PK, Dallas Cowboys

Tig Willard, LB, Tennessee Titans

Brandon Ford, TE, New England Patriots

Jaron Brown, WR, Arizona Cardinals

Duke (3)

Jackson Anderson, LS, Houston Texans

Tony Foster, DB, Kansas City Chiefs

Conner Vernon, WR, Oakland Raiders

Florida State (3)

Anthony McCloud, DT, Minnesota Vikings

Lonnie Pryor, FB/RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Rodney Smith, WR, Minnesota Vikings

Georgia Tech (5)

T.J. Barnes, DT, Jacksonville Jaguars

Izaan Cross, DE, Buffalo Bills

Rod Sweeting, CB, New Orleans Saints

Orwin Smith, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (invited to free agent camp)

Tyler Morgan, LS, Carolina Panthers

Maryland (5)

Devonte Campbell, TE, Atlanta Falcons

Darin Drakeford, LB, Kansas City Chiefs

A.J. Francis, DE/DT, Miami Dolphins

Matt Furstenburg, TE, Baltimore Ravens

Joe Vellano, DE/DT, New England Patriots

Miami (3)

Dalton Botts, P, (Tryouts with Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints)

Ramon Buchanan, LB, Seattle Seahawks

Jeremy Lewis, OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

North Carolina (4)

Casey Barth, PK, Atlanta Falcons

Jheranie Boyd, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Erik Highsmith, WR, Minnesota Vikings

Kevin Reddick, LB, New Orleans Saints

NC State (6)

Zach Allen, G, Carolina Panthers

Brandan Bishop, S, Minnesota Vikings

R.J. Mattes, OL, New England Patriots

Tobais Palmer, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Cameron Wentz, C, Minnesota Vikings

C.J. Wilson, CB, Chicago Bears

Pittsburgh (4)

Ray Graham, RB, Houston Texans

Hubie Graham, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mike Shanahan, WR, New York Jets

Ryan Turnley, C, New York Giants

Syracuse (6)

Lou Alexander, T, New Orleans Saints

Zack Chibane, G, Buffalo Bills

Dean Goggins, DE, Atlanta Falcons

Alec Lemon, WR, Houston Texans

Marcus Sales, WR, Atlanta Falcons

Brandon Sharpe, DE, Washington Redskins

Virginia (5)

Paul Freedman, TE, Dallas Cowboys

Steve Greer, LB, Washington Redskins

Perry Jones, RB, Baltimore Ravens

Colter Phillips, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

La’Roy Reynolds, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Virginia Tech (5)

Nick Becton, T, San Diego Chargers

Marcus Davis, WR, New York Giants

Antoine Hopkins, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers

Bruce Taylor, LB, Cincinnati Bengals

Alonzo Tweedy, LB, New York Giants

Wake Forest (1)

Kenny Okoro, DB, San Diego Chargers

USA Today does a great job of collecting and researching data, and the latest report details revenues and expenses for 228 Division I athletic departments in the country.

There is good news for the ACC: In comparing this year's database with last year's, it looks like every school that reported saw an increase in total revenue. Keep in mind that private schools like Notre Dame, Miami, Boston College, Wake Forest and Syracuse don't have to report their financial information, and Pittsburgh is protected by restricted Sunshine Laws, so its database wasn't available, either. A few quick observations:

• Louisville will be a money add to the ACC, as it would be ranked No. 2 in the ACC in total revenue right now.
• The Terps are heading to the Big Ten for financial reasons, and the athletic department depends heavily on subsidies -- more than any other school in the ACC at $17.2 million.
• Florida State made the biggest increase in total revenue from last year, jumping from $78.5 million to $100 million. Rival Florida, though, dropped from $123.5 million to $120.7 million.

Here is the breakdown of ACC revenues and expenses, according to the USA Today database:

Clemson

Total revenues: $70,002,280 (No. 37)

Total expenses: $67,783,797 (No. 38)

Florida State

Total revenues: $100,049,444 (No. 13)

Total expenses: $90,278,878 (No. 15)

Georgia Tech

Total revenues: $63,184,163 (No. 44)

Total expenses: $61,179,789 (NO. 44)

Louisville

Total revenues: $87,840,501 (No. 20)

Total expenses: $84,133,793 (No. 21)

Maryland

Total revenues: $68,142,660 (No. 39)

Total expenses: $68,109,639 (No. 35)

North Carolina

Total revenues: $82,424,430 (No. 25)

Total expenses: $81,921,783 (No. 24)

NC State

Total revenues: $59,757,911 (No. 46)

Total expenses: $56,332,313 (No. 48)

Virginia

Total revenues: $80,835,566 (No. 27)

Total expenses: $75,437,849 (No. 30)

Virginia Tech

Total revenues: $70,723,748 (No. 34)

Total expenses: $66,970,798 (No. 40)

Subsidies

• Clemson $5.3 million
• NC State $5.4M
• Georgia Tech $6.9M
• Virginia Tech $7.6M
• Florida State $7.7M
• UNC $9M
• Louisville $10.7M
• UVA $13.1M
• Maryland $17.2M

1. Clemson: The Tigers reinforced their spot atop the power rankings after a spring that featured the re-emergence of Sammy Watkins in the receiver group, and what appeared to be added growth of the front seven on defense. Questions remain in the secondary, but with Watkins and Tajh Boyd leading the way, the Tigers remain the favorites to win the ACC.

2. Florida State: There is no doubt the Seminoles have a lot of production to replace. But Jameis Winston looked like an emerging star this spring, there is depth at running back and the Noles should be dominant again on the offensive and defensive lines. A new aggressive defensive style has hopes high in Tallahassee that this team can reload rather than rebuild.

3. Miami: Stephen Morris and Duke Johnson looked fantastic throughout the spring, raising hopes that Miami can once again get itself back into the Top 25 and perhaps even make some noise nationally. Defense remains a concern, though with 20 starters returning on both sides of the ball, something should be said for having a more experienced team coming back.

4. North Carolina: The Tar Heels have found some answers for their holes on the offensive and defensive lines and believe they will be able to replace Giovani Bernard with the trio of A.J. Blue, Romar Morris and Khris Francis. The big key this spring was having a second season learning Larry Fedora's offense. With Bryn Renner back, the expectation is for this group to play even faster and score even more.

5. Georgia Tech: Vad Lee and Justin Thomas impressed coach Paul Johnson this spring, and so did the way the defense took to the new scheme coordinator Ted Roof has brought in. There is some major depth at the A-back and B-back positions as well, putting the Jackets in position to make another run at the ACC championship.

6 Virginia Tech: The Hokies might have been ranked higher on this list if their offense did not have such a letdown in the spring game. Questions still remain at every single position on that side of the ball, from Logan Thomas to the running backs to the receivers to the offensive line. The defense, however, should return to the form we have often seen out of Bud Foster-coached groups.

7. Wake Forest: The Deacs are a senior-laded team, and as such, they should be expected to make it back to a bowl game. Watch out for a more versatile offense and some more explosiveness out of Tanner Price, Michael Campanaro and Orville Reynolds. After the nightmarish injury bug that hit this team last season, everybody should be healthy and ready to go for fall practice.

8. Syracuse: The Orange are still searching for candidates to replace several big-time players in Ryan Nassib and top receivers Alec Lemon and Marcus Sales. The quarterback competition continues, but the depth Syracuse has at running back will be tough to beat. The Orange should also be stingy on defense, with nose tackle Jay Bromley and linebackers Marquis Spruill and Dyshawn Davis returning.

9. Maryland: The Terps' running game took a major step forward this spring with the emergence of Brandon Ross as a dependable ball carrier, and quarterback C.J. Brown is expected to be cleared for full participation again this summer after tearing his ACL last year. The receivers should be a strength with Stefon Diggs and Deon Long, but can the defense hold its own?

10. Virginia: The tired storyline of a quarterback competition continues under Mike London, as Phillip Sims, David Watford and Greyson Lambert expect to learn who the starter will be in August. The running game remains a question, and the Cavaliers also have big shoes to fill at linebacker with the departure of leading tackler Steve Greer.

11. Pitt: It was a rough spring for the Panthers, who saw leading returning rusher Rushel Shell transfer and also had to dismiss three backups from the team. Tom Savage is leading the quarterback battle, but he's not a lock after Chad Voytik had an impressive spring game. Pitt also needs a second dependable receiver to emerge to help free up Devin Street.

12. Duke: Quarterback Anthony Boone drew high praise from those within the program as he took over the offense for the first time as the team's projected starter. There is plenty of talent returning on offense, but until proven otherwise, Duke's defense remains the weak link.

13. NC State: First-year coach Dave Doeren and his staff increased the tempo of the offense, and quarterback Pete Thomas got the most reps with the first team, but the competition with Manny Stocker continues. There is still a lot of work to do in Raleigh, as NC State has an entirely new coaching staff, new schemes and 12 starters to replace, including standout quarterback Mike Glennon.

14. Boston College: Nobody in the ACC has more work to do that first-year BC coach Steve Addazio, but he came out of the spring as enthusiastic as ever. Depth at all positions remains a concern, but particularly at running back. The good news is that veteran quarterback Chase Rettig returns, and he has a familiar face in former BC wide receivers coach Ryan Day, who is now the offensive coordinator.

The best thing to happen to the ACC this spring had nothing to do with the 15 practices each team was allotted, and everything to do with the 15 teams that will soon comprise the conference.

On April 22, the ACC announced that all 15 university presidents -- including Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Notre Dame and Louisville, and excluding Maryland -- signed a grant of media rights agreement, effective immediately. With one swift, unanimous motion, the conference put a halt to any rumors of defection and reinforced the message it had been repeating but many still refused to believe: The ACC is sticking together. It was a historic moment for the conference, and one that overshadowed Florida State's spring quarterback battle, Virginia Tech's subpar spring game and Miami's never-ending wrestling match with the NCAA.

Despite all of the instability on the field this spring in the conference -- new coaching staffs, new quarterbacks and new schemes -- the ACC will enter this fall on more stable ground than ever before.

And that is easily the biggest win the ACC has had in years.

The next step is to come out on the winning end of what will be arguably the toughest nonconference schedule in league history, but this spring revealed few concrete answers for many programs in transition.

Florida State, NC State, Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Virginia still have ongoing quarterback competitions. Duke and Georgia Tech will have first-year starters at quarterback, leaving half of the conference with unproven players at the most important position. The transfer of quarterback Clint Trickett at Florida State opened the door for Jameis Winston, and he knocked it down in the spring game with one of the ACC's most impressive performances. Still, coach Jimbo Fisher is keeping the competition open with Jacob Coker.

The Hokies' offense under first-year coordinator Scot Loeffler left Virginia Tech fans in a panic after totaling just 23 yards on the ground, and the situation only worsened when running back Michael Holmes was charged with a felony. Pitt's running game also took a hit when leading returning rusher Rushel Shell decided to transfer, and three Panthers, all reserves, were suspended from the team.

Several potential stars emerged, as Clemson tight end Jordan Leggett, North Carolina running back A.J. Blue, Wake Forest receiver Orville Reynolds, Duke quarterback Anthony Boone and Boston College running back Andre Williams drew rave reviews from within their respective programs. Miami running back Dallas Crawford showed the potential to emerge from the shadow of Duke Johnson, and Maryland's running backs highlighted their spring.

For Boston College, Syracuse and NC State, this was a spring of transition for first-year head coaches Steve Addazio, Scott Shafer and Dave Doeren, respectively, but they were hardly the only ones in the league in need of introductions. Fisher had six new assistants on his staff and Virginia coach Mike London had a staff overhaul, as did Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer. This spring was spent learning the foreign languages in the playbooks and working on fundamentals and techniques.

More importantly, it was spent solidifying the future of the conference.

Thanks to the grant of rights, the ACC has all of the pieces in place to remain one of the country's power conferences, but on the field, it will have to find more answers this summer if it is going to move up in the conference power rankings.

Duke Blue Devils

2012 record: 6-7

2012 conference record: 3-5, Coastal

Returning starters: Offense: 7; defense: 8; kicker/punter: 2

Top returners

WR Jamison Crowder, RB Juwan Thompson, DE Kenny Anunike, CB Ross Cockrell

Key losses

QB Sean Renfree, WR Conner Vernon, S Jordan Byas, S Walt Canty

2012 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Jela Duncan* (516 yards, 4 TDs)

Passing: Renfree (260-of-392 for 2,755 yards, 18 TDs, 8 INTs)

Receiving: Crowder* (1,025 yards, 8 TDs)

Tackles: Canty (102)

Sacks: Anunike* (5)

Interceptions: Cockrell* (5)

Spring answers

1. Anthony Boone is for real. People will still wonder how the Blue Devils are going to do without Sean Renfree, but Anthony Boone proved this spring he is the real deal. Boone was impressive as he took over the starting quarterback job, and allows the Blue Devils to add more option principles to the offense, which will make them much more unpredictable.

2. Receivers step up. Here is another question that coach David Cutcliffe believes has been answered this spring. The Blue Devils do lose Conner Vernon, but leading receiver Jamison Crowder returns and Cutcliffe had special praise for the way Max McCaffrey came on this spring. “The receiving corps, I thought, had a tremendous spring,” Cutcliffe said.

3. Defensive front. The Blue Devils went back to the drawing board on defense and decided to simplify the scheme, in order to have their players do less thinking and more attacking. The result, Cutcliffe believes, could be a much better group -- particularly up front.

Fall questions

1. Secondary. This unit has to be completely rebuilt, with Ross Cockrell the only returning starter in the group. And even he missed the second half of spring with an injury. Jeremy Cash, Dwayne Norman and Corbin McCarthy are the new faces that are expected to take their spots in the starting lineup, but don’t be surprised if true freshmen Evrett Edwards and Quay Mann play as well.

2. Can the run game improve? The Blue Devils appear to have great depth in their backfield with their top four rushers back. So the hope is they can have a much more consistent running game this season. Last year, Duke ranked No. 98 in the nation in this category. Boone should factor in here as well.

3. Inexperience. Though the Blue Devils do return a good many of their starters, the ones who are gone are at the key positions on the football field -- quarterback, two receivers, center and three players in the secondary. They will have to rely on players without much game experience at all those positions so how quickly they grow up will be a huge key for this team.

Who's ready for the 2014 NFL draft?

• Boston College coach Steve Addazio is at ESPN HQ today.
• The LSU game helped put Clemson's DeAndre Hopkins and Malliciah Goodman on the NFL's radar.
• Top quarterback prospect Deshaun Watson says he's 100 percent solid with Clemson.
• Sports Illustrated catches up with Duke coach David Cutcliffe, an ice cream making maestro.
• Jimbo Fisher, Bobby Bowden and Nick Saban teamed up to raise money for Fanconi anemia.
• Silence is golden for FSU commit Kain Daub.
• Why did Georgia Tech offensive lineman Omoregie Uzzi go undrafted?
• Former Maryland defensive lineman Joe Vellano signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent. A.J. Francis signed with Miami and got engaged on the same day. Congrats!
• Is North Carolina a spring sleeper?
• Pitt picked up a commitment from an offensive lineman for the class of 2014.
• Former Syracuse receiver Marcus Sales faces long odds as he goes to the Falcons' rookie minicamp.
• Video: This is a pretty neat class project focusing on Wake Forest running back Josh Harris and what drives him.
• Athlon Sports asks: Which team is the favorite to win the Coastal?