Around the ACC Coastal: 2nd Year Players Who Will Breakthrough in 2020
Every year new recruits arrive on campuses around the country with high hopes and dreams of stardom. Fans are ready for them to take college football by storm and the recruits are ready to be the next superstar. Truth is not many true freshmen become impact players in their first season, and need time in the weight room and experience to have an impact. The next year new recruits arrive and last years class is no longer on fans minds. This feature will focus on recruits from the 2019 recruiting class who will breakthrough and make their mark in 2020. Note: All recruiting rankings are referencing the 247 Sports composite.
Duke
DeWayne Carter was a three start recruit in the 2019 class and Duke’s third highest rated player in that class. He played very little as a true freshman and was able to redshirt under the 4 game redshirt rule. Carter has good size on the defensive line at 6’3″ 300 lbs. Carter is a good athlete with good quickness and explosiveness. His length and frame was a bit of a question mark but he continues to fill out well and is now listed at 300 lbs. He has a good motor and pursues the ball well. Carter needed to redshirt to put on weight and work on his technique so he could fully harness his athleticism. Now with the redshirt year behind him Carter is ready to become a factor on the Duke defensive line in 2020.
The plan was not for Carter to be a starter in 2020, he was more likely going to be Tahj Rice’s backup and gain experience. Things seldom go as planned however and Rice announced that he would be transferring, leaving the Blue Devils with a vacancy at the defensive tackle position. Carter was likely going to be Rice’s backup so he will get the first crack to replace him in the starting lineup. With his added size and strength, Carter should be an asset on the defensive line. His explosiveness will be disruptive and his motor will allow him to get the most out of his skills. It may not have been how the Blue Devils planned it, but Carter is likely to have a big season in 2020.
Georgia Tech
Ahmarean Brown was a three star recruit in Georgia Tech’s 2019 class. He earned playing time as a true freshman and made the most of it catching 21 passes for 376 yards and 7 TD. Brown is a small wide receiver listed at 5’10” 155 lbs but is lightning quick. He has good speed down field and good quickness is short spaces. He has a slender physique but is a very fluid athlete who can score from anywhere on the field. He has the speed to run past defenders with ease and tracks the ball well when it is thrown his way, adjusting well to the ball to come up with the catch. He needs to add some weight and get stronger for those situations where defenders can get their hands on him. Brown also needs to continue to refine his route running ability so he can maximize his speed and quickness. He gained valuable experience in 2019 and should be a valuable player in 2020.
Georgia Tech rotates wide receivers in and out of the game to keep them fresh and create matchups. Brown is a unique talent and will likely continue to see a good share of the playing time. When he is on the field Brown is like a ticking time bomb, the explosive play is coming its just a matter of when. With a deep WR room that also adds transfer Marquez Ezzard, an improved offensive line with two additions via the transfer portal, and a year of adjustment moving away from the triple option offense Georgia Tech should be more formidable in the passing game in 2020. The better talent on the field will only serve to create more space and opportunity for the dangerous Brown. Brown had a good freshman season, but we expect bigger things from him in 2020.
Miami
Jeremiah Payton was the crown jewel of the 2019 Miami recruiting class. He redshirted in 2019 appearing in only four games, recording 1 catch for 23 yards. It was hardly the debut Payton had hoped for, but the talent is evident. The 6’1″ 195 lb Payton does not have the elite speed or the great size that many elite receiver recruits have. Payton is a wide receiver first and foremost, he runs good routes and has excellent quickness and acceleration out of his breaks. He leverages defenders well creating separation, then finishes the play with good hands as he pluck the ball out of the air. He has the ability to win 50/50 balls and makes plays in traffic look easy. Payton has all the tools to be a star WR and 2020 should be his chance to display those tools.
Miami loses WRs KJ Osborn and Jeff Thomas to the NFL, while Brian Hightower decided to transfer to Illinois. There are not many proven options at the WR position for the Hurricanes. Payton will compete with Mark Pope, Mike Harley and Dee Wiggins for playing time next season. While all three have more experience than Payton none have the natural ability that Payton has. Even if he is not named a starter we look for Payton to play quite a bit for Miami this season. He has the natural ability and instincts that will make transfer QB D’Eriq King’s job easier. Payton is the type of receiver who is always open and always makes the catch, guys like that tend to play more. Look for Payton to have a big season for the Hurricanes this fall.
North Carolina
Don Chapman was a three star recruit in the Tar Heels 2019 recruiting class. He was able to get playing time his freshman year and even made a few starts at the end of the season, accounting for 30 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 PBU and 2 INT. The 6’1″ 185 lb safety will look to build on that experience in 2020. Chapman has good speed and quickness, he could possibly even play corner if needed. He reacts to the ball well and has good ball skills, catching the ball instead of just knocking it down. Chapman is a willing tackler and shows up in run support. He needs to continue to get stronger, but that should come with time in a college weight program. Chapman can be a little handsy in coverage as well, but that won’t be as much of a factor at safety. With some work on his technique and some time in the weightroom look for Chapman to have a big year for the Tar Heels.
Chapman played as a true freshman and even earned some starts, but he will have to continue to improve his game to keep that starting spot. Coach Mack Brown did a good job in year 1 and has recruited very well. There are good players coming into the program who will challenge more experienced players for playing time quickly. Just as Chapman was able to win playing time last season the new recruits will be pushing to do the same next season. That said, we expect Chapman to build on his performance last year and continue to grow into a star in the secondary for the Tar Heels. He has good ability and good instincts which should translate into an excellent 2020 for the young safety.
Pittsburgh
Vincent Davis was a three star recruit in 2019 for the Panthers. He was able to earn playing time as a true freshman running for 314 yards on 61 carries and 5 TDs. The 5’8″ 170 lb runner was a productive player and led the team in yards per carry and touchdowns in 2019. Davis is a smaller running back but has good speed in the open field and good cutting ability. He may not be a strong back, but his good balance allows him to pick up decent yardage after contact. He may not have the build to be a 20 carry back but he is the kind of player who can make a big play at any time and needs only a few touches to impact the game. His explosiveness should be an asset for a team looking to improve their big play potential in 2020.
Pittsburgh ranked 13th in the ACC in rushing offense in 2019. AJ Davis and Todd Sibley Jr will also return at RB for the Panthers but neither was as productive or explosive as Vincent Davis in 2019. While both upperclassmen will get carries, Davis will get his share of touches and may even be the starter come September. Whether he is named the starter or not, he will be on the field a lot for Pittsburgh this fall because he is a unique playmaker for the Panthers. Kenny Pickett and the passing game had some success last season and a running game that commands attention will only help that continue. Vincent Davis brings big play potential to the offense that will be fun to watch in 2020.
Virginia
Jowon Briggs was a top 75 recruit and the best player in the Cavaliers 2019 recruiting class. He played in all 13 games as a true freshman last season tallying 19 tackles and 3 TFL. Briggs (6’1″ 295 lbs) is a well built defensive lineman but does not project to add much more weight to his frame. He is an intelligent player with a great motor. He carries mostly good weight and is a strong player at the point of attack. Briggs has good instincts and sound technique. There is always room for young players to improve but Briggs plays with an understanding of the game beyond his experience level. He has good athleticism and will be a force in the middle of the Cavaliers defensive line as he continues to develop.
Defensive tackle Eli Hanback has graduated and will no longer be available up front for Virginia. Briggs will need to play a bigger role without the veteran defensive tackle available for the Cavaliers. Briggs did play a lot as a true freshman, but was able to learn on the job because of the strong play of Hanback. There will be no such luxury this coming season as Briggs will be counted on to make plays up front. He has the talent and maturity to rise to the challenge and take advantage of the opportunity in front of him. Look for Briggs to have a big year, wreaking havoc in the backfield for the Cavaliers.
Virginia Tech
Doug Nester was a top 150 recruit in the Hokies 2019 recruiting class. He started 10 games as a true freshman and as you can imagine there were some growing pains early. The 6’6″ 315 lb Nester settled in and got better as the season went on. There is no questioning the giant offensive lineman’s talent, Nester has good feet and agility allowing him to get to defenders at the second level. He is a strong player who can overpower defenders, but plays within himself maintaining good pad level and getting the most from his physical strength. Like most young interior lineman Nester needs to continue to get better in pass protection and refine his technique. He does have the tools to be a complete lineman and showed progress in this regard last season. This season he should take the next step and become a force on the offensive line.
Virginia Tech suffered their share of injuries on the offensive line early in 2019, but that allowed young players to develop. The Hokies now have a surplus of interior lineman who are capable players. Nester will have to fight off the competition to keep the starting spot he earned as a freshman but we are confident in his ability to do just that. He has physical tools that few can match and showed good progress in his freshman season. With a full off season to continue to work on the nuances of the position expect Nester to take a big step forward and become a leader on the offensive line this coming season.
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