ACC Breakdown: 2018 class update

The spring and camp season are around the corner and many players will be taking visits and announcing their commitments over the next couple months. With that in mind, take a look at where each team’s 2018 class currently stands heading into this busy time of year.

MORE: SEC Breakdown | ACC team recruiting rankings

Commits: 13

Most notable: RB Lorenzo Lingard

Top target: WR Mark Pope

Next likely to commit: DB Al Blades

Penn State is the only team that has had a better start to the 2018 class than Miami. Mark Richt’s squad has been on fire lately, landing six commitments since the beginning of February. Five of those six commits have been rated at least four-stars. Pope and Blades, Nos. 30 and 31, respectively, in the Rivals100, would help take this recruiting class into the stratosphere. Pope has a number of other contenders, but they are all chasing the Canes right now. Blades is Miami royalty and many have already penciled him into Miami’s 2018 recruiting class.

Commits: 7

Most notable: RB James Cook

Top target: DB Patrick Surtain

Next likely to commit: LB Amari Gainer

Already in the top five for the 2018 class, Florida State is a mainstay near the top of team rankings, and Jimbo Fisher is trying to follow up last year's fifth-rated class with another in the top five. Cook’s commitment was far from a surprise, but it’s always nice to build a class around a five-star. Surtain, the No. 2 player in the Rivals100, is a special talent, but the Seminoles have some work to do with him. Other major targets include five-star Taron Vincent and Rivals100 linebacker Teradja Mitchell. Gainer is trending toward the Seminoles and he could be committed before his senior season.

Commits: 5

Most notable: QB Trevor Lawrence

Top target: DE Xavier Thomas

Next likely to commit: WR Dennis Smith

Clemson only took 14 commitments last year, and it looks like the National Champions will be in a similar situation again this year. It’s impossible to overstate how important Lawrence is to the future of the Clemson Tigers. Lawrence is the best quarterback to come out of high school in a long time, and apologies to Deshaun Watson, Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence, he could prove to be Dabo Swinney’s best recruit. South Carolina, a familiar foe, will be Clemson’s toughest competition in the race for Thomas’ commitment, but expect teams like Florida State and Alabama to be in the mix as well. While there aren’t many great candidates to call Clemson's next commitment, Smith has been all over Clemson’s radar for a long time. With Rivals250 wide receiver Jordyn Adams now trending back toward North Carolina, Clemson seems to be hedging their bets with Smith.

Commits: 4

Most notable: DB Trenell Troutman

Top target: Multiple defensive linemen

Next likely to commit: Dejmi Dumervil Jean or Robert Hicks

Thanks to Lamar Jackson’s incredible season, Louisville has some momentum as a program. Now they are trying to translate that to recruiting success. The Cardinals have excelled at signing quality skill position players in recent years, but they are really turning their attention to the trenches this year. Defensive linemen Tahj Rice, Michael Thompson or junior college prospect Tayland Humphrey should be right at the top of their wish list. Look for Louisville to possibly pick up a commitment or two from offensive lineman Dejmi Dumervil Jean and/or former Auburn commit Robert Hicks.

Commits: 5

Most notable: DB Chamarri Conner

Top target: LB Dax Hollifield

Next likely to commit: OL John Harris

The Hokies exceeded expectations last season and are working to keep that momentum going. This solid start to the 2018 class has them set up well moving forward. Virginia Tech is trying to get upgrades at every position and are really focusing on team speed. Rivals100 linebacker Dax Hollifield is this year’s highest priority, and the North Carolina native could be an instant impact player for Bud Foster’s defense in Blacksburg. North Carolina and South Carolina were viewed as the other top contenders, but a flurry of offers from Notre Dame, Florida State, Georgia, and Alabama have made things a little less clear. Keep an eye on offensive lineman John Harris for Virginia Tech. The Hokies are in very good position here, and Harris could join the Virginia Tech commitment list relatively soon.

Commits: 4

Most notable: QB Gunnar Holmberg

Top targets: OL Avery Jones and DL Alim McNeill

Next likely to commit: DL Tahj Rice

Duke had to be happy to put the 2016 season behind them. Looking forward, David Cutcliffe and his staff have a solid nucleus of players already committed for the 2018 class. Holmberg has been a vocal recruiter for the Blue Devils. Jones and McNeill would be very nice additions for a Duke team that would love to solidify the interior of both lines. Rice is a very good edge rusher with some versatility who could present matchup problems for opposing offensive tackles. Duke is in a very spot with Rice and his commitment could come this month.

Commits: 3

Most notable: RB Ricky Person

Top target: ATH Dakereon Joyner

Next likely to commit: DL Elijiah Brown

N.C. State was on the brink of a couple big wins last season but came up a bit short. The recruiting trail has been good to the Wolfpack so far, and keeping Person at home is a huge win. As Dave Doeren’s team tries to get over the hump, Person will be a major piece to the puzzle. Adding a playmaker like Joyner would be a huge boost for a team that needs more explosive plays. Brown has really taken a liking to everything that is going on at N.C. State, and the Wolfpack would love to add his size on the defensive line.

Commits: 3

Most notable: OL Michael Edwards

Top target: DT Kelijiha Brown

Next likely to commit: RB Mataeo Durant

The Wake Forest coaching staff took a hit losing some coaches to Notre Dame, including defensive coordinator Mike Elko. The recent addition of Edwards is great for the Demon Decons. They need his size on the offensive line, and he has the look of a multi-year starter. Wake Forest has to like where they stand with Brown. If they could get his commitment, it would go a long way toward shoring up the interior of their defense. Durant’s explosiveness would be a welcome addition for Wake Forest, so keep an eye on him.

Commits: 1

Most notable: LB Noah Taylor

Top target: RB Ronnie Walker

Next likely to commit: OL James Collins

Bronco Mendenhall is still working to remake the Virginia roster, and he has to like what Taylor brings to the table. He’s a versatile, long, athletic prospect who could play all over the field. Offensively, the Cavaliers would love to get Walker’s commitment. Mendenhall loves a tough runner like Walker that does a good job of grinding out yards and never giving up on a play. For somebody like Walker to be as successful as possible, he needs a good offensive line. Virginia is in great position with Collins after his recent visit to Charlottesville. It’s also good to see Virginia emphasizing in-state prospects in this 2018 cycle.

Commits: 1

Most notable: DB Donte Burton

Top target: RB Zamir White

Next likely to commit: LB Payton Wilson

It’s been a bit of a slow start for the Tar Heels after a somewhat disappointing 2016 season and the departure of some of the coaching staff. Burton has good length and is a pretty physical defensive back who could flourish in North Carolina’s defensive system. Obviously, North Carolina would love to land White’s commitment. The No. 1 running back in the country has a lot of ties to Chapel Hill, including close friend and current Tar Heel Jonathan Smith, but North Carolina seems to have fallen behind Georgia and Clemson. On the other hand, North Carolina looks to have held onto their position at the top of Wilson’s recruitment despite a flurry of offers from many of the nation’s top programs. The Rivals250 linebacker is looking to end his recruitment in the not too distant future and he could end up a Tar Heel.

Commits: 1

Most notable: TE Gabe Horan

Top targets: DL Tyler Friday and TE Judge Culpepper

Next likely to commit: RB Stevie Scott

Dino Babers is still working to turn Syracuse’s program around, and they have certainly shown signs of life with their upset win over Virginia Tech and the crazy offensive output in the close loss to Pittsburgh in their last game of the season. Horan, the first player to issue a verbal commitment to Syracuse’s 2018 recruiting class, is a big, versatile prospect. He is currently listed as a tight end but could possibly move to offensive tackle down the road. Syracuse would love to pull off a coup by getting Friday or Culpepper, but the odds are stacked against them. Big running back Stevie Scott could bring his physical running style to Syracuse some time soon.

Commits: 0

Most notable: NA

Top target: OL Finn Dirstine

Next likely to commit: DL Ryan Betro

Steve Addazio and Boston College are still looking for their first commitment of the 2018 recruiting cycle. The physical, downhill running scheme of Eagles’ offense added some very good running backs in the 2017 recruiting class and Boston College would love to bring in some headliners on the offensive line to open up holes for them. Dirstine is a big-time prospect with road-grading qualities and an attitude that fits well with what Boston College wants to do. It is doing all it can to keep him from looking at some of the other schools that are coming after him. Boston College still had a good defense this season despite the departure of defensive coordinator Don Brown for Michigan. Betro could be another “dude” on that defensive line for Boston College down the road.

Commits: 0

Most notable: NA

Top targets: DT Darnell Jefferies and DT Austin Smith

Next likely to commit: LB Ernest Jones

The Yellow Jackets had a very good 2016 season that included wins over Georgia and Virginia Tech, but they've yet to pull a commitment for their 2018 class. The defensive line will be a focus for this recruiting class, and Jefferies and Smith are two in-state prospects Georgia Tech is pushing hard for. Both have plenty of other teams in the mix, so it could be a tough battle for Georgia Tech. A good bet for the first player to commit to Georgia Tech is Jones. The three-star in-state prospect is also looking at South Carolina and holds offers from Auburn, Kentucky, Duke and some others.

Commits: 0

Most notable: NA

Top target: DB Kwantel Raines

Next likely to commit: OL Blake Zubovic or OL Jake Kradel

It’s no secret that Pittsburgh did not do as well as they wanted to in Western Pennsylvania in the 2017 recruiting class. Pat Narduzzi and his staff are working hard to change that this year. Raines plays at Aliquippa, a school viewed as a Pittsburgh pipeline, and the Panthers are hoping to avoid a Lamont Wade situation from last year. Wade played at Clairton, a school also viewed as a Pittsburgh pipeline, but he ended up choosing Penn State. On the offensive side of the ball, Pittsburgh needs to reload on the offensive line after losing some very good players after last season. Zubovic or Kradel are two good candidates to fill the void left up front.