ACC Spotlight: Biggest storylines to follow for the Late Signing Period
We are in the final stages of the 2024 recruiting class. In just a few weeks we will put a bow on this class after the traditional National Signing Day on Feb. 7. Let’s take a look at some key storylines in the ACC for the Late Signing Period.
THIS SERIES: Biggest Big Ten storylines to follow for the Late Signing Period | Big 12 storylines | SEC storylines
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CLASS OF 2024 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals100
TRANSFER PORTAL: Latest news | Transfer search | Transfer tracker/player ranking (football) | Transfer team ranking (football) | Transfer tracker/player ranking (basketball) | Transfer team ranking (basketball) | Rivals Portal Twitter
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TRACKING KEVYN HUMES
Rivals250 defensive back Kevin Humes announced he was reclassifying from the 2025 class to the 2024 class on Christmas and he's planned a series of official visits this month before revealing his commitment on National Signing Day.
Syracuse got him on campus last weekend and up this weekend was supposed to be Penn State but Humes called off that visit after the Nittany Lions took transfer defensive backs A.J. Harris and Jalen Kimber. He'll take an official visit to Maryland this weekend.
USC will host Humes for a mid-week official visit starting on Jan. 22 before he heads to Notre Dame on Jan. 26. Florida will get him on campus for an official visit on Feb. 2, the final weekend before his commitment. Humes is the top unsigned defensive back in the 2024 class and clearly has no shortage of suitors.
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ARE THERE MORE BIG WAVES FOR SYRACUSE?
The Orange have picked up 11 high school commitments and added 11 players through the transfer portal since Fran Brown was hired. A total of six of them, three from high school and three from the portal, are four-star prospects with the headliners being former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord, Rivals250 running back Yasin Willis, former Texas A&M defensive lineman Fadil Diggs and former Georgia receiver Zeed Haynes.
Can Brown and his new staff keep this momentum going? Syracuse has the No. 16 class in the Transfer Team Rankings and No. 38 in the Recruiting Team Rankings, which puts the Orange at No. 35 in the Comprehensive Team Rankings.
Syracuse is working hard to land Rivals250 defensive back Kevyn Humes, who they just hosted for an official visit. Uncommitted defensive lineman Deshon Dodson also visited Syracuse last weekend. Look for more transfer prospects to visit Syracuse over the next couple weekends as well.
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WHO BENEFITS IN THE ACC FROM THE ALABAMA FALLOUT?
The shockwaves of Nick Saban's retirement from Alabama and the subsequent exodus to the transfer portal by players on the Crimson Tide roster has the attention of every college coach around the country. In the ACC, there are a few teams who could benefit from this fallout more than the rest.
Florida State is at the top of the list. In fact, the Seminoles have already picked up five former Alabama players in Roydell Williams, Terrence Ferguson, Malik Benson, Shawn Murphy, and Earl Little Jr.
Miami is another program to watch. The Hurricanes have been aggressive in the transfer portal and have already taken nine transfer prospects this cycle.
Clemson hasn't been active in the transfer portal but keep an eye on Syracuse and Louisville as more Alabama players decide to enter their name into the transfer portal.
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WILL ACC TEAMS POUNCE ON MICHIGAN PLAYERS IF JIM HARBAUGH LEAVES FOR THE NFL?
Arizona, Washington and Alabama have already seen how quickly a coaching change can decimate a roster and recruiting class. Could the same happen to Michigan if Jim Harbaugh leaves for the NFL? It certainly could, depending on who is hired to replace him, but, either way, teams around the country will be ready to pounce on their talented players.
Nine players from Arizona's roster, including some from its 2024 recruiting class, entered the transfer portal on Wednesday and more are expected to follow suit. This comes just days after Jedd Fisch took the head coaching job at Washington. The Huskies are approaching 20 players in the transfer portal and Alabama is seeing some of their best players do the same thing.
The point is, no team seems immune to defections when there is a head coaching change. If and when it does happen to Michigan, teams from the ACC and many others will be interested.