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Virginia Tech looking to capture ACC title, possibly more
ACC News

Last season, Georgia Tech rose up and beat out Virginia Tech for the Coastal Division crown but fell short of their 1st ACC title in nearly 2 decades. The Yellow Jackets do return a good squad, but the Hokies open the season ranked in the Top 10 and hungry to show last season was a fluke.

Let's take a look at the 2007-2008 Coastal Division teams, in order of predicted finish.

1) Virginia Tech Hokies (#9)

Last Season Record: 10-3 (6-2 ACC)
Postseason Result: Lost 31-24 to Georgia in Chick-fil-A Bowl

Top Players
MLB Vince Hall [SR]
CB Brandon Flowers [JR]
DE Chris Ellis [SR]
OLB Xavier Abidi [SR]
FS D.J. Parker [SR]

Offense (B-)
Virginia Tech loves to run the ball, and they are hoping junior RB Branden Ore gives them a boost. If they throw the ball, they have 4 senior WRs (Eddie Royal, Josh Morgan, Justin Harper, Josh Hyman) to use. At QB, they do have an option with junior Sean Glennon or dual-threat freshman Tyrod Taylor, so they could be dangerous in their playcalling. Up front, senior OT Duane Brown will lead a decent o-line.

Defense (B+)
The Hokies will pride themselves on their talented defense, which could be the catalyst to a title run. It all starts with their Preseason All-American linebackers in Hall and Adibi. If those two can lead a ferocious defensive attack, then watch out! Flowers, Parker and Ellis are three experienced starters giving the Hokies a good balance.

Special Teams (A)
Senior kicker Jud Dunlevy and talented sophomore punter Brent Bowden are the Hokies' specialists.

Overall (B+)
Virginia Tech is a very talented squad coming into the season, but they need to show it.

2) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (#27)

Last Season Record: 9-5 (7-1 ACC)
Postseason Result: Lost 38-35 to West Virginia in Gator Bowl

Top Players
OLB Philip Wheeler [SR]
DE Darrell Robertson [SR]
DE Adamm Oliver [SR]
RB Tashard Choice [SR]
FB Mike Cox [SR]

Offense (B-)
The success of Georgia Tech's offense depends on the arm of junior QB Taylor Bennett and the legs of RB Choice. Cox was a Preseason All-American, and will combine with Tech's very solid o-line to open plenty of holes for Choice. Bennett isn't an outstanding QB, but he is solid enough to hit targets like sophomore TE Colin Peek. If the Yellow Jackets can be balanced and productive, they will contend for the division crown again.

Defense (B+)
The Yellow Jacket defense is just plain good, with just enough experience and young talent to allow them to dominate this year and beyond. OLBs Wheeler and Gary Guyton, DEs Robertson and Oliver, safeties Djay Jones and Jamal Lewis and CB Avery Roberson are all senior starters that will provide leadership to a talented group.

Special Teams (A+)
Senior punter Durant Brooks is probably the nation's top punter and will be an invaluable asset to the defense.

Overall (B+)
Only the Hokies truly stand in the way of Georgia Tech's quest for a 2nd-straight Coastal Division crown.

3) Miami Hurricanes (#30)

Last Season Record: 7-6 (3-5 ACC)
Postseason Result: Won 21-20 over Nevada in MPC Computers Bowl

Top Players
SS Kenny Phillips [JR]
DE Calais Campbell [JR]
OLB Tavares Gooden [SR]
SS Willie Cooper [SR]
DT Teraz McCray [SR]

Offense (C+)
Miami is still in the rebuilding stage after struggling to a 7-6 mark last season, and new head coach Randy Shannon will have to figure out how to get the most out of this offense. Senior QB Kyle Wright is decent and has a few solid targets to hit, but their run game will have to be paced by sophomore Javarris James and true freshman Graig Cooper. Helping matters will be 3 senior starts on the interior o-line.

Defense (B+)
Miami's defense is not bad by any means, but they are far removed from the dominating presence they once had. Still, Phillips and Campbell lead a very experienced group with only sophomore MLB Darryl Sharpton the only starter younger than a junior.

Special Teams (B+)
Freshman punter Matt Bosher is pretty solid, but the Hurricanes will have to decide between senior Francesco Zampogna or sophomore Daren Daly as placekicker.

Overall (B)
The Hurricanes have a solid group but may not compete until next season. If their offense can shape up quickly, they could surprise a few.

4) Virginia Cavaliers (#57)

Last Season Record: 5-7 (4-4 ACC)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Top Players
DE Chris Long [SR]
OLB Jermaine Dias [SR]
TE Tom Santi [SR]
OLB Clint Sintim [JR]
TE Jonathan Stupar [SR]

Offense (C+)
The Virginia offensive line is arguably the best squad in the ACC, but unfortunately there is very few athletes to utilize it. Junior RB Cedric Peerman is decent, but sophomore QB Jameel Sewell has few receivers and only good TEs to throw to.

Defense (B)
Long is one of the better defensive players in the country, but their isn't much support around him. Granted, OLBs Dias and Sintim and true freshman CB Ras-I Dowling are good, but overall this unit seems a tad weak compared to their competitors.

Special Teams (D-)
Senior kicker Chris Gould was voted to the Preseason All-ACC squad.

Overall (C-)
When it comes down to it, Virginia just doesn't have enough to contend. They may, depending on the play of their stars, qualify for a bowl.

5) North Carolina Tar Heels (#70)

Last Season Record: 3-9 (2-6 ACC)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Top Players
DT Kentwan Balmer [SR]
DE Hilee Taylor [SR]
WR Brandon Tate [JR]
WR Hakeem Nicks [SO]
TE Richard Quinn [SO]

Offense (C)
The Tar Heels have a solid receiving corps, a good offensive line and a potential star QB in redshirt freshman T.J. Yates. But the trouble is: who will run the ball? North Carolina should probably focus on the passing game early and often if they want to sneak above .500.

Defense (B-)
Come back in 2 years, and this Tar Heel defense will be awesome. Five, yes five, starters on the defense will be freshmen, including 3 in the secondary. Balmer, Taylor and OLB Durrell Mapp provide the senior leadership for these youngsters, but it could be a bumpy learning curve this season.

Special Teams (A+)
Senior kicker Connor Barth is the top-rated placekicker on Mel Kiper Jr.'s draft board.

Overall (B-)
Head coach Butch Davis has done a great job pulling in talented recruits for the Tar Heels, but it may take a year or two before they can compete in a tough ACC.

6) Duke Blue Devils (#109)

Last Season Record: 0-12 (0-8 ACC)
Postseason Result: DNQ

Impact Players
FB Tielor Robinson [SR]
FS Chris Davis [SR]
WR Eron Riley [JR]
DT Vince Oghobaase [SO]
WR Jomar Wright [SR]

Offense (C+)
The Blue Devils went winless last season, but their offense this season could be improved enough to warrant at least one victory. Sophomore QB Thaddeus Lewis is solid, but he is lacking in playmakers around him. Lewis will have a nice experienced o-line in front of him, so maybe that will help.

Defense (C)
This Duke defense pales in comparison to the rest of the ACC. Oghobaase, Davis and senior DE Patrick Bailey are the only solid players on a subpar unit.

Special Teams (B)
A decent group of specialists will give Duke a boost.

Overall (C+)
Duke can't go winless again... can they? They could probably squeeze out a few non-conference wins, but that's it.