Sudden impact: ACC newcomers who could step in

Ascollegesgetreadyforthestartofpreseasonpractice,someoftheplayerswhogarneredsomuchattentionontherecruitingcircuitforthelastyearareabouttointroducethemselvestotherestofthecollegefootballworld.

Wefinallyknowwheretheseguyshavechosentogotoschool.Nowtherealquestionsstart.

Willsomeformerfive-starprospectsprovethey'reworthallthehype?Couldaholeonateam'sdepthchartallowasleeperrecruittocontributerightaway?Whichjuniorcollegeprospectscanstepintofeaturedrolesimmediately?

We'retryingtoprovidesomeearlyanswerstothosequestionsbyofferinglistsoffivetruefreshmenorjunior-collegetransfersineachconferencewhocouldmakeimmediateimpacts.TheseriesstartstodaywithalookattheAtlanticCoastConferencenewcomers.

PCasonBeattyClickHeretoviewthisLink.

Particulars:6-3/231;CharlotteOlympic

Recruitingrating:Twostars

Buzz:FloridaStatemustfindsomeonetoreplaceShawnPowell,wholedthenationwithanaverageof47yardsperpuntasaseniorlastfall.Powell'sdepartureleavesBeattyasFloridaState'slonescholarshippunter.Beattyparticipatedinspringpracticetogetaheadstartonhisnewassignment,thoughhestillmustholdoffachallengefromwalk-onDillonKidd.Beatty,aformerhighschoolquarterback,startedpuntingin2010andaveraged43.1yardsperattempthissenioryear.

RBJ.C.ColemanClickHeretoviewthisLink.

Particulars:5-7/176;Chesapeake(Va.)OscarSmith

Recruitingrating:Fourstars(No.3runningbackandNo.101overallplayer)

Buzz:Thisselectionrepresentsaslightleapoffaith,butVirginiaTech'slackofexperiencedrunningbacksshouldgiveColemananearlyopportunity.DavidWilson'sdecisiontoturnproafterthe2011seasonleftVirginiaTechwithoutanyrunningbackswhogainedmorethan30yardslastyear.RedshirtfreshmanMichaelHolmeslikelywillopentheyearasVirginiaTech'sstartingtailback,butColemanwillberightbehindhim.Colemanenrolledearlyandearnedplentyofpraiseduringspringpractice.Herushedfor4,416yardsinhishighschoolcareerandaccumulatedatleast1,400yardsand20touchdownseachofhislasttwoseasons.

WRStefonDiggsClickHeretoviewthisLink.:

Particulars:6-0/185;Olney(Md.)GoodCounsel

Recruitingrating:Fivestars(No.2widereceiverandNo.8overallplayer)

Buzz:Diggsdidn'tcommittoMarylanduntilFeb.10--ninedaysafterNationalSigningDay--butheshouldproveworththewait.HisarrivalgivesMarylandtheplaymakeritlackedduringamiserable2-10campaignlastfall.Diggsshowcasedhisbig-playabilityinhighschoollastfall,as10ofhis13touchdownscoveredatleast37yards.He'sthefirstfive-starrecruittosignwithMarylandsincetheTerpslandedoffensivelinemanBruceCampbelloutofChatham(Va.)HargraveMilitaryAcademyin2007.HeshouldaddsomestarpowertoareceivingcorpsthatreturnsseniorsKevinDorsey(45catches,573yards,3TDslastseason)andKerryBoykins(37-430-0).

CBs Ladarius GunterClick Here to view this Link. and Tracy HowardClick Here to view this Link.

Particulars: Gunter: 6-2/195; Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College. Howard: 5-11/170; Miramar (Fla.)

Recruiting rating: Gunter: Three stars. Howard: Five stars (No. 1 cornerback and No. 13 overall player)

Buzz: Howard selected Miami over Florida and Florida State on Signing Day and therefore didn't get to enroll in time to participate in spring practice. But his extraordinary talent suggests he still should make an immediate impact this fall. Gunter was at Miami in time for spring practice and performed well enough to exit the spring atop the depth chart at one cornerback spot. Although Miami senior Brandon McGee is a returning starter at one cornerback position, the other spot is up for grabs. That should allow Howard and Gunter to compete for immediate playing time. Howard played on Miramar's Class 6A state championship team as a sophomore and recorded 10 interceptions his senior year.

RB Duke Johnson

Particulars: 5-9/183; Miami (Fla.) Norland

Recruiting rating: Five stars (No. 1 all-purpose back and No. 30 overall player)

Buzz: Miami returns just two players on each side of the ball who made at least nine starts last season and signed the nation's ninth-ranked recruiting class in February, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Hurricanes have multiple players on this list. Johnson rushed for 1,957 yards and 29 touchdowns last season while leading Norland to the Class 5A state championship. Lamar Miller's decision to enter the NFL draft leaves Miami's top returning rusher as Mike James, who ran for only 275 yards last season. James should enter the season as Miami's No. 1 running back, but Johnson also figures to get plenty of carries right away.

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