Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - Could Florida State & Clemson Be STUCK In The ACC For Two More Years? Top Ten ACC Football Players?

Episode Date: May 15, 2024

Could Florida State and Clemson be stuck in the ACC for two more seasons? Both Universities are suing the conference in efforts to exit the Grant of Rights. The legal process is moving slowly so far, ...but many have speculated on possible settlements coming together soon. X Account Big Ten Information has been actively weighing in on FSU’s efforts to leave the ACC for a possible Big Ten move and said Tuesday that there isn’t any current evidence to believe FSU would play in a different conference’s schedule in 2025. He feels 2026 is likely the earliest. Hosts Alex Donno and Kenton Gibbs discuss the reported timelines and wonder if FSU’s wish of declaring themselves out of the ACC by this August could come to fruition. The guys react to College Football News’ projected top ten players in the ACC. Is Miami QB Cam Ward really the top player in the conference? Should NC State’s KC Concepcion have made the list? Should Florida State have had more representation?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!LinkedInThese days every new potential hire can feel like a high stakes wager for your small business. That’s why LinkedIn Jobs helps find the right people for your team, faster and for free. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/lockedoncollege. Terms and conditions apply.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply.FanDuelFanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning GUARANTEED That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – with any winning FIVE DOLLAR BET! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started. eBay MotorsFrom brakes to exhaust kits and beyond, eBay Motors has over 122 million parts to keep your ride-or-die alive. With all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to bring home that big win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 Is Florida State going to be stuck in the ACC for two more years? You are Locked on ACC, your daily podcast on the Atlantic Coast Conference. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Locked on ACC, thank you so much to the everydayers for making us your first listen and your first watch today. I'm Alex Dono from Locked on Cains. He is Kenton Gibbs from Locked on Wolfpack. On this episode, we are going to dice.
Starting point is 00:00:36 a top 10 player ranking within the ACC. That's the on the field stuff. With the off the field stuff, I want to talk about whether or not North Carolina, UNC is fully leaning in or not to actually wanting to leave the conference. But yes, we know Florida State and Clemson are leaning in to try to leave the conference. Now, Kenton,
Starting point is 00:00:58 I don't think anyone can say for sure. I know that there's people online who claim to know exact dates when Florida State is going to, we agree. that they are going to leave the ACC. Now, some people claim to know exactly when that's going to happen. I don't think anyone truly knows just based on the fact that there are so many legal uncertainties right now with multiple lawsuits at play. The ACC is currently involved in a total of five lawsuits, including suits and countersuits with Clemson, suit and countersuit with Florida State, and they're getting sued by the attorney general within the state of Florida. So there's a lot of balls being juggled right now in this regard. Now, as far as what we know about what
Starting point is 00:01:36 the timeline could look like. We did Kenton talk yesterday. Andrea Adelson from ESPN kind of laid out at least what the Florida State Board of Trustees would like to see in terms of a timeline, excuse me, trustee Justin Roth asked last August for an exit plan to leave the ACC by August of 2024. That has led some people to wonder if Florida State might at least formally declare by August that they are leaving the conference. Something else on the timeline has come up, Kenton.
Starting point is 00:02:09 And again, these are possibilities. Nothing is set in stone right now. But the X account, Genetics 56, who goes by Big Ten information, you've probably seen his stuff if you follow college football realignment. He's been full of information and opinions on the matter. He sent out on early this week, small but important FSU update, he said on Tuesday, confidentiality is important. will be respected by me with that said. As of right now, I'm not aware of FSU playing a 20,
Starting point is 00:02:40 2025 schedule in another conference. Earliest word still remains 2026. If anything changes, I will let you know. So as of right now, he has no reason to believe. We have no reason to believe that Florida State will be in another conference for the 2024 season, the 2025 season, maybe 2026 at the earliest. So that's so interesting to me. And I have a sign of my own here to let people know something. Locked on ACCC is targeting 2025 for the year that Kenton Gibbs starts dating Megan the Stabion. Okay. Since we're all...
Starting point is 00:03:18 That's 2024? No, 2025. We got to get our ducks in a row. We got to get our duckers right, you know, and we got to make sure that we're in Houston at the same time as the Houston hot as they like to call her so we can work it out. We're just saying things, don't know, because, you know, this feels a lot like the doomsday folks who just keep throwing predictions of when the world is going to end at you. And it's like, knock it off, dude. Knock it off.
Starting point is 00:03:41 Because remember, we were originally told, oh, well, it's going to be over. And Florida States played their last game in ACC in February. In February, people were saying that. To which I said, that is preposterous. That's not how any of this works. I'm sorry to tell you, which you and I have both talked about, even if they were. were to fully get out of ACC, every other Power 5's team schedule is set in such a way that they could not just, even if they wanted to, say, hey, we're in the SEC now, so we're an SEC team.
Starting point is 00:04:12 That's all there is to it. But, you know, it is what it is. And here we are looking at this moment now. But I will say this, a 2026 exit aligns with where I think the court case will most likely be over and done with. Because again, you know, you and I both talked about. And again, I promise you, I still have my robe and cigarette ready. Still got a ready. I'm sorry, not cigarette, cigar, not cigarette. You don't smoke cigarettes or something. Robe and cigar prepared for, what was it, June 1st or is it July 1st?
Starting point is 00:04:45 Which that is? July 1st when this happens. Because again, you know, there's a lot of information floating around, a lot of bad information. But again, you have to keep in mind. nothing can change until the courts are at least somewhat settled. And right now, the court situation is mucky, troubled waters. This is not clear, smooth sailing.
Starting point is 00:05:10 I can see to the bottom type of water. This is not what we're looking at here. So with a lot more coming out, with a lot more to be done in these cases, you and I both believe we're not delusional. We're not like, you know, you're going to be in the ACC forever until 2036. they're going to leave early. But again, they'll be here through at least 2026 is my prediction as well. Yeah. And, you know, the uncertainty that could change this because there are variables here. Again, nothing is for certain. Like, we can sit here and say probably 20, 26 is when this would happen.
Starting point is 00:05:43 But I am definitely open to the possibility of something happening before then because one thing we don't know. And again, there are people who claim to know about things happening behind the scenes in terms of settlement talks, right? there are some people you see them on X, you see them on message boards who claim, you know, they're already kind of broaching settlement talks and maybe Florida State and Clemson could get out sooner than you think. I wouldn't rule anything out, Kenton. I just feel like we're so in the early stages in the courts in North Carolina and the courts in Florida. I don't know if we've advanced to the point where settlement talks would be anywhere near a conclusion. Like I'm, I'm open to that possibility, but I haven't had any, you know, the white smoke coming out of the Vatican.
Starting point is 00:06:30 I haven't had anything like that. No smoking gun that would tell me something's going to happen within a matter of weeks or months. Yeah. And here's the thing, right, as this thing proceeds through court, I can be a thousand percent honest to saying that my sources close to this have been opening up more about timelines, but even with that, I haven't gotten many specifics. And what I do know, what I do know is again, what we predicted was right in terms of, of court moving slow. Everybody loves to think that this is, I want you to think about this in terms of relative speed, okay? In Leon County, Florida State was sent back and told, hey, redo your argument, yada, yada, yada, so and so forth. And then in Mecklenburg County, the ACCC is told,
Starting point is 00:07:15 hey, we're not doing anything until your, until the higher court decides what's, whether or not to stay or continue listening, right? The Leon County one, has Florida State submitted a completely retool argument yet? I don't believe so. And yet we already know that timeline-wise, they're going to be ahead of the Mecklenburg County one. How do we know that?
Starting point is 00:07:41 Yeah. How do we know that, right? Because when you understand how courts work at just a low fundamental level, right, we're not talking about getting into the weeds of, hey, this is when you get sequestered and this is when this happens. We're not getting into the weeds of mediation. We're talking very low-level stuff in terms of how courts move. Again, this is going to be a process.
Starting point is 00:08:05 This is going to be a process. So I need – and Florida State fans, I know I've made fun of you all to some degree. I know I have, but this is me reaching out with empathy. You know, I was told – my mother said I was being unkind. I love you, mama. I know you're listening. So I'm trying to be kinder now. I'm leaning with empathy.
Starting point is 00:08:21 I understand you want to get out. I understand. You have been one of the leaders in this conference in terms of viewership, in terms of the championships, in terms of all the things. You've been a better carrier. Please, let's live in reality together. Let's come to reality together. You and I may not agree on why the reality is what it is.
Starting point is 00:08:38 What we can agree on is, objectively speaking, the courts will not be settled out and done as quickly as most people thought they would be. Because, mind you, there was a large contingent of folks who thought the last game in the ACC had already been played. And then it was, well, I don't see if there's any way, shape, form or fashion that they go into this season, even if they do play a full ACC schedule as a member of ACC. And as we clearly are seeing from everybody who's close to this, that's going to be the case. So again, Florida State fans, no those fans are with you, you know, Dono's a Miami guy. He's with you, too. We're all head with you.
Starting point is 00:09:16 Let's just go in reality together. Yeah, because honestly, like when you strictly look at the common sense of the revenue splits with big programs around the country, if you simplify it to that point, it's not that simple because, you know, Florida state did sign and agree to this grant of rights. Now, the question is, has the ACC been acting in good faith? Like the ACC has been acting primarily as an engine of self-preservation, which is maybe good for conference leadership, not good for the teams within. so if Florida State can find a way to punish them in court for that power to them. Because if you simplify this, Kenton, based on, you know, what Florida State polls and revenue, TV ratings, performance on the field, they deserve better than, you know, a 30% revenue gap compared to teams within the SEC and Big Ten that are doing similar and even lesser numbers in some cases. Like they deserve better than that. Clemson probably does as well.
Starting point is 00:10:14 There are other programs within the ACC that probably deserve better than what they're. they're getting. So if you simplify it to that form, you know, I think a lot of people could, you know, probably root for them to win on, on that level. And I know it's difficult for me to say root for Florida State in anything. But it's also, it's fascinating to see if they or Clemson can find a way out, you know, what that would mean for other schools within the conference. Now, I do want to talk about a, because I know, I know Kent and you and I are pretty opinionated about the top players in the ACC coming up. College football news. put out a pretty awesome ACC primer preview for the upcoming football season, including
Starting point is 00:10:53 their ranking of the top 10 football players in the ACC. Who did they leave out of their list? Anybody in there that shouldn't be in there? And yeah, we are going to talk a little bit more about North Carolina on this episode because I did watch some of the stream of their board of trustees meeting. And there's a lot of unhappy folks about that budget. Are they going to fully lean in to getting out of the conference? conference. My friends, we're not done yet. You want to keep it locked right here on this brand new
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Starting point is 00:12:14 eBay guaranteed fit only available to U.S. customers. Thank you so much for making this episode of Locked on ECC, your first listen and your first watch today. We're free, wherever you get your podcast. We're available free on YouTube. We're part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. Your team every day. Alex Dono from Locked on Cains, Kenton Gibbs from Lockedon Wolfpack.
Starting point is 00:12:33 So, you know, Kenton, we were looking through this ACC primer, this preview for the upcoming season from college football news, CFN. And they put out their ranking of the, in their opinion, the 10 best ACC play. players. Do you want, should I start from number one or should I start from number 10 to work my way up for a little more, a little more suspense? Let's start from 10 and work the one. Let's make the people wait for the top guys. I like it. So, all right, one of the new teams in the ACC this coming season is Stanford. Now, Stanford didn't have a good year, but they do have a really, really good wide receiver, Elyke, I. I know, I've been working on his name all day. And you know what, Kenton watching some of his exploits from last season.
Starting point is 00:13:20 It's wide receiver from Stanford. You don't have to look much. I know Colorado didn't play a lot of defense last year. I get it. But this young man still had 13 grabs for almost 300 yards. It was 294 yards on 13 catches and three touchdowns in that overtime thriller against Colorado last year. Honestly, again, I know his team's not been very good, but I know he
Starting point is 00:13:46 deserves to be even higher than number 10. That is a stud wide receiver. So here's the thing. Here's the thing. I am an oral lot. I like him. I like him. And I think that he does have potential.
Starting point is 00:13:57 And that was held back by lackluster quarterback play. That's me being quite honest. However, I think. I think there were better receivers in the conference that did not make the list. And, you know, we'll get there at the end of this. because I don't want to let you know who did make the list that I think was a very clear replacement for him in this 10 slot. But, hey, it's the list as it goes. We're starting off a little bit of controversy already.
Starting point is 00:14:27 So, you know, this is the season where they get these lists going and they get folks like me and Donald's blood pressure all up already. So I'm going to let Donald keep rolling on the list because I want to take up too much time. Well, at number nine, we have the first transfer player. There are a few. but the first transfer player on this list is one, Kenton, you are familiar and you're going to become a lot more familiar come September. Grayson McCall, the new quarterback for the NC State Wolfpack, took his talents from Coastal Carolina to Raleigh, North Carolina to NC State.
Starting point is 00:15:02 I really liked what I saw from McCall at Coastal Carolina. Excellent quick release, good field general. And I think he's going to do well with all the weapons he's now got with the Wolfpack. Yeah, I absolutely think that the Wolfpack have one of the most underrated pass catching groups in America. And that's, you know, when you talk about nobody mentioning them seriously, when you think about NC State, everybody wants to talk defense, defense, defense, I'm telling you this group of wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs. It's unlike anything seen in Raleigh since Tori Hought and Jericho, Kotry were on the same team, catch and passes there. Wow. Well, and I almost, I kind of, and maybe this is too much of a preview for the rest of the list,
Starting point is 00:15:47 but I thought at least one of his wide receivers should have made the list. But we move on number eight, new quarterback at Florida State. DJ Oweyungalole makes the list. This is a former now, again, ACC player was with Clemson for the first couple years of his career, spent last season at Oregon State. Now he's at Florida State. I think Florida State's going to be really, really good. I don't know if the quarterback is going to be the engine that drives them to being really, really good.
Starting point is 00:16:18 So we'll see what happens. DJU is very experienced, though. And this is, the more I think about it and the more I watch DJU play, because yeah, we're in that time of the season where all you got to do is sit around and watch all 22 and, you know, some highlights here and there. The more I'm starting to think, DJU is getting too much love. That spear on the helmet is giving him a big push that he would not receive otherwise. He would not be receiving this type of love if he transferred into pit per se.
Starting point is 00:16:47 He wouldn't be receiving this type of love if he transferred into UVA. If he transferred into Syracuse's got a little bit of hype, but even if he transferred into there, I don't think he'd be getting this. Well, never mind. According to later on the list, I guess he would. But, you know, there's, I'm starting to think DJ is getting a little overrated here. but we shall see. Wow.
Starting point is 00:17:09 Okay, so let's move up the list. Another one who's part of one of those new teams in the conference, running back from Cal, Jaden Ott. You put up insane, I think over 1,500 yards last year at Cal. Like, Ott, Ote is a player. He's going to be one to watch this year in the ACC. The kid is nasty. If you don't know who Jad is, I'm telling you,
Starting point is 00:17:31 especially for the teams that have to play it. Get familiar. Get familiar because he can do it all on. the football field. And I'll tell you what, beyond his ability as a, as a back that has carried an offense and been a featureback in a time where you often think about, hey, this, the new world of football is all about these, all about throwing the ball, all about spreading it out. Jayon Ott is a back that has legitimately everything. He has speed. He has power. He has balance. He is shifting. He can catch it out of the backfield.
Starting point is 00:18:07 I am surprised that Jay Knott is not talked about more in terms of the running back one conversation for next year's draft. I believe he's a sophomore or I believe he's a sophomore going into junior this year. So I'm surprised that more people aren't talking about him as running back number one for next year coming out. Because again, he looks special. I really can't think of anything where I'm like, man, if you ask him to do that, he's going to struggle mightily that you would ask out of the NFL back. All right, so moving up now for, again, for Florida State, I think it's going to be their defense that's going to be a driving force this year. And they have edge rusher Patrick Payton at number six. Peyton last year, seven sacks, two force fumbles.
Starting point is 00:18:50 He's definitely a guy that opposing offenses have the game plan for. Absolutely. And the question for him is, how is it in the AC, right? So for those of you who don't know, there's a difference between your top pass rusher and your second top pass rushers, they're both edge rushers, right? Your top pass rusher, that's the guy the team's playing for. They game playing around. They function around.
Starting point is 00:19:11 We have to neutralize him. If we can neutralize him, everybody else will kind of take care of itself because we got scholarship guys, too. He was one of those everybody else guys because they had this fun guy named Jared Burs or something or another. He was pretty good, that first kid. So he was in, and then on top of that, you got Brad Fiske as well to draw more heat off this year he's going to probably be the A guy there.
Starting point is 00:19:35 I know that they've got another fantastic transfer on the other edge there. In Marvin Jones, but I'm telling you, he is very likely to be in that AC, at least to start the season off. How will he perform? Is he ready to step up into that mode? We'll see. So at number five, this is one that I know very well, like one of the most professional college players I've ever covered.
Starting point is 00:20:01 I mean professional in the way he conducts himself on and off the field. Miami's leading receiver who's back for his senior season. Xavier Restrepo had a thousand-yard campaign playing in the slot. He was able to put up big numbers, you know, despite some inconsistencies from Tyler Van Dyke, who was actually his best friend and former roommate. And Restrepo, I know it's early. He looks like he and Cam Ward are very much on the same page, had a good spring together, worked out a lot, on and off the field.
Starting point is 00:20:33 So, you know, Restrepo, I know that some people will just because he, you know, he's about six foot slot receiver. He doesn't look like a prototypical NFL guy. I'm sure a lot of people will look at that list and say, really, him in the top five? We'll see. Almost 1,100 receiving yards last year. I think with Cam Ward, he can have an even better year this coming year. If you don't believe that Xavier Restrepo belongs on this list, turn on the film.
Starting point is 00:20:55 Just turn on the film. Watch them work. He received one of the greatest accolades of receiver at all. can. You know what that is? Your quarterback said, ah, forget it. He's down there somewhere. And the forget it probably is not a forget it. It's probably a one syllable word that rhymes with puck. But that's the reality. That's what you saw plenty of times with TVD. He was like, say, it was down there somewhere. And that means that he's earned that type of trust. As again, he's not the biggest guy in the world. Is he big for a slot receiver? Yes. He is for a slot
Starting point is 00:21:28 receiver. But if you're talking about jump ball, true, like, hey, go up and get it. He's not that prototypical size. He runs. He's got crazy vert. Yeah. He runs efficient, clean routes, and he can jump out the gym with excellent body control. He goes up and gets the ball. He plucks it out of the air with the type of strength that you're not expecting from a slot receiver. The guy's special. All right. So at number four, this was someone, I know we mentioned to him being in the conversation of potential ACC defensive player of the year coming up. And that's, defense event, Ashton Jalati from Louisville. He cracks that top four, Kenon.
Starting point is 00:22:03 Oh, man. Imagine Wolverine on a football field. Imagine, right? You don't have to imagine too longer. He wears number nine and he wears red for Louisville. Ashton Jolati is relentless. He is not only relentless. That defense knows that he's the heart and soul of the deal.
Starting point is 00:22:22 Because, again, turn on the film. Louisville specializes and finding your weakest offensive linemen. he said, hey, number nine, go hunt. Go have fun with that guy. That's your dance partner. Swing your partner round and round. You and him all day long doing the docee dough. Because that's, again, he is that special of a pass rusher.
Starting point is 00:22:41 He is explosive. He's getting to watch his development as a pass rusher from where his handfighting was two years ago or so to where it was by the end of last season. It's like day and night. He used to win before off sheer explosiveness and effort. Now he's added in techniques. He's added in and understanding.
Starting point is 00:23:01 Obviously, he can get a little bit more bendy, a little bit more flexible, but I'm telling you, he is a really, really good pass rusher, good against the run, too, a lot better than most people would think of his side. He's a very, very good candidate for defensive player to the year. We'll get into the top three when we come back and also talk about maybe some players who could or should have been on the list. My friends, you want to keep it locked right here. Alex Dono and Kenton Gibbs with you on Locked on ACC.
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Starting point is 00:25:07 Kenton and I both pronounce his name a different way. I think everybody does at number 10. Elyke, Iommanar, the wide receiver from Stanford. He's really good. That's all you have to know. At number nine, Grayson McCall, NC State quarterback, Florida State quarterback DJ Oweunga Lolei at number eight, Cal running back Jaden Aud at number seven,
Starting point is 00:25:26 Florida State Edge, Patrick Payton at number six, Miami receiver Xavier Restrepo at number five, Louisville defensive and Ashden Jalati at number four. They go defense again, Clemson at number three, and that's Barrett Carter, linebacker from Clemson. Do you agree with his top three placement? You know, I'm not going to lie. He let me down last year, starting off the year especially. Things looked rough. Things looked rough.
Starting point is 00:25:50 He talked about being out of shape a little bit and having to play his way in the shape, which is really a concern for me. that's always because conditioning is between you and you. However, with all of that said, he's a freak athlete. He really is. He is the type of athlete, you know, everybody looks at the play where he jumped over, running back while blitzing to get home.
Starting point is 00:26:15 And that's part of what makes him special. Another part is he's really starting to come on in terms of intuitiveness and understanding of the linebacker position. You know, this is, he's, he's getting better and better. And again, if he comes into this season, in shape, ready to go, you know, a little bit stronger, a little bit more able to hold the point.
Starting point is 00:26:35 He is truly a sideline to sideline guy, which I think is an overused term, but it fits him perfectly. Yeah. All right. So at number two, I'm not going to argue with this one, Kenton, Amari in Hampton, running back out of North Carolina.
Starting point is 00:26:51 This was another beast at running back who rushed for over 1,500 yards. last season and this season without Drake May, I think he's going to be an even bigger part of that NC offense. Brother, you're going to be the cash cow, you're going to be the bail cow, you're going to be the one to carry the mail. And if you can't get it done, O'Marian, it will not get done, okay? It is not going to happen for that offense.
Starting point is 00:27:14 But seriously, O'Maryon is another one a lot like Jay Knott, that he's a little bit shorter, a little bit stockier than Jay Knott, I believe, but he is a guy that has it all. He has it all. He's shown himself to be a. a good receiving weapon. He's shown himself to be a really, really good running back. When you put the ball under his arm and just say, don't go down. He's really good at that. He's really good at making guys missing the open field. He has really good contact balance.
Starting point is 00:27:38 It's like you combine Williams and Carter, who were there a few years ago into one guy. You'd get up. Yeah. So at number one on their list, probably a lot of folks have kind of realized this was coming just based on who's come off the board. And again, this is not my list. This is the college football news. I mean, probably also would have been number one on my list, but they go with Miami transfer quarterback Cam Ward, comes in from Washington State through for 3,735 yards,
Starting point is 00:28:07 25 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 9 rushing touchdowns last year. He comes to Miami with a lot of hype, high expectations, and folks are really wondering about Ward. Is he going to be the best quarterback Miami's had in many years? Because, yeah, Miami has not. found a lot of consistency at that position in a very long time. You know, everybody talks about the downsides of Cam Ward a lot, the turnovers and some of the mechanical issues, some of the citizen-making issues.
Starting point is 00:28:38 There's a reason he keeps getting on the top of all these lists. Y'all do realize that, right? It's not often a quarterback has the potential to be the fastest player on the field, period. Cam is one of those guys. Not only is he that, the arm is lies. it's not just live, it's accurate. He can make those throws where you see the arm talent is there.
Starting point is 00:29:01 With him, it's all about the decision making. But again, speed, arm talent, ability to make people miss, sort of like a wide receiver who's pretty good at breaking tackles. I wouldn't go as far as saying a running back is going to break tackles. If he had that, he probably would have been the number one picking last year's drive. But you get the point. I think that he is a really, really good player, that people are kind of over-indexed.
Starting point is 00:29:24 his problems into or over indexing into his problems, that kid's special. He's a special, special player. Him being at what makes sense to me. Now, when I'm thinking about who else could have been in this top 10 or should have been in this top 10, I actually, I'm going to do Kenton's homework for him because I felt like maybe a couple, couple of other NC State players could have gotten in, Aiden White, for one. He said it, not me.
Starting point is 00:29:48 And I mean it. NC state's top shutdown corner, Aiden White, I thought it could have been on the list. And then, you know, I think I hyped this guy up even more than Kenton, but I'm a huge Casey Concepcion fan. And, you know, I think about because he does a little bit, well, a lot of everything for that NC state offense. I thought maybe there could have been a spot for Concepcion.
Starting point is 00:30:11 And this is why, and with all due respect to Ayamanor, he is a, again, he's a really big body. He high points the ball well, physical, hard to bring down after the catch. If you look at the total stats of those two, even if you go per game, because technically Casey did play one more game because of the bowl game than Ellick did, he still outperformed them as a true freshman. Like that, the game is only going to slow down more for him. That's year, this year that we're looking at, this is Alex's sophomore year jump, right? This is, that's what that looks like. That's what we saw out of Alex. We have not
Starting point is 00:30:49 gotten that out of Casey yet, nor did he richer. The game is only going to get slower for that young man. He's, oh, and by the way, he had more touchdowns than I Aminor, and he had more touchdowns than the rest of NC State's team combined in terms of receiving touchdowns. I do remember that. Now that he has weapons next to him and teams just can't say, all right, we're going to cover him like it's a punt. Put two guys on him after the line.
Starting point is 00:31:23 We don't want him to breathe too freely. If he goes to the bathroom, we need one of you shaking it for. Now that that's no longer the case, I am telling you he's going to show something. He's going to show you something, basically. Keep your eyes peeled because he's going to act a fool. And there are a few other players that I, you know, I'm not going to say that it's the worst thing in the world
Starting point is 00:31:48 that they're excluded because maybe they need that chip on their shoulder. But I'm going to tell you this, two quarterbacks in particular that I look at and I'm like, I'm not crazy upset that they didn't make the list, but they could have. You got to give my man Castiano's his love and you have got to, got to give Kyron drones his love. Because I think both of those guys are. They're not just quarterbacks that like their team's all right without them. Those two are guys. If they leave their teams, neither one of their teams, snips comes close.
Starting point is 00:32:18 close to considers a bowl game. Halfly wouldn't have had a chance to leave his ass from Boston if Castellanos wasn't what he is because they would have won about three games last year. So, you know, I think it's really interesting to leave those two off, but I get it. You don't want to put too many quarterbacks
Starting point is 00:32:34 on the list. Fine. Right. Well, okay, so we still, we did discuss talking about North Carolina and how much they're going to lean into leaving the conference. We'll do a vertical tease. That's a biz, you know, remark we'll save that for tomorrow's episode.
Starting point is 00:32:50 Alex Dono alongside Kenton Gibbs. Guys, make sure you smash that thumbs up. Like this video if you're watching it on YouTube. If you listen to the audio version, make sure you subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you get your pods. And we will talk to you again tomorrow on another episode of Lockdown ACC, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day.

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