Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - Who Will Win The ACC In 2024? | Best Newcomer | Breakout Player | INT & Sack Leaders Predicted

Starting point is 00:00:00 These rankings cannot be disputed. This is how the ACC is going to finish this year. You are Locked on ACC, your daily podcast on the Atlantic Coast Conference. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. And by the way, these rankings are already getting disputed by other ACC hosts around the network. We'll talk about that. Thank you so much to the everydayers for making Locked on ACC,

Starting point is 00:00:32 your first listen and your first watch today. We're available free wherever you get your. your podcast. We're free on YouTube. We're part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your team every day. Today's episode is proudly brought to you by Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account and use code locked on college for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Well, Kenton, we went a little bit against the grain, you and I in putting together our preseason ACC rankings 1 to 17. We didn't go chalk with the preseason media ranking. like some other outlets did.

Starting point is 00:01:08 No, not at all. I mean, there are certain folks that we believe in. There are certain folks that in the words of one, JZ, we don't believe you. You need more people. We don't care what you've done in the past. We don't care what we think you're going to do in the future. It's about what we think you're going to do this year.

Starting point is 00:01:22 Just this year alone. That's how we got these rankings. And, you know, we got a little frisky here. We got some things going on here that everybody might not like, but damn it we did it anyway, Dono. So here's how it lays. out. I'll start with number 17 and work my way up, work our way up here to number one. Stanford Cardinal comes in at number 17. By the way, I noticed that like Stanford media are like

Starting point is 00:01:48 very concerned with ACC fans, like making sure, hey, we're the Cardinal, not the Cardinals. So it's like, I'd be more concerned with the product than putting out on the football field, but I know they're very concerned with the pluralization or not of their mascot, which is not a bird. It's a, it's a tree. At number 16, you've got the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. At number 15, Boston College. And our guy, we're going to have him on next week. Our guy, AJ Black, is not too happy about Boston College being so near the bottom. Virginia at number 14. Pitt coming in at number 13, Duke at number 12, Syracuse 11, Cal at number 10. Lawrence Ross talked me up from number 14 to number 10, UNC at 9, SMU8, Georgia Tech.

Starting point is 00:02:36 We've got the yellow jackets a little bit higher than most do. Louisville at number six, Virginia Tech at five. We've got them a little higher than a lot of outlets do. Clemson at number four, we've got them lower than most. NC State at number three, higher than most. Miami, number two, a little bit higher than most. And Florida State at number one. Now, Kenton, I know my Locked-on-Cain's listeners are not going to be too happy that I

Starting point is 00:02:59 agreed to allow the Seminels to be number one on the rankings. But in my view, to be the man, you've got to beat the man. They're the defending champs. A lot of different players as well, but a lot of good players. They're very well coach. We'll see what happens. But until proven otherwise, we've got the Seminoles at number one. They have the least questions to answer, period. They have the track record of winning the ACC last year working for them. So it's hard to de-thrown them in that way. When you look at Miami, who we always, ways asks is the chemistry and is the coach are going to be there. You look at NC State

Starting point is 00:03:33 when it's like, can you stop stepping on the rate? Can your existence stop being an episode of Tom and Jerry where you're going to end up saying, yeah, pretty soon in there, right? I mean, that's just reality. Clemson's got the biggest question mark that there is out of all of the top five in

Starting point is 00:03:49 that quarterback position. What are we doing? I know, and I know everybody's going to say, oh, you know, clubbnic got it together at the end of last year, if you watched the guy i did watch the games i'm telling you right now i'm not convinced i'm not convinced the way i am with caron droves i'm not convinced the way i am with uh gracie mccall with cam war with dj u i'm not convinced on him so that's where you look what you're looking at there

Starting point is 00:04:17 virginia tech i mean they have the most returning production in the acc but again it's not just about returning production it's about what can that production that's returning what can the guys who are returning due and again you know you hope that ania's people takes that next step in terms of the interior d line but last year he wasn't a starter at dude he was a rotation guy he was a really high rotation guy let's let's be clear about that let's not make it seem like he was the fifth guy in at defensive tackle but he was not duane carter was to show their defensive tackle last year so it's not like he was the guy that people wrote in their playboy or in their game plans stop aeneas win the game he wasn't that guy so your your question of

Starting point is 00:04:58 for Virginia Tech. Can you be physical enough defensively to do what you want to do? Can Ali Genic stay healthy enough to be a consistent weapon for Kyle Ron drugs? Do you think we might be sleeping on Louisville a little bit too much? Because I feel like it, and it's not just us. Like, it's not just you and me, but I feel like they've just been like dropping spots in people's minds preseason just because of like all the negative headlines about all the players that transferred in in January, then transferred right? out in April because they could still be a really good football team Kenton, but I just feel like there's a lot of negative mojo up in the bill.

Starting point is 00:05:35 So here's the thing, right? If we were ranking this based off floor, like, hey, their worst case scenario, where do all these teams end up? Louisville would be higher. We're not based on that. You and I are not floor guys. We are much closer to ceiling guys than we are floor guys. And in terms of Louisville's ceiling, are you, if you were to say all of the top six teams were

Starting point is 00:05:55 to have their best season that they could possibly have, who out of that group do you see Louisville beating handily. Maybe for Dene Tech, maybe? Yeah, maybe. I think that's it. I don't think that you look at any other other four and you say they play a similar level of game. Louisville has an advantage there, you know?

Starting point is 00:06:10 And Louisville has some pieces that I like, something that we'll talk about later in this episode today. But I struggle with the idea that if they're firing at their best clip and everybody else is firing at their best clip, they could beat anybody or they should beat anybody in top five. Can they beat anybody in top five if they're rolling at their highest clip? Sure. Will that? If you say, hey, do you feel comfortable taking that bet?

Starting point is 00:06:34 Not so much. You know, we have Miami a spot higher than most. Most of the rankings have Miami third after, you know, Clemson, who we have fourth, actually. And just like, obviously I'm probably a little bit biased towards Miami, but let me offer this objective justification for Miami being so high Kenton. they on paper have the most talented roster in the ACC. And that's not strictly my opinion. That is also based on Miami having more preseason all ACC selections than any other team in the conference.

Starting point is 00:07:08 So I know people have questions about that talent jelling together. I know people have questions about the coaching. But when it comes to the, if we're strictly going on the collection of talent, which we're not strictly going on that, Miami would probably be number one on the list. We've got them at number two. anybody who knows me knows that this was not an easy choice for donno and I putting Miami at two because I believe that buying Miami hype in the year of our Lord and Savior 2024 is akin to buying Penn State hype in 2024. I don't think it's a good idea despite what their recruiting looks like, despite who they've got to come in. I don't think it's ever a good idea.

Starting point is 00:07:47 However, like I said earlier about me and Dono, we are much closer to the ceiling guys than we are the floor guys. Miami's floor. Miami's floor is lower than everybody in the top six. It just is. I don't think that anybody would argue, hey, if Clemson has a really, really down year and Miami has a really,

Starting point is 00:08:04 really down year, Clemson is going to be worse than that. I don't think I would argue that. But in terms of how high could that Miami team jump if everything is rolling, if Martinez and Ward and Fletcher do what they need to do, if Restrepo is Restrepo,

Starting point is 00:08:22 who we expect them to be. If that defensive line can play well enough to cover up some of the youth, some of the inexperience on the back end, you are looking at those things and saying, you know, I can see it. I can see. It's not that hard for me to see a world

Starting point is 00:08:38 where they end up dancing in Charlotte. Well, when we come back, I want to talk about some individual players who could be earning some superlatives this season, including best newcomer. That can be a true freshman or a transfer. Probably going to be a transfer, but we will consider true freshman as well.

Starting point is 00:08:56 Who's going to lead the league in rushing yards? Who's going to lead the ACC in interceptions? Who's going to lead the ACC in sacks? You want to keep it locked right here, my friends. He's Kenton Gibbs. Or he's over there. Kenton Gibbs from Locked on Wolfpack. I am Alex Dono from Locked on Cain's.

Starting point is 00:09:09 We're only getting started on this brand new episode of Locked on ACC. You want to keep it locked. And we're only getting started on the GameTime app. Game Time is the only ticket app that Kenton and I use because we're getting amazing deals. And the prices on the game time app go down the closer you get to game time, whether it be a major league baseball game. College football is coming up. I'm waiting.

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Starting point is 00:10:21 Thank you so much for making this episode of Lockdown ACC, your first listen and your first watch today. If your second listen, check out our other shows. Kenton does an awesome job on Locked on Wolfpack. You can check me out on Locked on Cains talking NC State and Miami, everything. We're available free. Wherever you get your podcast, we're free on YouTube. We're part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. All right.

Starting point is 00:10:47 So Kenton, as far as who the newcomer of the year is going to be in the ACC, I guess I'll ask you to play. devil's advocate and tell me why it won't be Cam Ward and who would it be? Because if we're going based on the expectation, we would have to say it's Cam Ward. I mean, Ward, Miami's new quarterback transferred from Washington State. He's already been voted preseason ACC player of the year. So wouldn't that say he's going to be the best newcomer this season? If not Ward, who? I mean, hypothetically, yes. So on paper, yes, but there are so many unknowns and so many factors here that could go into him not being that guy. Let me tell you why. There's a dynamic duo of backs in the backfield for Miami, both above six feet, both above 220 pounds. That is over 400, what, I want to say that's

Starting point is 00:11:37 what, 450, 460 pounds of running back that teams are going to have to deal with from the Miami hurricanes. And let's be honest, when has Mario Cristobal's system ever helped a quarterback win a postseason award. It's all about that ground to pound. It's all about, hey, we're going to control the clock by being physical. We're going to take our time. We're not a hurry up team. We're a slow it down team.

Starting point is 00:12:03 We're a, hey, you're going to get less possessions. You better be good with them, buddy, type of team. So it wouldn't be the biggest shock in the world to see Cam Ward not win it. And if you are going to talk about who can win it, the guy that is sharing the backfield with him and Damien Martinez could definitely be a guy who could win it. But I hate to be a homer here. but, I mean, there is a quarterback coming into an air raid-ish offense that in Grayson McCall, that he's going to be asked to fling that ball around the yard a ton. I think that Jordan Waters is the very quality back from Duke third team all-ACC last year.

Starting point is 00:12:35 But when you look at the skill position groups that NC State is trotting out there, I don't think NC State has seen skill positions like this since Tori Holt and Jericho Contry were catching passes for the back. I mean, you've got a returning, you've got a returning freshman All-American, All-ACC guy in Kevin Concepcion. You have a physical freak of nature in Noah Rogers. He was a four borderline five-star. And every time you hear about camp reports from NC State, he's showing exactly why he is that. You have the tackle breaking his tight-in in the nation last year, not just because he was an independent. So he wasn't in a conference.

Starting point is 00:13:16 Justin Jolie was the tackle break against tight-in. in the nation last year. And mind you, that's just the top line guys that you think about. You, of course, have Wesley Grimes, who did his thing at Wake Forest, despite his quarterback's not being able to hit the broad side of a barn last year. You've got Kenan Jackson, a freshman that everybody in their mama is saying, hey, if you watch the film on this kid, he's a mature developed player. So is Robert and I saying that.

Starting point is 00:13:41 There's a lot of room for one of those guys to be the ACC newcomer of the year. And I'll tell you what. far be it for me to talk about air raid without talking about Preston Stone and Rett Lashley over there being newcomers to the conference you know they although they've been together that's a quarterback and head coach duo that's been together for a bit this is their first year in ACC so I think that the the competition for Cam Ward is much stiffer than he would imagine even in his own locker room yeah and if I'm going to keep drinking that cow Kool-l-kool-late from yesterday Jaden I don't know I don't know if like cow's going to have the type of season

Starting point is 00:14:17 where, you know, one of their players is going to be in contention for newcomers. You know, Jadnott might put up just video game numbers. But let's stick on that on that rushing tip, Kenton. Who's going to lead the ACC in rushing yards this year? Now, for as bullish as I am on Damien Martinez at Miami, I don't necessarily think it's going to be him because Miami has such a deep backfield. He's going to be sharing carries with Mark Fletcher and Chris Johnson and a couple of others. A.J. Allen had a good year last year at Miami.

Starting point is 00:14:47 So I don't think Miami is going to be Damien Martinez dependent enough that he's going to lead the league in rushing yards. I think Omerian Hampton might do it might do it again at North Carolina. If not him, the aforementioned J.D.Nott might. I mean, those guys actually both last year put up higher yardage totals than Martinez did at Oregon State. So for as good as I think Martinez is going to be, I don't think he's going to lead the ACCC in rushing. Amarian Hampton probably will because guess what, Kenton, that team is going to be more dependent this year on the ground. round game than they were last year with Drake May at quarterback. So Jay Not did something extremely special last year.

Starting point is 00:15:23 If he was in the ACC, he would have been one of the leaders in rushing, despite the fact that his offensive line graded at slightly, I want to say just a hair below average in terms of their PFF run blocking grades. So what is that saying? Jay Not was creating those yards out of thin air almost. It's a whizzo. It's a wiser. It's a wazasas.

Starting point is 00:15:43 He doesn't care. He's going to find a hole. And that is what makes J.D.N. Not so special. But even beyond that, it is the fact that he more than any other back in this league, we don't have a single back. I would say individual players here and there, but I don't think we have a single backness league more explosive than Jaden Ott. So now it comes down to one of two things, because Martinez is eliminated by the fact that it's a lot like how I say Cam Ward has the potential to get eliminated by how good his teammates are. I think the same thing happens with Martinez. I think the ball is split. too much between quality backs. And so I think that this comes down to, in essence, a two-horse race in terms of you're looking at, you're looking at Hempton. And then you ask yourself, well, who's going to be more, whose offense is going to be more dependent?

Starting point is 00:16:34 Both of those teams, I don't think much of their quarterback's. I just, I don't, both teams, I don't think their quarterback situation is all that greater resolved. However, the Tar Heels need Omaria. to be otherworldly to have a decent season. You know, Lawrence Ross talked to us about the depth in that backfield yesterday and how many guys they have that can scoot and get it done. I'm not seeing that same thing from the heels.

Starting point is 00:17:01 I'm seeing if I saw a bad report out of camp about an injury to a Marianne Havden, I would be selling my tickets if I was in the Rams Club or whatever the case. Maybe I'd say, you know, we had a, we gave the old college drive, but you know what? We got R.J. Davis back for like his fifth year in college basketball. That's what we'll focus on. We don't need to pay attention to that foolish gridiron stuff. That ain't for us. So I believe that O'Marian Hepton will be the leader solely from a standpoint of he's going to get a ton of carries.

Starting point is 00:17:32 And that team is going to lean on him heavily in order for them to be any type of successful. Let's talk defense when we come back. Sacks interceptions. You want to keep it locked right here. We're not done yet on this brand new episode of Locked on ACC. Thank you for making us your first. listen in your first watch today. By the way, make sure you're also checking out Lockdown College Football. Spencer McLaughlin does a fantastic job updating everybody on all the big

Starting point is 00:18:02 stories around the college football landscape. So make sure you check out Spencer on Locked on College Football right here on the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Before we get to the defense, Kenton, breakout player of the year this year. Let me let me give you one on the Miami side that I think people should watch out for. Miami's receiving tight ends last year virtually non-existent. 18 combined catches the entire year. A lot of that had to do with Elijah Royo

Starting point is 00:18:31 being hurt for the entire season. The dude is so healthy now that despite having a surgically repaired knee, he's not even wearing a knee brace anymore. It's moving very well, has increased his size, looking really good in practice. I think there's going to be more of an emphasis to getting the football at the tight end.

Starting point is 00:18:47 So Elijah Royo on Miami number eight is somebody that I will watch out for this year for breakout out player of the year. Who's getting your attention? I'm looking at Byshaal Tudin in terms of being, he can make a jump. There's another level he has to hit as a running back. I think as a return man, he showed last year how dynamic he can be, how specially he can be in that regard. But I think that if pride wants that team to accomplish what they can, if they are to hit their ceiling,

Starting point is 00:19:15 Beisaw has to be a very important part of that. If he is not, they would not be special. And another player that I think can be in there, he's a guy. that I think no team, you know, we talk about how much UNC's going to have to lean on on Marion Appet. No team needs to lean on one player more than this guy. This guy is going to be pivotal to that team's success. Whether or not he starts will tell us all that we need to know about whether or not this team is going to be good.

Starting point is 00:19:37 It's Virginia Tech's rivals, Anthony Calandria. If Anthony Calandria is showing up and short, he is Virginia's only hope. And I mean that. I mean that very genuinely. I know that they have some big body receivers that they're bringing back. I know that they have some guys on the outside who are, you know, They're fine players. That team does not have the type of horses in a stable at any level, at any level to say,

Starting point is 00:20:01 we can have all right quarterback play and we'll give what we need. Anthony Kalandra is their best shot at making a bowl game because, again, he's going to make those boneheaded plays. We're like, oh, he's a true sophomore. He should know better, but he won't. But he also has that it factor, that it factor that he makes you want to look at the screen. He makes you that little bit of Brett Farvin him where you're just like, no, no, no, yes, yes, that's what I love to see if you're a fan of the whews. So I think both of those guys have a very good chance at being the breakout players for this season.

Starting point is 00:20:34 And I'll tell you what, Arronday Gadsden, I know that we don't have comeback player at a year. Yeah, we should. He could reestablish himself as like a, hey, I know y'all forgot about me. I am him in this conference at receiver, at slot, at Tybalt. At tight end, at H, why, don't matter what the hell you put me, just get me the ball and let me figure it out. Because while he is an extremely tall guy, he's really good with the ball in his hands after the catch, which is rare to see with guys that tall. Normally, they're like baby giraffes when they get the ball in their hands.

Starting point is 00:21:09 It's like, oh, that's a fairly easy guy to bring down. Not a round that, hey, if you try and mess around with him, you will catch a clean, stiff arm, and you will be looking at the back of an orange help and headed towards the end of it. So for interceptions and sacks, for INTs, I'm going to go with R.J. Mickens to safety from Clemson, you know, the last couple of years that's been Cam Kinchins at Miami. He's moved on to the NFL. I think Mickens had three INTs last year. I think he could be in maybe the five or six range enough to lead the conference this year. And then for Sacks, how can I go against Ashton Jolati at Louisville for him for him to repeat at that? I mean, you know, somebody can prove me wrong on that. But. He seems like the obvious choice. Ashton Jolati is absolutely the obvious choice because, again, the way that Louisville uses him is terrifying if I'm an offensive coordinator. They find your weakest blocker with him. They attack your past blocking scheme with him.

Starting point is 00:22:06 Beware the hair is very real because when you see number nine and all that flow coming, just know you're the worst pass blocker on the offensive line if he's lined up in front of you, which he has enough power to take advantage of matchups, mismatches on the inside that he can use his speed to get around guys. But he also has enough technique and speed to get around the edge if your tackles are lacking in terms of what they're doing and their protection. So I think that Ashton is absolutely the guy for that. And I'll tell you what, I know that I mentioned Virginia Tech once in here.

Starting point is 00:22:38 I'm going to say it again. I think Dorian Strong is going to be a guy. He's a strong choice. He's got a chance. It's a strong choice, one would say, for him to lead the conference and pitch. because, again, I think that he has established himself as the best athlete out of all the defensive players in the conference. I think this is the year where he establishes himself as the best or one of the better football

Starting point is 00:23:00 players, right? I think there's a difference between the two. And I think this year he established himself and shows, hey, not just the guy who can run fast and jump high. I'm a guy who has amazing ball skills. I'm a guy who can play this one. I'm a guy who can bake quarterbacks up. But it will also find a way that when they make that bad decision,

Starting point is 00:23:15 I'm a hurt you. It's going to sting when you've been. make that bad decision. I'm on this side of the field. So there you have it. These predictions cannot be disputed. But if you'd like to dispute them, the comments are open. You guys will dispute them anyway. The comments are open down below. Make sure you smash that like button.

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Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - Who Will Win The ACC In 2024? | Best Newcomer | Breakout Player | INT & Sack Leaders Predicted

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