ACC Breakdown: Best position group classes by team

The ACC team rankings look a little top heavy as we find ourselves in the heart of the offseason with Miami and Clemson off to big starts and Florida State and North Carolina not too far behind. Here is a look at which position each ACC school has been recruiting well for 2017.

Best position: Running back

In the fold: Travis Levy

The lowdown: Boston College has six commitments and they all play different positions. Brandon Sebastian is listed as an athlete and could end up playing wide receiver, defensive back, or both. Levy is the No. 34 running back in country and figures to be a major part of the run-heavy Boston College offense down the road.

Best position: Quarterback

In the fold: Hunter Johnson and Chase Brice

The lowdown: No team has a better group of committed quarterbacks than Clemson. Five-star Hunter Johnson will be an early enrollee and should compete for Deshaun Watson’s spot after Watson leaves for the NFL draft. Brice, a Rivals250 quarterback, is a very good signal caller in his own right, ranking as the No. 8 pro-style quarterback in the country.

Best position: Linebacker

In the fold: Ellis Brooks

The lowdown: Even with a couple offensive linemen already committed, Rivals250 prospect Ellis Brooks makes linebacker the position in Duke’s 2017 class. Brooks should see playing time relatively early in his career. Duke has also made Leonard Warner, a Rivals250 linebacker from Snellville (Ga.) Brookwood, a priority.

Best position: Defensive tackle

In the fold: Ja’len Parks and Cory Durden

The lowdown: Florida State is reloading on the defensive line in a big way. Parks and Durden will be a formidable duo for any offensive line to handle. Parks, one of the highest rated four-stars in the Rivals100, could end up as a five-star in this class. Durden was a longtime Seminole lean before committing in February.

Best position: Kicker

In the fold: Pressley Harvin

The lowdown: Georgia Tech’s only commitment so far in the 2017 class comes from a kicker. Harvin isn’t just any kicker, however - he’s currently the highest rated kicker in the country. Georgia Tech is very high on Snellville (Ga.) Brookwood Rivals250 linebacker Leonard Warner’s list.

Best position: Quarterback

In the fold: Malik Cunningham

The lowdown: Two of Louisville’s four commitments in the 2017 class come from junior college prospects. Cunningham, a three-star prospect from Alabama, is ranked as the No. 17 dual-threat quarterback in the nation. He should be able to provide a soft landing for the Cardinals when Lamar Jackson eventually moves on.

Best position: Defensive back

In the fold: Nick Roberts and Billy Gibson

The lowdown: With 15 commitments already, Miami has good depth at almost every position. Led by Roberts, Miami's defensive backs are better than any other position. Roberts has put himself in good position to boost his rating after a very strong offseason.

Best position: Defensive tackle

In the fold: Grant Gibson

The lowdown: All five of NC State’s commitments play different positions but Gibson is the highest rated commitment right now. He is very explosive and has great hand techniques. Look for the Wolfpack to get more commitments from offensive playmakers and front-seven players on defense.

Best position: Wide receiver

In the fold: Ryan Jones, Tyler Smith and J.T. Cauthen

The lowdown: The Tar Heels needed to reload at wide receiver and that’s exactly what they’ve done so far. Smith, a Rivals250 prospect from Georgia, is one of North Carolina’s three commitments from beyond their state’s borders. Jones and Cauthen are two of the top playmakers from North Carolina and it was important for the Tar Heels to lock up their commitments early so they can help recruit more in-state prospects.

Best position: Defensive back

In the fold: Paris Ford and Exree Loe

The lowdown: Ford is an exceptional athlete and should have success shortly after he starts his freshman year. The combination of Ford, Damar Hamlin and Jordan Whitehead will give offenses nightmares. Loe is a very physical defensive back that could play cornerback is certain situations. He will likely transition to safety once he arrives at Pitt. The Panthers’ third commitment is from athlete Kyle Nunn. He could be a safety but if he gets too big he might be a linebacker.

Best position: Linebacker

In the fold: Isaiah McDuffie

The lowdown: This was a tough call because while McDuffie is a very good player, quarterback Tommy DeVito has had an exceptional offseason and is poised to receive a bump in the rankings. McDuffie should challenge for early playing time once he steps on campus. Look for Syracuse to load up on more offensive talent this recruiting cycle.

Best position: Defensive back

In the fold: Germane Crowell and Joey Blount

The lowdown: Even though he is listed as an athlete, Crowell has been told he will start his career as a cornerback. He may move to safety or even linebacker if cornerback doesn’t work out. Crowell should be a great addition to the defense at Virginia. Blount is a safety with a big frame who should improve drastically as he adds strength.

Best position: Defensive end

In the fold: TyJuan Garbutt

The lowdown: The Hokies only have one defensive lineman committed and have multiple commits at other positions, but Garbutt is a special player. The in-state Rivals250 defensive end has great athleticism and plays with a chip on his shoulder. Garbutt does a great job rushing off the edge and could drop into coverage if necessary.

Best position: Linebacker

In the fold: Jamal Riggins and Jake Simpson

The lowdown: Riggins and Simpson should provide a shot of aggressiveness to the Demon Deacon defense. Wake Forest needed to add good linebackers to provide immediate depth and that could turn into starters down the road. Riggins and Simpson have the potential to lead this defense in the years to come.