Around The ACC Atlantic: The Biggest Shoes To Fill in 2020
Every year star players move on from college to the pros or transfer from one school to another. The players move on and advance their careers but they leave a giant pair of shoes to fill for their college teams. In this series we will look at the biggest shoes to fill on each team and attempt to guess who will fill them in 2020.
Wake Forest
Jamie Newman
Jamie Newman was the star of the Wake Forest offense in 2019. He completed 60.9 percent of his passes for 2,868 yards to go with a 26 to 11 TD to INT ratio. He also added 574 rushing yards and 6 TD on the ground. Newman was a true dual threat quarterback for the Demon Deacons and was the focal point of the Wake Forest offense. He transferred to Georgia after the season leaving the Demon Deacons needing a new starting quarterback in 2020.
Possible Replacements
Sam Hartman was the starter for Wake Forest in 2018 but was injured and lost the job to Newman. He replaced Newman when Newman was injured during the 2019 season and performed well. The sophomore completed 56.7 percent of his passes for 830 yards and a 4 to 2 TD to INT ratio. He is also a capable runner and picked up 89 yards and a TD running. Hartman had two games in 2019 where he saw extended action and passed for over 300 yards in both of those games.
Hartman will be the starter as a junior and should be successful as a starter. He has experience, having attempted over 350 passes in his career already. Hartman has been the starter before and should have the confidence of his teammates as well. Hartman was the Demon Deacons third highest rated recruit in the 2018 recruiting class and has the talent to be a starter at the power five level. Hartman throws a catchable ball and has a good feel for the quarterback position. We expect he will perform well for Wake Forest in 2020.
If Hartman is unsuccessful or unable to stay healthy the burden or replacing Newman will fall to Michael Kern. As a freshman in 2019, Kern completed 7 of 9 passes for 50 yards and a touchdown. His experience is limited but at least he was successful in the limited playing time he had. Kern was a prolific passer at Lake Nona High School in Florida where he threw for over 3,300 yards and 39 TD. He has a good arm and plays with toughness. Kern has some mobility and could be a good college quarterback with time. Hartman is the best choice to replace Newman at this time, but Kern is a capable backup and could be needed in 2020.
Syracuse
Trishton Jackson
Trishton Jackson was the leading receiver for the Orange in 2019. He caught 66 passes for 1,023 yards and 11 TD during his junior season. Jackson entered the draft but was not selected in the 2020 NFL Draft. Syracuse will need to find a number one receiver to be there go to option in the passing game. Jackson was consistent and explosive in 2019 making him difficult to replace in 2020.
Possible Replacements
Taj Harris was Syracuse’s second leading receiver in 2019. He collected 37 catches for 559 yards and 2 TD as a sophomore, he also had similar numbers as a true freshman in 2018. There is some concern whether or not Harris can handle the number one role, he was much more productive than Jackson in 2018, but Jackson leapfrogged him and took over the top receiver spot in 2019. Harris was still just a sophomore and has probably not reached his peak yet but it is fair to wonder if he can be a top receiver or if he will always be a good but not great player.
Harris has a good combination of height and speed that should allow him to be a big play threat on the perimeter. He needs to develop consistency game to game, as he has flashed big game potential but has not put together a run of good performances. Consistency often comes with experience and the hope is that Harris now has the experience and is ready to take on the next challenge. If Harris can take the next step in his development and become a consistent threat it will be huge for the Orange offense in 2020.
After Harris there is very little in the way of production returning from the 2019 season. Courtney Jackson is a shifty slot receiver from the 2019 recruiting class who could emerge as a threat out of the slot but he only had one reception during his redshirt season. He was extremely productive in high school catching over 20 touchdowns in both his junior and senior seasons. Cameron Jordan is a big receiver who can play outside and will be a junior in 2020 but also has not produced much to date. He had 3 catches for 20 yards in 2019 in limited playing time. It would take a huge leap for Jordan to become the top option in the passing game. Harris is Syracuse’s bet chances to fill Jackson’s shoes but the odds are its going to be a group effort that will involve all three of these players making progress in 2020.
North Carolina State
Larrell Murchison
Larrell Murchison was a very productive defensive tackle for the Wolfpack the last two seasons. In 2019, he had 12 TFL and 7 Sacks, leading the team in both categories. Murchison was a veteran presence on the defensive line and was consistent week in and week out. He was drafted in the 5th round by the Tennessee Titans and will look to continue his strong play on Sundays. The Wolfpack will need to replace his pass rushing ability and his ability to anchor against the run. He leaves a void of production and leadership on the North Carolina State defensive line.
Possible Replacements
There may not be another defensive tackle on the roster who can be as productive as Murchison in 2020 other than Alim McNeill. McNeill will play nose tackle and should continue to improve on his already strong play (#15 DT in our rankings). He had 7.5 TFL and 5.5 sacks in 2019 and should continue to develop in 2020. He is expected to be the leader of the defensive line and appears ready to take that mantle. We expect McNeill will continue to be an impact player but he was already good last year, his improvement alone will not make up for the loss of Murchison.
The Wolfpack will need their defensive ends to pick up some of the slack and help bridge the gap. We highlighted Savion Jackson as a breakthrough player recently, and expect him to add production on the defensive line. Jackson had only 8 tackles and 1 TFL in 2019 but should be ready to go in his second year in the program. He has a good mix of strength and quickness that should be disruptive in the offensive backfield. Jackson’s emergence will go a long way toward replacing Murchison’s production.
If Jackson is not ready to produce, the Wolfpack may look to defensive tackle CJ Clark to help fill the vacancy. Clark was a touted recruit with good size and strength. He showed the ability to use his hands and disengage blockers to get in the backfield. Clark redshirted in 2019 and played sparingly but may be called upon to play a larger role with Murchison gone. We expect McNeill and Jackson to do the majority of the heavy lifting upfront but do not count out Clark as a contributor as well.
Louisville
Mekhi Becton
Mekhi Becton developed into a star at offensive tackle for the Cardinals. He arrived as a three star recruit but left a first round draft pick after an excellent junior season. While he will be making a name for himself in New York, the monster left tackle leaves big shoes to fill, literally and figuratively, for the Cardinals in 2020.
Possible Replacements
Adonis Boone will get the first crack at the left tackle job in 2020. He replaced Becton when he missed time with an injury in 2019 and when Becton sat out the teams bowl game as well. Boone performed well, but replacing a first round draft pick will not be an easy task. Boone has the size to play tackle at 6’5″ 310 lbs and is an experienced player. Boone will be a junior in 2020 and played across the offensive line in 2019. He had a good performance in his start against NC State and held his own against Mississippi State in the bowl game.
It’s one thing to perform for a spot start here and there, it’s another to take on the opponents best pass rushers week in and week out. There’s no telling if Boone can handle that pressure until he has a chance to do it. We know he has ability which is a good place to start, we will find out if he has the consistency needed. In 2020, Boone will get his chance to show that he can replace Becton and make a name for himself on the offensive line.
If Boone struggles, we expect Renato Brown to be called on to be a leader on the offensive line. We highlighted Brown as a breakthrough player for the Cardinals in 2020. Brown is a promising young player and could make a big leap in his second year with the team. We expect he will be a good player, but it would be a lot to ask him to replace Becton in his first year playing significant snaps. We expect Boone will be the one to try to fit into Becton’s enormous shoes in 2020, but watch out for Brown going forward as well.
Florida State
Cam Akers
Cam Akers was a three year starter for the Seminoles. He ran for 1,144 yards and 14 TD in 2019 while also catching 30 passes for another 225 yards and 4 TD. Akers was the star of the Florida State offense and the guy defenses gameplanned for week in and week out. He was drafted in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft and will be playing for the Los Angeles Rams this year. Florida State will need to find a running back to pick up the slack in 2020.
Possible Replacements
Khalan Laborn served as Akers backup in 2019 and ran for 297 yards and 4 TD. He also caught 10 passes out of the backfield for 66 yards. Laborn only had double digit carries in two games but did average at least 4 yards per carry both of those games. Laborn was an elite recruit in the 2017 recruiting class along with Akers but has not gotten significant playing time at Florida State. He redshirted in 2017 and played sparingly in 2018. The hope is a new coaching staff will be able to tap into Laborn’s potential in 2020.
Laborn has good speed and quickness and can be a versatile threat out of the backfield. He has adequate size for the position and should be able to handle a larger workload. Laborn has not had a 100 yard game in his career but has shown flashes of ability, like an 8 carry 69 yard performance against Clemson in 2019. The biggest question will be if Laborn can turn those flashes into a consistent stretch with a larger workload.
If Laborn isn’t the guy, Florida State will turn to juniors Deonte Sheffield who had 135 yards and a TD last year or Jashaun Corbin who transferred in from Texas A&M after running for 137 yards and 1 TD in 2019. Neither player has extensive experience or production and neither was a top recruit. Sheffield was third on the Seminoles depth chart last year and did average 5 yards per carry, which was actually slightly more than Akers and Laborn (small sample size). Corbin transferred in this year and we doubt coach Mike Norvell is accepting transfers just for kicks and giggles, he must see a player that can help the team in 2020. Laborn is the likely option to replace Akers but if he needs help we expect Corbin and Sheffield to get the call.
Clemson
Isaiah Simmons
Isaiah Simmons was a do it all star for the Tigers defense in 2019. He accounted for 102 tackles, 16 TFL, 7 PBU and 3 Int. Simmons played linebacker, safety and rushed the passer at times. Simmons declared for the draft and was selected in the first round by the Arizona Cardinals. Simmons was so good all over the defense it will be impossible for one player to replace him in 2020.
Possible Replacements
Mike Jones was a four star recruit in the 2018 recruiting class and will likely fill in at linebacker in 2020. He had 19 tackles and 4 TFL as a reserve linebacker in 2019, after redshirting in 2018. Jones is a good athlete at the linebacker position and has shown the ability to make plays sideline to sideline as well as in the backfield. Jones will need to show he can perform on a week to week basis when he gets more playing time. He will do his best to replace Simmons as a linebacker in 2020 but will not be the same player in coverage.
To replace Simmons impact in coverage the Tigers will need to find an impact safety who can be a playmaker in the secondary. Lannden Zanders was not the highest rated safety in the 2019 recruiting class but he got playing time last season. Zanders had 14 tackles and 2.5 TFL as a reserve in 2019. He has excellent range and ball skills in the secondary and could be the playmaker the Tigers need in the secondary. It’s all potential right now with Zanders and we won’t know for sure until he plays regularly.
If Jones or Zanders falter there are a few options the TIgers could turn to. Safety, Joseph Charleston played sparingly in 2019 and only recorded 12 tackles but the former four star recruit will have to step up as a sophomore. He is a big safety who is a big hitter, but also has the speed and instincts to disrupt the passing game. At linebacker, Kane Patterson could be a player the TIgers turn to, he had 11 tackles and 1 TFL as a freshman in 2019. The former four star recruit could make a leap and become the impact player at linebacker the Tigers need to step up.
Simmons was a rare talent and it will be difficult to find a player to fill his shoes in 2020. The best case scenario is that a few players are able to play well at different spots and match his production. It’s a daunting task but the Tigers do have some options to take it on.
Boston College
AJ Dillon
AJ Dillon starred for Boston College the last three years. He was a productive workhorse running back who gained over 1,000 yards rushing each year and had 38 rushing touchdowns over that span. Dillon was the focal point of the Boston College offense and one of the best backs in the country. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the second round and should be a good pro after his excellent college career. Dillon led the team in rushing in 2019 with 1,685 yards and 14 TD, the Eagles will need to find a productive running back who can carry the load and fill Dillon’s shoes.
Possible Replacements
David Bailey will get the first shot to replace Dillon. He served as Dillon’s backup in 2019 and ran for 844 yards and 7 TD in that role. The junior was productive but wildly inconsistent game to game. He had some monster performances like his 16 carries for 181 yards and 2 TDs against North Carolina State or 16 carries for 172 yards and 2 TDs against Syracuse. Sandwiched between those two was a 10 carry for 16 yards game against Clemson, but that is Clemson. That’s not the only down game he had however, he closed the season with three straight games where he failed to break 30 yards rushing or 4 yards per carry.
Bailey has shown that he has the ability to have big performances but to replace Dillon he will need to add consistency in 2020. Some of the inconsistency could be a byproduct of not getting the lion’s share of the carries and establishing a rhythm. This may be the case but with more carries comes more wear and tear and more attention from the defense. Bailey is a big powerful runner who should be able to shoulder the extra workload and if the extra work means more consistent production Boston College will have a star running back replacing the star they just lost.
If Bailey struggles the next man up will likely be Pat Garwo III. He was a freshman in 2019 but played in three games and picked up 73 yards on 18 carries. Garwo was the top recruit for the Eagles in the 2019 recruiting class. He is a shorter back but has a thick build and runs with good power and balance. Garwo is going to have a bigger role in 2020, the question is how big can that become? We expect him to be the backup to Bailey this year, but if Bailey struggles he may get his shot as soon as this season.
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