Three-point Stance: ACC snapshot; first-year coaches; Bama's 'slow' start

Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell’s thought-provoking Three-Point Stance is here with a recruiting snapshot of the ACC, five first-year head coaches already under pressure and whether ‘Bama fans should be worried about 2018 recruiting.

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Nearing the end of the Spring evaluation period, it’s time to look at each Power Five conference and take a quick snapshot of recruiting like we do every year around this time. Today we finish up with the ACC.

Biggest get – Trevor Lawrence, Clemson – This one is easy as Clemson landed the top player in the nation in an out-of-state grab that could be the best get in the country regardless of conference at the sport’s most critical position.

Biggest surprise – Brevin Jordan, Miami -- Many felt Jordan would head to UCLA with his buddy and teammate Dorian Thompson-Robinson, so when he committed to the red-hot ‘Canes, many were surprised. Maybe it’s the fact that Miami puts more tight ends in the first round than anyone else?

Great start – Miami – Clemson could be the pick here with an amazing 3.88 average star ranking, but you can’t deny what Mark Richt has done at Miami. This isn’t an Al Golden No. 1 start with some elite players mixed in with some reaches. This is a loaded class.

Surprising start – Duke – A top 20 class early with two major out-of-state grabs in Tahj Rice and Rocky Shelton has Duke in the top four in conference early with double digit commitments.

Rough start – Pitt – This one is hard to figure as Pitt only has three commitments, with two of them holding mid-level offers from other programs. Western Pennsylvania is being raided a bit and after a solid season and recruiting pretty well in recent years, this slow start is alarming.

Recruiting battle to watch – Miami vs. Florida State – Miami is back and they will put up a much better fight with the ‘Noles when it comes to in-state recruiting. FSU vs. Clemson continues to be a heavyweight battle to watch, but with Richt at Miami now, it has become much harder to raid South Florida and that will affect FSU a bit.

Must keep – RB Zamir White – The state of North Carolina has been raided quite a bit and oftentimes raided by ACC schools. However, when running backs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall head to Georgia and linemen Jonathan Bullard and D.J. Humphries head to Florida, it hurts the ACC. UNC and NC State have done a better job keeping some top talent in state lately, but Clemson appears to be the best chance for the ACC in this one.

Do or die – Boston College – Steve Adazzio is under fire at Boston College with a new athletic director and two ACC wins in the last two years. Recruiting has been an issue. BC finished 13th out of 14 in 2017 and dead last in recruiting in 2016, so that needs to improve.

Everyone loves hot seat talk, but what about when those seats haven’t even been sat in yet? Yes, I’m talking about first-year coaches. What’s the best way to stay off the hot seat? Get off to a good start. Here are, at least to me, the five first-year coaches who are under the most pressure to get off to a good start – or else.

Tom Herman, Texas – Why would Herman, who will clearly get at least four years to turn things around at Texas, be ahead of Ed Orgeron, who wasn’t LSU’s first choice? There are a couple of reasons. First and foremost, expectations in Austin are high for year one after three years of struggle under Charlie Strong. Fans and alumni expect eight or nine wins in a weak Big 12 and the hype surrounding Herman’s hire will put more pressure on him. If he struggles out of the gate, people will go crazy.

Ed Orgeron, LSU – Nick Saban keeps Orgeron behind Herman when it comes to expectations. Few expect the former interim coach to slay the Saban dragon right away and win the SEC West. However, there is a lot of pressure on Orgeron to move things forward from where they were under Les Miles, especially on offense. If LSU finishes third or fourth in the SEC West in year one, many will be thinking this hire was a mistake after only one year.

Willie Taggart, Oregon – The Pacific Northwest is laid back, right? In many ways, but not when it comes to football. Taggart’s start has been a bit off-setting with coaches being dismissed and players being hospitalized, but fans are really focused on whether he can bring back some of the Chip Kelly magic. The Pac-12 North has talent and a few statement games will be needed or else many will wonder if Taggert is the right fit.

Matt Rhule, Baylor – We all know Rhule is going to get years and years to turn things around at Baylor because of all the problems he has inherited. But the Bears need big wins to take the focus off the Art Briles Title IX nightmare that could bring the program down if it continues to get uglier. If Rhule’s team finishes near the bottom of the Big 12 AND allegations continue, things get tougher in Waco in all aspects.

PJ Fleck, Minnesota – Fleck will be a target for Big Ten coaches because of the notoriety he earned at Western Michigan and for his brash style. He’s considered by many as a home run hire for the Gophers, but this isn’t a losing team he inherited. Minnesota won nine games last season and anything less will raise eyebrows.

Should Alabama fans be worried that Saban and the Tide lost a commitment from running back Dameon Pierce and now only have two commitments? Nope.

It’s actually a ridiculous question, but yet it’s being asked. There has been no bigger recruiting dynasty than the one we have seen from Saban and Alabama in the last decade and if they wanted to, Alabama could tap 20 four-star kids on the shoulder right now and land commitments. This is like wondering if Cleveland Cavaliers fans should be worried that LeBron James is washed up because he had a bad game against the Celtics on Sunday night.

There are two programs in the country I never worry about when it comes to recruiting – Alabama and Ohio State – and that’s because they have the two best head coaching recruiters I’ve ever covered. If Alabama is at two commitments right now it’s because Saban wants them at two commitments and it wouldn’t surprise me to see this 2018 ‘Bama class land five or six five-star prospects before all is said and done – as usual.