ACC Spotlight: Top remaining targets for each team

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The opening of the Early Signing Period is just three months away, which means it is crunch time for programs across the country. In the ACC, there are schools hoping to put finishing touches on their classes, while others need to kick it in gear to sign respectable numbers. This week we look throughout the conference and identify the top target remaining for each program.

RELATED: Top remaining targets for Big Ten teams | SEC

Virginia Tech's season started off well, but hit a major snag with last weekend’s loss to Old Dominion. The Hokies should be on the lookout for potentially losing a commitment from Sainristil. The athlete out of the Boston area has visited the Boston College numerous times and some think he is destined to end up playing for the local school. The Hokies do have a good chance of holding on to Sainristil, but it won’t be easy to keep him from staying close to home for college.

Last cycle saw Clemson pull a shocker of sorts when it reached into Ohio and snatched five-star tackle Jackson Carmen from underneath Ohio State’s nose. Now, the Tigers will attempt to accomplish a similar feat by snagging Webb, an Alabama-based prospect, from the Crimson Tide. The Tigers have some work left to do, who is thought to favor Alabama, and even Georgia, as things stand now, but that doesn’t mean Clemson is out of the running. Dabo Swinney and company remain in the thick of Webb’s recruitment and have a legit chance to shock Nick Saban by making a late move. This is a situation to monitor, as there is no doubt that the Tigers will apply the full-court press down the stretch.

A one-time Duke commitment, Davis decommitted in the spring and has been looking at Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and a few others. With his commitment coming up on Oct. 12, Davis is keeping his cards close to his vest. The Blue Devils appear to be in good position to regain Davis’ commitment, but the Tar Heels and Vols are not making it an easy decision for him.

Florida State is off to an uneven start under new head coach Willie Taggart, and its recruiting has suffered because of it. The Seminoles boast a highly regarded class and are in the thick of things for California-based five-star Kayvon Thibodeaux. The Seminoles are charged with the task of beating out hometown USC, but it’s not as though the Trojans are lighting the world on fire on the field this fall. The Trojans’ rocky start may play in the favor of FSU, but Alabama is also lurking on the periphery. As things stand now, Florida State seems to hold a slight edge here and will be well served by a strong finish to the 2018 season.

Georgia Tech is really hoping to land Pettway's commitment at some point next month, but there are a few schools that stand in its way. Pettway went to Georgia Tech's game against Alcorn State a few weeks ago, but Louisville, Vanderbilt and Tennessee remain in the conversation. Pettway doesn't claim a leader, but Tennessee and Vanderbilt will get him for official visits at some point.

Weaver is in the thick of his official visit schedule, with trips to Miami and Kentucky looming in the distance. Cincinnati and Purdue have already gotten official visits from Weaver, and Louisville has hosted the local prospect on multiple occasions. The Cardinals desperately need a player like Weaver to help their defensive front and they are going all out to get him to play for the hometown team. Purdue has done a great job in the Louisville area lately, but everything could change after his official visits to Miami and Kentucky.

Stevenson is thought to favor Georgia, but the more time that passes without a commitment the better Miami has to feel about its chances. The four-star defensive back is seen as a must-get and the Miami staff is certainly going all out in an attempt to land the South Dade defensive back. UM held a practice at Stevenson’s high school prior to the season and still likes its chances in this race. Stevenson came close to committing to UGA earlier this year, but seems to have taken a step back lately. The Hurricanes are certainly coming back into the thick of the picture.

There are some important targets out there for North Carolina, but none that carry the weight of what a commitment from Howell would mean for the program. Howell, a Florida State commit, took a previously unannounced visit to Chapel Hill over the weekend with some teammates, and even though he alerted the Seminoles coaches ahead of time, it still made waves. A decommitment and flip to North Carolina hasn’t crossed Howell’s mind since he picked the Noles back in the spring, but North Carolina is undeterred and will continue to pursue him.

There are very few spots left in NC State’s recruiting class, but the Wolfpack are saving one for Walker. A teammate of NC State commit Savion Jackson, Walker has NC State and South Carolina at or very near the top of his list. He is supposed to visit NC State this weekend and has already taken a closer look at North Carolina and South Carolina. Walker will likely visit Virginia Tech next weekend before announcing a commitment on Oct. 12.

Devonshire's recruitment has progressed slower than expected, and that could mean good things for Pitt, as Ohio State, West Virginia, Penn State, Michigan State and a few others were keeping an eye on him. He's been to Pitt a few times recently and the Panthers could improve their standing with Devonshire as the process moves forward.

Greenwood has strong relationships at Syracuse and the way the team has played has impressed him. There is an opportunity for him to play early there, as well. A few other teams have pursued Greenwood, but there is a strong possibility that he chooses Syracuse.

Virginia is in a tight battle with Northwestern, Missouri and a few others for Jackson. The Cavaliers want to get him on campus as soon as possible and he fits the Virginia schemes very well. Jackson is also focused on high academic institutions, so Virginia has plenty to sell there.

The Hokies want Deng as a defensive end and the Washington D.C., native is very interested in Virginia Tech, but that's not the only school that has his attention. Maryland, Texas A&M and Rutgers are also in the picture for the junior college prospect. Nebraska could really change Deng's recruitment if it offers, but for now Virginia Tech is in great position.

McKenzie is probably a long shot for Wake Forest, but he was very intrigued by the offer from the Demon Deacons. North Carolina appears to be the team to beat for McKenzie, and he has multiple connections to the Tar Heels, but getting McKenzie on campus again would be a big step for Wake Forest. If the Deacons miss on McKenzie, Wake Forest will look to defensive tackles such as Ben Smiley, Aaron Hall or Tyquan Johnson.