I gave you the 10 ACC games I was looking forward to this season earlier this week. Here's the 10 players I want to watch in 2009. I limited it to one player per team with two teams (BC and Maryland) getting snubbed.
10. Boo Robinson, Sr. DT - Wake Forest
Along with Vince Oghobaase of Duke, Robinson is one of the top two defensive tackles in the ACC. If the Wake defense wants to be nearly as good as it was last year, Robinson has to be amazing jaming up the middle.
9. Kendric Burney, Jr. CB - North Carolina
Burney had three interceptions last year and could develop into a true shut-down corner this season. He will also be in the mix to return punts for the Tar Heels.
8. Thaddeus Lewis, Sr. QB - Duke
It's Lewis' last chance to get Duke to a bowl. Just about everyone in the ACC knows how good Lewis is. But in order for the Blue Devils to make a bowl, he's going to have to become known nationally.
7. Aldarius Johnson, So. WR - Miami
Johnson is the first of three sophomores on this list. He's tall, athletic and next to impossible to cover. But can he avoid the cliche sophomore jinx in 2009?
6. Morgan Burnett, Jr. FS - Georgia Tech
Burnett reminds me of Kam Chancellor his sophomore year when he was a one-man wrecking crew crushing opponents and creating turnovers. Hopefully both Kam and Burnett can have years like that again in 2009.
5. Russell Wilson, So. QB - NC State
Last year he was the first-team All-ACC QB as a freshman. He also had an insane touchdown-to-turnover ratio. If he can keep from fumbling (which he was prone to do without them being recovered by opponents) his sophomore year could be even better.
4. Vic Hall, Sr. CB/QB - Virginia
The Hokie players and staff were apparently the only people in the Commonwealth who didn't know the Hoos were going to run the Wildcat formation with Hall in last year's game. He might get the chance to do it full time this year, which would be scary.
3. Jermaine Thomas, So. RB - Florida State
Thomas averaged a shade under 7.0 ypc last season. He'll probably be the 'Noles primary back in 2009 and could be a very special player.
2. C.J. Spiller, Sr. RB - Clemson
He'll get the bulk of the carries. He'll probably also return kicks this year. Spiller has been very average since his freshman season in 2006. It's time for him to return to being Lightning now that Thunder is gone.
1. Ryan Williams, Fr. RB - Virginia Tech
Yup, it's a homer pick. Hokie fans have seen what Williams can do in practice and in the spring game. His debut is the most anticipated of any Hokie since Kevin Jones. And fans are hoping he can put up Jones-like numbers with Darren Evans playing the part of Lee Suggs.