Junior Day Season Is Upon Us

This is the time of the year in which every ACC school has a junior day. Juniors are invited to campus to tour the facilities and meet the staff. No football is played during the junior day, but it is a very important time for a coaching staff to make a first impression. Recruits may be able to see spring practice or a basketball game depending on the timing of the junior day. Maryland, for example, has its junior day this saturday, as their basketball teams hosts Virginia in the regular season finale.

Who Has the Biggest Need at QB in 2012?

Now that the 2011 recruiting classes have been wrapped up, we will look at the teams who still need help at the quarterback position. A signal caller is the cornerstone of any good team, and while some ACC teams hit a home run in recruiting a 2011 QB, others whiffed.

Boston College - They started true freshman Chase Rettig for the second half of the 2010 season, but solidified the position by bringing in 2011 quarterback Christian Suntrup.  Need: Low


Clemson - Redshirt sophomore Kyle Parker had a mediocre season for the Tigers, but none of that matters because he bolted for pro baseball after the season. The Tigers will have several options to replace him, including talented former Army All-American Tajh Boyd. In addition, the Tigers brought in 3 recruits in 2011 at the position. Despite the struggles last year, we think Clemson will be fine. Need: Low


Duke - The Blue Devils return four quarterbacks, all of whom have performed well thus far in spring practices. Incumbent starter Sean Renfree and backup Brandon Conette both return and the position should be a strength for the 2011 season. The Blue Devils did not bring in a 2011 quarterback, but this is not a major concern. Need: Low


Florida State - The Seminoles will have to replace Christian Ponder, but are well equipped to do so. Former backup EJ Manuel will likely win the job, but he is still relatively raw. If Manuel doesn't pan out, the Seminoles have a number of other options to turn to. We still think that they need to bring in a big-time quarterback in 2012 to bring their team to an elite level with the playmakers that they recruited in 2011. Need: Medium

Georgia Tech - They are in a unique situation because of their unique offense. Starter Josh Nesbitt graduated, leaving the door open for a number of inexperienced quarterbacks to seize the job. We saw glimpses last season from backup Tevin Washington, but he may end up as a defensive back. There is reason for concern because running the Paul Johnson offense is no simple task. Ultimately this will likely be Washington's job, but he needs to improve in the spring. We would like to see the Yellow Jackets bring in another quarterback in 2012. Need: Medium/High


Maryland - Danny O'Brien stepped in as a true freshman and proved that he is the future at quarterback. Backup Jamarr Robinson is an explosive change up. No need for a 2012 QB, but Edsall will likely go after several. Need: Low

Miami - This is the mosti intriguing situation of all. Rising senior Jacory Harris was a major disappointment last season, and the Canes only return one other quarterback in rising sophomore Stephen Morris. Morris showed flashes of brilliance, but the jury is still out as to whether he is the future at the position. Michigan transfer Tate Forcier will be eligible for the 2012 season to add depth, but Miami struck out with 2011 quarterbacks. They already have a commitment from 2012 QB Gray Crow, but should add another just in case. Need: Medium/High


North Carolina - The Tar Heels graduate TJ Yates, and have very little experience behind him. Braden Hanson and Brynn Renner will compete for the job in the spring, but will have to prove themselves in the fall. They also brought in 2011 star QB Marquise Williams. This is a huge wild card for the Heels, and we would like to see them bring in a 2012 signal caller. Need: Medium


NC State - Russell Wilson may join Harper in the Colorad Rockies organization but still has not decided. If he leaves, Mike Glennon will replace him. Wilson's decision will not affect the Pack's 2012 recruiting needs, and they will need to bring in a 2012 quarterback. Need: High


Virginia - The Cavs will have to replace Mike Verica, and we're not sure they have a quality QB on their roster right now. Strauss, Gooch, Rocco, and Matheny will compete for the job, we predict whoever wins the job will struggle. They need a solid 2012 recruit. Need: High


Virginia Tech - Tyrod Taylor is trying to transition to the NFL, and the Hokies are trying to replace the four year starter. Logan Thomas and Ju-Ju Clayton will battle for the job, and they have built great depth at the position. The Hokies should be able to move on and transition rather smoothly. Need: Low


Wake Forest - Freshman Tanner Price stepped in last season and did a decent job. He will look to solidify his job in the spring, with Ted Stachitas as the backup. Wake was able to hold off Miami for the servies of 2011 QB Kevin Sousa, and will have plenty of options in the future. Need: Low


There will be seven teams replacing quarterbacks, and we look forward to seeing who steps up. Recruiting a quarterback is very political, since only one can play at a time and no one wants to spend four or five years on the bench. Most recruits at the position end up never playing or transferring, making the situation very hard to predict. The best thing a coaching staff can do is bring in as many as possible and see who fits the best. The 2012 class has some solid quarterbacks, and the ACC will likely get its share.

Eligwe Has Offers From Four ACC Schools

Stone Mountain, GA linebacker Ukeme Eligwe currently holds offers from Florida State, NC State, Clemson, and Virginia Tech, among others. He will likely end up in the ACC or SEC, so he is a good player to watch. He is coached by former NC State quarterback, Jatavis Sanders.

Featured Recruit: Brandon Radcliff

Brandon Radcliff
Miami, FL (Columbus) 2012

Pos:  RB

Ht:     5'10"

Wt:    210

40:     4.5

Schools considering: Miami, FSU, Alabama, Wisconsin, Louisville, Oregon, Vanderbilt

Bracey is a junior prospect who has recently entered the radar of many teams. He currently holds offers from Louisville and Vanderbilt, but we expect him to pick up some more over the summer as the process heats up. He is a big, SEC-type back who can carry the workload, and that alone will get him more offers. He is waiting for offers from Miami and Florida State, among others.

Evalutation: On tape, it is clear that Radcliff is a beast. He uses his low center of gravity to shed tackles and stay on his feet. As a 210 lb junior, we expect him to enter his freshman season at around 220, and potentially a fullback. He lacks great speed, and there are times when he is caught from behind by defenders. He makes his living off of running over defenders instead of running around them. This makes us very skeptical about his reported 4.5 forty yard dash time. Like with any recruit, we can take the 40 time with a grain of salt until we get a verified time from a legit combine. Radcliff is probably more of a 4.7, but he makes up for that with his strength.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

We will be posting more in-depth updates through our Twitter page, http://twitter.com/ACCrecruiting! We will tweet about visits, offers, rankings, and anything else that is important for ACC fans but isn't necessarily blog worthy.

A Look at Virginia's 2011 Class

It is no secret that the Cavaliers have struggled on the field over the last few years. First year head coach Mike London led his team to a disappointing 4-8 record. Despite these struggles, London and company were able to rake in an impressive 26-man class. This class included five 4-star recruits, including two speedsters who we think will become stars in the ACC. Darius Jennings and Dominique Terrell are difference makers who can ignite this team that has lacked explosiveness. We are so impressed with this class that we think it's better than that of in-state rival Virginia Tech. The question for London is where he will play these athletes. The class also features several impressive defensive backs, including cornerback Demetrious Nicholson. We feel that the who athletes will likely end up on the offensive side of the football.
All in all, the speed in this class will help Virginia win more than four games over the next few years.

Featured Recruit: Marvin Bracy

Marvin Bracey

Orlando, FL (Boone) 2012

Pos:  ATH/WR

Ht:     5'10"

Wt:    162

40:     4.32

Schools considering: Miami, FSU, USF, UF, ND, TAMU, South Carolina, Oklahoma.

Bracey caught our attention with his blazing speed. He is a national champion in the 55 meter dash, and ran a 100 meter dash in 10.18 seconds..as a 16 year old. He may be the fastest man in the world for his age, but he is undersized for a big-time football player. His speed has caught the attention of several teams, and he already holds 10 offers from top programs. He visited Miami last week, and took an unofficial visit to Florida State earlier. Check out his track film and football junior year highlights:

Evaluation: Due to his elite speed, Bracey seems to be a man among boys in high school football. He doesn't have the elusiveness that made Noel Devine a YouTube sensation, but I think he is faster. He shows some versatility by lining up in several spots on offense. The main issue at the next level will be finding him a position. He is small, and lacks elite pass-catching skills, but he should be a threat for whatever school lands him. 

Please rate Bracy below: