Ranking 2010 ACC Football: Linebackers

Posted by Brandon Rink on August 4, 2010 under ACC Football | 3 Comments to Read

Breaking the ACC unit by unit as we approach football season, today, UNC once again takes the top spot, and overall, the ACC is stout and improving at linebacker.

1) North Carolina

Talent/Performance Grade (out of 10): 9.8
Depth: Spotty
Top LB (2009 Stats): WLB Quan Sturdivant (79 tackles, 12 tackles for loss)
Stat: Finished 6th in tackles for loss in 2009.
A Word (or two): With all starters back and among the best in the nation, UNC is the far and away leader in the ACC.

2) Boston College

Talent/Performance Grade (out of 10): 9.2
Depth: Spotty
Top LB (2009 Stats): MLB Luke Kuechly (158 tackles, 13 for loss)
Stat: 14th in rushing D in 2009.
A Word (or two): Kuechly came out of nowhere with a super-human season in 2009 – with Herzlich back, this BC unit only gets better in 2010.

3) Maryland

Talent/Performance Grade (out of 10): 9.2
Depth: Solid
Top LB (2009 Stats): MLB Alex Wujciak (131 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss)
Stat: WLB Demetrius Hartsfield had 10 tackles, 2.5 for loss, 1 forced fumble, and a sack in MD’s last win, which occurred against Clemson on October 3, 2009.
A Word (or two): From the overall stats, the Terps LBs are overshadowed, but Maryland returns all starters and good depth to improve the stats this season.

4) Miami

Talent/Performance Grade (out of 10): 8.8
Depth: Solid.
Top LB (2009 Stats): OLB Colin McCarthy (95 tackles and 10.5 for loss)
Stat: Tied for 15th in tackles of loss in 2009.
A Word (or two): I could copy/paste my description from the Miami secondary as the scout services love these players, but there is room to improve to be at the top of this list.

5) NC State

Talent/Performance Grade (out of 10): 8.6
Depth: Spotty
Top LB (2009 Stats): SLB Audie Cole (85 tackles and 8 for loss)
Stat: 80 tackles, 4 INTs – 2008 stats of MLB Nate Irving as he returns from sitting out last season due to bad car accident.
A Word (or two): NC State welcomes back Irving to add to the best unit on the Pack defense – so far not hit as bad on injuries as the rest.

6) Georgia Tech

Talent/Performance Grade (out of 10): 8.4
Depth: Solid.
Top LB (2009 Stats): MLB Brad Jefferson (95 tackles and 8 for loss)
Stat: 93rd in tackles for loss in 2009.
A Word (or two): Stop me if you’ve heard something about installing the 3-4 defe…yeah, Groh is bringing it with him which will shake it up a bit at Georgia Tech – we’ll see how it works for GT.

7) Florida State

Talent/Performance Grade (out of 10): 8.3
Depth: Spotty.
Top LB (2009 Stats): MLB Kendall Smith (85 tackles and 7 for loss)
Stat: With Bradham, Smith, and Carr, FSU has 104 tackles returning, but if Carr see a sustained suspension, Mister Alexander comes in with 17 and the next highest is 3.
A Word (or two): Carr’s dealings in the offseason might throw the Noles out of whack at LB, but Smith and Bradham seem to have what it takes to take Stoops’ new attack to a higher level.

8) Wake Forest

Talent/Performance Grade (out of 10): 8.2
Depth: Solid
Top LB (2009 Stats): MLB Matt Woodlief (52 tackles and 1.5 for loss)
Stat: 107th in tackles for loss in 2009.
A Word (or two): The Deacs return a number of key players in 2010, but their low numbers in tackles for loss show they’re chasing instead of getting in the backfield.

9) Virginia Tech

Talent/Performance Grade (out of 10): 8.3
Depth: Spotty
Top LB (2009 Stats): ILB Barquell Rivers (96 tackles and 6.5 for loss)
Stat: 19 INTs in 2009.
A Word (or two): Beyond Rivers, the Hokies drop off in experience, and in some places, talent as well.

10) Virginia

Talent/Performance Grade (out of 10): 8.0
Depth: Spotty
Top LB (2009 Stats): MLB Steve Greer (92 tackles and 5.5 for loss)
Stat: After Greer’s 92 tackles, Ausar Walcott’s 10 is the next highest from 2009.
A Word (or two): Much like their rival (and even more going back to the 4-3), Virginia has Greer, and the rest is up in the air for London’s Hoos.

11) Clemson

Talent/Performance Grade (out of 10): 7.8
Depth: Spotty
Top LB (2009 Stats): LB Corico Hawkins (19 tackles and 2 tackles for loss)
Stat: 12th in tackles for loss, but 67th in rush defense in 2009.
A Word (or two): Linebacker was a major weakness – especially in the losses to Georgia Tech that stonewalled Clemson from an ACC Championship, and youth reigns on the depth chart as Clemson needs more effort from guys like Brandon Maye.

12) Duke

Talent/Performance Grade (out of 10): 7.6
Depth: Spotty
Top LB (2009 Stats): MLB Damian Thornton (50 tackles and 5 for loss)
Stat: 63rd in tackles for loss in 2009.
A Word (or two): Duke’s linebackers are solid, but nothing jumps off the page with them.

How would you rank them? Any players you expect to breakout in 2010 I didn’t mention?