It's the off season so every news outlet and their mother is posting "way too early" this and "pre-preseason watch list" that. And...well, let's face it, we will click on every single one of those to fill the void left by MJ Walker's decision to go to FSU (Five Stars Under-performing).
So here's Athlon's Preseason All-ACC Team. Big surprise, Clemson leads all teams on the first team and, of course, there are some real head scratchers, but here's Tech's representation.
First Team:
Wyatt Teller
Tremaine Edmunds
Second Team:
Cam Phillips
Motu
Stroman
Third Team:
McMillian
Nijman
Settle
Facyson
Terrell Edmunds
Stroman (as PR)
Fourth Team (there's a fourth team?):
Joey Slye
Full tables below:
Forums:
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Comments
Fourth Team Joey Slye? WTF?
He made like a 58 yarder in the spring game in the rain? is Blewitt still even in the College?
Yes, but he's also just not good from 40+ in actual games.
Dude had the most touchbacks in college football last year though and was top ten in Avg kickoff yardage
Whoa, this is such a Frank Beamer "field position wins football games" post
I mean it certainly matters a heckuva lot...
It's not that it doesn't matter, but points matter a lot more in winning. And when you only make 1 FG from 40+ all year? I think most people would say that's not good.
Sure but we're just looking at different sides of a coin. As far as field position is concerned there is certainly a direct correlation to scoring points as well. With that said I'm not disagreeing that he shouldn't be preseason all ACC. I'm sure voters will probably hold FG % in higher regard than kick-off stats (which is fine) but it doesn't make his kick-off stats any less important at the end of the day.
As far as field position is concerned there is certainly a direct correlation to scoring points as well.
Tell that to our pre-fuente offenses...
Kick off stats should really in no way impact a kicker's suitability for an all-whatever team since anyone can be the kickoff guy, it's essentially a different position. That's kind of like saying that a guy who plays RB and LB should be looked more upon more favorably for a RB award because he has a lot of TFLs.
Either way, not trying to bash the kid I think he's awesome and super capable. I hope he can put it all together this year and get some consistency at 40+ yards.
Yea I think we're mostly on the same page. Although I think comparing TFL for a RB and Touchback % for a kicker isn't quite a fair analogy. I mean I would say that kick-offs are a pretty important part of his position (while TFL's aren't for a RB). Statistics have shown that "when you win the field position battle (using average starting field position), you win 72 percent of the time."
With that said I think without a better % at 40+ he doesn't deserve an All-Acc spot just yet.
While I appreciate the comparison to Dr Beamer, I don't think your intent was to flatter me
*Coach Dr. Beamer
3rd Team All-ACC domination!
Weird that Jackson/Hooker/Bush is not on the list.
Weird that the LOLUVa logo comes up four whole times.
Such disrespekt, won't stand for it
Yeah these are pretty decent predictions for us overall. Slye is ranked too low and think someone like Hill, Mihota, and Walker will be a household name by the end of the year. Adonis could also be a 2nd team like corner if he plays well and ya never know what Devon Hunter will bring. Also can't wait to see Farley explode onto the seen and into the All-ACC team.
Also worth noting is that Athlon definitely gave us some love, although in the later teams, but overall we are tied with Clemson and FSU with 12 overall selections.
Yep good numbers agree that may be more or different representation on Dline. Think all those guys capable.Tim still highest profile based on recruitment/measurables
Who I think will do better than predicted:
Terrell Edmunds
Adonis Alexander
Joey Slye
Tim Settle
Who I think will do worse:
Travon McMillian - I really like Dragon. I just don't see our offense as a big "featured back" team if last year's Kung Fuente continues on offense.
Greg Stroman (on Defense) - Again, I really, really like Stroman. He does have a habit of getting picked on by bigger receivers. Go watch the Tennessee game again and poor Stro gets abused.
Other Nerd Notes:
I love seeing Nijman getting ups. This is a guy a lot of us were shaking our heads about when he switched to O-Line and he's third team already. He bought in and his work is paying off. That takes a lot.
Cam Phillips is in a good spot but I could easily see him blowing up with a good QB/WR connection.
Dark horse shout out to CJ Carroll. The media loves those "scrappy, gym-rat, full of heart" type receivers. Please read that as under sized white guys. If he gets some momentum, I could see him sneaking onto a third team for O.
EDIT: I am a massive idiot sandwich. WHERE IS MOOK? How are you not putting him on any team at all? Adonis and Mook should have this list on a personal bulletin board and just tear people up all season long.
IMO not riding a single feature back is the single best way to ensure that we never have an elite tailback come to Blacksburg again. It will help us win games in the immediate future, but teams like Alabama, LSU, and FSU that have their go to guy will continue to grab top recruits. We had something going for a while with Darren Evans, Ryan Williams, and David Wilson, but ever since we didn't stick to Tre Edmunds and mixed Shai and JC in, it hasn't been good. We've had at least 7 runningbacks since David Wilson, but still no run game.
You can try to force a run game, and we have. If you continue to try it, you lose games. Fuente and Co want to establish a run game. It doesn't always work and, maybe a controversial opinion but I am not sure, it's not the back's fault. Edmunds, Shai, Coleman, and Dragon are all super talented but they have to make a lot happen for themselves.
Not having guys on the O-line that are opening holes and controlling the line of scrimmage hurts our run game a ton and I think we are moving in the right direction. The talent is there in the back field but it would be like saying your QB sucks if he's getting knocked down every play and throwing to receivers who have deli meat for gloves.
Having an O line can definitely make or break a run game, but an elite runner like David Wilson can break off runs out of nothing. I'm not trying to be disparaging, just trying to have a conversation.
Our other running backs aside, how do you feel about running back by committee affecting running back recruiting?
You're not being disparaging. I've just heard this argument a lot.
If a croot is scared away by a committee and doesn't see it as a chance to be a star, I don't want them anyway.
Agree about Rb position think it will be a comittee. Think Alexander has a lot of potential but Stroman and Faycon are getting major pub. Think generous that Tim got 3rd team having not ever started a game and last year's stats. He is more than capable but nothing to complain about.
Man I know Cam Akers is really good but predicting a true freshman as 2nd team, that's bold. Then again I guess you know there's not a lot of big time running backs when a GT back grabs a first team prediction.
Good year for RB and Qb to grab some pub in the ACC. Lost plenty of NFL guys last year.
If you assign 4 points for each 1st team selection, 3 pts for each 2nd team, 2 pts for each 3rd team, and 1 pt for each 4th team you get:
33 FSU
32 Clemson
30 VT
29 Miami
27 Pitt
20 Louisville
16 NC State
15 WF
13 Duke
12 Chapel Hill
12 LOLUVA
11 GT
11 Syracuse
9 BC
I'm sorry, but any ratings system that doesn't have LOLUVa dead last must be flawed. Also, I cringe that our three losses last year came to Clemson (respectable) and then GT& SU waaaaay down on this list.
Without looking, I'm guessing 1st team for Isaiah Ford, Bucky Hodges, and Jerod Evans.
We are going to be loaded......
I have some good news and some bad news
And tied for fewest players are BC and LOLUVA. They should both be disappointed to have tied with the other.