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ACC Backs Need Help From Teammates
by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com

If the ACC wants to get better as a football conference, the quickest way to do that is by getting better offensively. Although the numbers don't necessarily show it, the conference does return some very good tailbacks this year. If they can get some better blocking, they can improve the offensive production of their teams and conference.

Here's is a look at the top returning rusher for each team.

Yes, you read that right. Boston College lost seniors Andre Callender and L.V. Whitworth, while A.J. Brooks left the program. Fullback James McCloskey has moved to linebacker, and Matt Ryan is off to the NFL. That means wide receiver Billy Flutie and quarterback Chris Crane are the leading returning rushers. Both finished with a whopping -4 yards on one carry each.

True freshman tailback Josh Haden is the best bet to start at tailback for the Eagles this year. He enrolled early and went through spring practice, giving him more experience than the other four recruits that will be arriving in August.

Clemson has the top duo of running backs in the conference in James Davis and C.J. Spiller. Davis is an every down back, and Spiller is the type who can take it the distance from anywhere on the field. The only question is what kind of blocking they'll get. The Tigers have had serious offensive line turnover in the past two offseasons. They'll be playing linemen their fans have never heard of this year.

Duke has a solid running back in Re'Quan Boyette. Unfortunately for Boyette, he won't stand a chance if the Blue Devils put another 1-AA caliber offensive line on the field this year. Duke will probably have to rely on their passing game again.

Antone Smith of Florida State is a good back playing behind a rebuilding offensive line. Things were set up for improvement this year, but the �Noles recently lost starting tackle Daron Rose to academics. FSU doesn't have much depth up front, and Virginia Tech fans know all too well what happens when you lose a starting lineman and you have no depth behind him.

Georgia Tech lost a very good tailback in Tashard Choice to the NFL, but they'll replace him with Jonathan Dwyer, who might be even better. Dwyer was very good as a true freshman last year. He has good size, and a great skillset as a runner. He's not an easy guy to tackle. Just ask D.J. Parker, who was run over by Dwyer in last year's game in Atlanta. The only question about Dwyer is how he'll adjust to running the option.

Maryland lost their top two tailbacks in Keon Lattimore and Lance Ball. They'll replace them with Da'Rel Scott, who is very much under the radar. He averaged a high yards per carry last year in limited work. Maryland's postseason hopes could depend on how well he produces.

Miami has two excellent backs, though you wouldn't know it from their stats. Javarris James and Graig Cooper are a very talented duo, and they complement each other very well. They were shut down last year for a number of reasons, none of which was their fault. Miami had a bad offensive line and not much of a passing game. The 'Canes must get better up front this year, or else it will be another very long season.

North Carolina's weakness on offense last year was the lack of a tailback. They tried several, including converted wide receiver Greg Little towards the end of the season. The Little experiment worked out very well, and it will be interesting to see which direction they go when the season begins.

NC State has three good backs. Andre Brown and Toney Baker missed most of the year with injuries, and the Wolfpack turned to Jamelle Eugene, the third string back. Eugene played very well. All three backs return for the 2008 season, and they should have quite a battle for playing time.

Perhaps the lone bright spot for Virginia heading into 2008 is at tailback. Cedric Peerman was leading the ACC in rushing before he was lost for the season in 2007. Mikell Simpson stepped in and never missed a beat. Like most other ACC schools, offensive line and quarterback issues could plague the Cavs in 2008.

Virginia Tech was set to return one of the conference's top backs in Branden Ore, but he was dismissed from the team before spring practice began. Tyrod Taylor is the leading returning rusher. Kenny Lewis could miss the first part of the season with a shoulder injury, and Jahre Cheeseman is injured as well. The next two backs, Darren Evans and Josh Oglesby, have never played a down of college football.

Josh Adams became Wake Forest's top runner last year as a r-freshman. He easily would have been a 1,000 yard rusher had he been the top back all season. This year he should carry more of the load, and he'll be a name you'll hear quite a bit over the next few years. He appears to be a bigger, more physical back that what we're used to from the Demon Deacons, yet he still has the speed and cutting ability to be a great fit for their offense. Watch out for Adams.

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