By: Zachary Davis (@assuredfame)
The ACC has been vying for respect and recognition in the CFSL’s competitive landscape, striving to prove itself a conference to be reckoned with. This was a competitive conference last season, so this recruiting cycle meant a lot. Here is how each team did this offseason.
#1 Florida State Seminoles
Top Talent: 5-star CB Bill Bass, 5-star CB Jack Swift
Notable Additions: 4-star MLB Mark Sala, 4-star OLB Wade Smith
Depth: FSU had strong defensive recruits with high-star talent in key positions. Florida State did not have as many needs compared to other teams, making their high-quality additions particularly impactful.
#2 Clemson Tigers
Top Talent: 5-star QB Tavon Moss, 5-star HB Robert Henry Wetzel, 4-star TE Darnell Holmes IV, 4-star OLB Ryan Richardson, 4-star CB Tank Gonzalez, 4-star CB Theo Quirk
Notable Additions: 5-Star WR Rontavius Yankins
Additional Note: First-time AD LoganWetzell has shown how hungry he is with a remarkable recruiting effort, demonstrating a strong commitment to building a powerhouse team.
Depth: This was a balanced and impressive recruiting class with high-star talent across multiple positions. This class should have a strong impact across both offense and defense.
#3 Virginia Tech Hokies
Top Talent: 5-star QB Saint Major, 5-star HB CeeCee Mucci, 5-star WR Ahmad Williams, 5-star WR Aloysius Jefferies, 5-star TE Patrick Sullivan, 5-star DT Myles Andrews, 5-star CB Aiden Miller, 5-star CB Noah Johnson, 5-star FS Ziggy Zelinski
Notable Additions: 5-star HB Maxwell Orndorff, 5-star MLB Chris Wolfe
Additional Note: First-time AD, Mucci, previously rebranded from Cincy, has shown that he can put things together from scratch, with an exceptionally strong recruiting class.
Depth: This is a strong recruiting class with high-quality players across key positions, including multiple 5-star recruits.
#4 North Carolina Tar Heels
Top Talent: 5-star HB Carver Clark, 5-star OLB Blake Barrow
Notable Additions: 4-star HB Eric Martin, 4-star TE Martin McCracken
Depth: The Tar Heels have good talent in key skill positions and defense, with a strong overall recruiting effort.
#5 Miami Hurricanes
- Top Talent: 5-star WR Nick Morrow, 5-star TE Ryan Campbell
- Notable Additions: 4-star MLB Han King, 4-star SS Bubba Sharpless
- Depth: There were great additions in skill positions and solid defensive recruits. They should be competitive with impactful recruits. There were more to come for this team.
#6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Top Talent: 5-star QB Noir Royal, 5-star DE Wojtek Panzer, 5-star MLB Lawrence Lewis, 5-star CB Jayden Tamucci, 5-star CB David Perez, 5-star SS Andre Christmas
- Notable Additions: 5-star CB Jordan Little
- Depth: The Irish landed some stellar recruits, especially in defensive positions and quarterback. While impressive, they are slightly behind the top teams in terms of overall depth and impact.
Conclusion:
Recruiting is the backbone of every great team, and these rankings show just how crucial it is to a program’s success. Florida State’s strong focus on defense, Clemson’s well-rounded class under their new AD, and Virginia Tech’s impressive rebuild all prove how much a solid recruiting strategy can shape a team’s future. North Carolina and Miami continue to hold their own, with North Carolina building a balanced class and Miami standing out in key positions. Notre Dame stays competitive despite needing more depth across the board.
