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By B.J. Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com Senior Editor
SouthernPigskin.com Senior Editor B.J. Bennett looks at the top five questions in the ACC entering spring practice. Follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/SouthernPigskin. Become a fan of us on Facebook at the SouthernPigskin.com Facebook Page
1. How does Mark Herzlich perform? - Considering Herzy has beaten cancer, is back with the team and plans to again be busting heads this fall as the leader of the Eagle defense, his comeback has already been a huge success. But how productive will he be when he takes the field? The college football community will be pulling for him. Herzlich isn't recovering from an ACL tear or broken bone; he is coming back from cancer and has a rod in his leg. In 2008, his last healthy year, he had 110 tackles, eleven tackles for loss and six interceptions. Everyone will be rooting for the former ACC Defensive Player of the Year in this heroic, motivational story. Spring practice is step number one. If Herzlich returns to form, or close to it, BC could have the best linebackers in the nation with him, Luke Kuechly (158 tackles), Mike McLaughlin (56 tackles), Dominick LeGrande (five passes defended) and Mike Morrissey (seven tackles for loss).
2. How much does Jimbo change things? - It's hard to believe it, but Florida State legend Bobby Bowden is officially on the public speaking circuit. He ranks second on the all-time Division I wins list, trailing only Penn State's Joe Paterno. This will be the first season in Tallahassee without Bowden at the helm since 1975. How will the team react? Jimbo Fisher is expected to bring a new tone to town as the Seminoles look to get back atop the ACC. The staff is much different as well, with defensive coordinator Mike Stoops, linebackers coach Greg Hudson and running backs coach Eddie Gran all entering their first seasons. All eyes will be on the 'Noles as FSU moves on post-Bowden. The staff will have to work shorthanded as top reserve quarterback E.J. Manuel is out for the spring and starter Christian Ponder will be limited.
3. How will Clemson do post-Spiller? - Gone is the most dynamic player in ACC history. C.J. Spiller scored 32 rushing touchdowns, 11 receiving touchdowns, eight kickoff returns for touchdown, a punt return for a touchdown and a, gulp, passing touchdown during his storied career with the Tigers. He and Reggie Bush are the only two players in college football history with 3,000 career rushing yards, 1,500 kickoff return yards, 1,000 receiving yards and 500 punt return yards. Keep tabs on how speedy sophomore Andre Ellington fits into the offense this spring. Playing behind Spiller a year ago, he averaged 7.2 yards per rush, scored four rushing touchdowns and caught eleven passes. He even dabbled some in the return game.
4. Will it be as easy as 1-2 (3-4) at Georgia Tech? - Former Virginia head coach Al Groh brings instant credibility to the Yellow Jacket defense and also the 3-4 defensive alignment. The Georgia Tech front seven will have to learn on the fly adjusting to the new front seven responsibilities. Doing so without departed junior Derrick Morgan, the ACC's sack leader, won't be easy. Learning the new schemes and intricacies of Groh's new scheme will be priority number one this spring. Groh will need to find reliable pass rushers as the defense looks to replace Morgan by committee.
5. Wake Forest without Skinner? - Four-year starter Riley Skinner won 33 games, not to mention an ACC Championship, during his career in Winston-Salem. The Demon Deacons won sixteen games in the four years prior. Skinner has been the stablizing force for this program the last few seasons. In addition to quarterbacking the team to a conference crown, he's led the nation in completion percentage and topped the 25-passing touchdown plateau for a single season, among other accomplishments, during his career. Ted Stachitas, Skylar Jones and Brendan Cross will battle for the starting job this spring. At this point, Jim Grobe doesn't know who his new signal caller will be. That said, after Ben Mauck went down with injury in 2006, things didn't look so good either.
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