Conference breakdown: Productive June propels ACC recruiting

June has been a big month in the ACC. Check out how each team did and who they brought in.

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Boston College added some commitments at key positions in June. Marcus Valdez from Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco is a versatile defensive lineman that could play inside or outside in certain situations. Boston College quarterbacks will like having Noah Jordan-Williams and his length catching passes over the middle. Drew McQuarrie will transition from quarterback to tight end when he arrives at Boston College. Alec Lindstrom will also provide some depth along the offensive line.

It has been a relatively slow month for the Tigers. They have 10 players committed in their 2017 class that currently ranks No. 14 in the country. Clemson did however pick up its first commitment in the 2018 class earlier this month. Four-star linebacker Mike Jones Jr. announced his commitment to Clemson and hopes to be the ringleader for next year’s recruiting class. Jones plays at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy and the Clemson coaches know how important it is to continue to successfully recruit one of the most talented high school programs in the country.

The three commitments the Blue Devils picked up in the month of June will bring a lot of size to Durham. Offensive lineman Patrick Leitten from Brentwood (Tenn.) Ravenwood is a legitimate 6-foot-8 with a great frame to fill out. Drew Jordan from Suwanee (Ga.) North Gwinnett will bring a big-time edge rushing presence to the defensive line. Tight end Noah Gray will be a target in difficult situations for first downs and in the red zone.

Florida State had a phenomenal June picking up five commitments, three in the 2017 class and two in the 2018 class. Seminole legacy Stanford Samuels was a major addition for Florida State. He should provide a boost to the secondary very early in his career. Big-time tight end Alex Marshall and athlete Daniel Wright will be big contributors somewhere on the field but it will depend on their development. The 2018 class was already off to a great start for Florida State. The additions of defensive tackle Robert Cooper and Rivals100 athlete Justin Watkins bring Florida State’s 2018 commitment total to five.

After a very slow start to the 2017 recruiting class Georgia Tech went on a run in June, picking up five new commitments. The headliner right now is defensive back Jaytlin Askew from Powder Springs (Ga.) McEachern. He is on the smaller side for a cornerback but has great speed and instincts. Askew and fellow defensive back commit Dameon Williams from Norcross, Ga., should be the future of Georgia Tech’s secondary. The Yellow Jackets also added commitments from athlete TD Roof, defensive tackle Connor Hansen and kicker Joseph Bulovas.

There is a lot to like about Louisville’s five June commitments. Offensive linemen Cole Bentley and Joey Palmer (a JUCO product) should provide some much needed help up front. Tight end Kemari Averett is a huge, athletic target for the Louisville quarterbacks and should be a major offensive weapon down the road. Defensive backs TreSean Smith and Rodney Owens are important additions to the secondary and will be relied upon once they get to campus.

Miami added punter Zach Feagles to the 2017 recruiting class in June and still sits at No. 12 in the team rankings and No. 2 in the ACC team rankings. Most teams don’t have many commitments in the 2018 class but the Canes have six. D.J. Ivey made his pledge to the Hurricanes last week, the third defensive back in Miami’s 2018 class. All of Miami’s 2018 commitments are in-state commitments, something many have said Miami should be doing every year.

June was a big month for the Wolfpack. They added four in-state commitments and two more from Florida. Defensive back Jacobe Clement from Charlotte (N.C.) Mallard Creek and linebacker Darius Hodge from Wake Forest, N.C., were N.C. State’s most important additions in June because of their ties to two of the powerhouse programs in North Carolina. Wide receiver Emeka Emezie from Waxhaw (N.C.) Marvin Ridge and 2018 kicker Christopher Dunn from Lexington (N.C.) North Davidson are the other two in-state commitments. The Wolfpack plucked Xavier Lyas and Deslin Alexandre, two defensive ends, out of Florida.

North Carolina had its annual elite camp, the Freak Show, in June and it brought in a few new commitments as it does every year. Brian Anderson from Montgomery (Ala.) Montgomery Catholic and Marcus McKethan from Barnwell, S.C., are two players the Tar Heel coaching staff hopes can help solidify the offensive line. Anderson is an interior offensive lineman that is likely to be converted to a center and McKethan plays tackle in high school but could see time as a guard.

The Panthers have been on a roll in June, picking up seven commitments in the 2017 class. The two biggest commitments came from former Ohio State running back commit Todd Sibley and quarterback Kenny Pickett. Offensive linemen Carson Van Lynn and Owen Drexel are two high potential prospects that should develop into major contributors. Wide receiver Darian Street from Bethlehem (Pa.) Liberty will have a chance to see the field early. Pittsburgh also added two defensive prospects from the Southeast, linebacker Cameron Bright and defensive back Albert Tucker.

June was very good to Syracuse as the Orange added seven players to their 2017 class. Three wide receivers, Nykeim Johnson, Josh Palmer and Cameron Jordan, should help Syracuse’s offense be more explosive next year. The Orange also picked up a commitment from Dakota Davis, an offensive lineman from Glenelg, Md. Athletes Allen Stritzinger and Eric Coley will likely end up on the defensive side of the ball.

No team in the ACC has had a busier June than Virginia. The Cavaliers reeled in 10 commitments, six on defense, three on offense, and one kicker. Defensive backs Terrell Jana and Zachariah Burton should provide reinforcements in the secondary. The defensive line will get help in the form of Ryan Thaxton and Armando Alonso, while linebacker Matt Gahm will help bolster the front seven. Virginia needs to improve on the offensive line so the Cavs will rely on Bryson Speas and Harry Crider. Running back P.K. Keir is very explosive and should bring a quick-strike weapon to the offense. Virginia is also bringing in kicker Brian Delaney.

The Hokies have steadily added key pieces to their 2017 recruiting class. Big tight end Lecitus Smith from Fitzgerald, Ga., will provide stability at the position in the future and give quarterbacks a reliable target in difficult situations. Malik Willis from Roswell, Ga. is listed as an athlete and will get a chance to excel on both sides of the ball once he gets to Blacksburg.

Wake Forest brought in help on both sides of the ball in June. Quarterback Taylor Powell from Fayetteville, Ark., and offensive lineman Loic Nya from Silver Spring (Md.) Springbrook Senior should complement each other well. Defensive back Troy Simon from Alpharetta (Ga.) Milton will get a chance to see the field early in his career and linebacker D.J. Taylor from Huntland, Tenn., will bring more athleticism to the interior of the defense.