ACC Spotlight: Which recruits mirror players on current rosters?

One of the goals in the recruiting process for colleges is to find players similar to the ones that have success in the past. Here are some players committed to ACC schools that resemble players that are currently on that team’s roster.

MORE: Ranking ACC's 2018 QB recruits | Ranking SEC's 2018 QB recruits

Comparison: Even more than big bruising running backs, Boston College is known for road-grading offensive linemen. Phillips has done a good job opening holes for the Boston College running backs and, even though he is in his third year on campus, he has a similar build to Dirstine. Both are big, tough linemen that pave the way for big gains on the ground, and Dirstine should fit into the Boston College lineup sooner rather than later.

Comparison: McMichael is a star on both sides of the ball in high school and Wallace was the same way. In fact, Wallace was committed to Cincinnati as a wide receiver but is experiencing a lot of success as a safety at Clemson. McMichael will likely end up a defensive back at Clemson, putting him on the same track as Wallace.

Comparison: Jones was an unheralded quarterback from North Carolina when he arrived at Duke, and even though Holmberg has gotten more publicity than Jones did, Holmberg isn’t exactly a big name on the recruiting trail, either. Duke head coach David Cutcliffe worked his magic and developed Jones into a good quarterback, and Holmberg will get the same treatment. Both quarterbacks are in the 6-foot-3 range and neither has the arm strength that will blow people away.

Comparison: Huggins broke out just before his senior season and carries a little more weight than Westbrook did at this stage. If he thins out during his first season on campus, he’ll have a similar look as the 6-foot Westbrook. Both played corner on the camp circuit despite being natural safeties and their athleticism is similar. Huggins may develop into a stronger, hard-hitting version of Westbrook. The only worry is that he may not be able to match his closing speed.

Comparison: Simmons and Thomas have similar length and that allows them both to make up for occasional lapses in man coverage. It helps them close quicker and erases mistakes. Both are North Florida prospects that boasted similar rankings during their high school careers. Both also have the size and athleticism to contribute on the ACC level. Like Simmons, it may take a year or two before Thomas reaches his full potential, but the ceiling is certainly a high one.

Comparison: Boone needs to add more weight before he’s the spitting image of McNeil, who is well over 300 pounds, but he has the frame to do exactly that. The two guards are of similar length and both rely on overwhelming power to get the job done. Both have the length and feet to offer some versatility and are capable of playing tackle in a pinch, but the guard spot allows each to showcase his full potential.

Comparison: Pope needs to add weight before college. That much is clear. It’s also the biggest difference between he and Richards as things stand now. That said, the two have the same limited length and devastating change of pace. Both rely on crisp routes and acceleration to create space and prey on bigger defensive backs that can’t match their bursts. Richards obviously dwarfs Pope from a developmental standpoint, but the two were similar high school players. Pope is a tad more boisterous and will arrive in Coral Gables full of skill and personality. If all goes well, he will contribute big things as a true freshman like Richards did a year ago.

Comparison: Terry is a bit taller than Stewart but both are aggressive spark plugs in the secondary and have good ball skills. Stewart made a lot of plays with the ball in his hands and in the return game in high school and Terry does the same. Stewart has six career interceptions and Terry has been known to create turnovers in the passing game.

Comparison: Both of these players are crazy athletes for how big they are. Roseboro played running back and fullback for his high school team while starting on the defensive line. McNeill has similar responsibilities, appearing in a variety of roles on the offensive side of the ball while playing mostly linebacker. The N.C. State defensive front has been a a major problem for offenses and McNeill should help continue that trend.

Comparison: Jones-Smith is on his way out after this season and Pitt will be able to replace the massive right tackle with another massive body in Brown. Both specialize in run blocking and Pitt will be able to count on Brown next year to slide into Jones-Smith’s spot and not worry about losing size on the front line.

Comparison: Thomas, like Smith, arrived at Syracuse needing to add weight. He also arrived with decent length and impressive athleticism that allowed him to shine in coverage situations. Smith is developing into more of a hitter as a senior and, like Thomas, has the frame to add weight when he arrives in New York. Smith may not be the type of player to step on the field and fill Thomas’ shoes right away, but he has the same build and a similar ceiling. Thomas emerged as a junior, recording 52 tackles as a part-time starter a year ago. It’s easy to see Smith following a similar path.

Comparison: Kiser had a similar frame to Garrett as a high school prospect and both are very physical players. Garrett has to fill out his frame before there can be a better comparison between the two. Kiser is a tackling machine and Garrett has the potential to replicate Kiser’s production.

Comparison: McMillian, Virginia Tech’s leading rusher this season, is a versatile player that has speed to burn. Beck is the same way, but his frame isn’t as filled out as McMillian’s was as a high school player. Both are Virginia natives that can change the game with the ball in their hands but Beck has a chance to make an impact earlier in his career at Virginia Tech.

Comparison: Herron and Edwards weren’t highly sought-after recruits, but both have huge upsides. Herron has developed his big frame at Wake Forest and has come a long way as a pass blocker. Like Herron, Edwards is a good run blocker at the high school level and he will make strides there once he gets to college. Edwards has a chance to be a more effective pass blocker given his better length.