Returning ACC LBs w/400+ snaps and a 90% tackle rate:
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
James Jackson, UVA
Ced Gray, UNC
Derek McDonald, Cuse
Marlowe Wax, Case
Tatum Bethune, FSU
Most tackles at/behind the LoS, returning ACC LBs
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
DePalma, BC – 21
Trotter, Clem – 21
Wilson, NCSU – 19
Bethune, FSU – 18
Jones, WF – 18
Carter, Clem – 17
Wax, Cuse – 15
Arnold, BC – 15
Echols, UNC – 15
No returning ACC LB allowed fewer yards before tackle than FSU's Tatum Bethune (3.3). Second on the list? FSU's Kalen DeLoach (3.4).
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
Barrett Carter is just insanely versatile. Per PFF, he played 341 snaps in coverage (w/2 INTs & 5 PBU). Played 331 snaps in the box (w/37 stops on unsuccessful opponent plays). Played 113 snaps at LoS (w/24 QB pressures).
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
Pitt's Shayne Simon saw 26 targets while in coverage last year and allowed just 75 yards while racking up 6 PBUs. Per PFF, he graded out as the ACC's best LB in coverage.
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
Cedric Gray played 948 snaps last year – or 95.3% of UNC’s total defensive plays. Power Echols was No. 2 in the league with 841.
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
Gray had 13% more snaps than any non-UNC defender in the ACC.
Drake Thomas is a big loss for NC State… but Isaiah Moore is too. He was so good vs the run last year, leading ACC with 31 run stuffs — 7 more than Thomas, who was 2nd. He had just 5 missed tackles all year. And PFF had him graded as the best LB in the country vs. the run.
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
In 2021, Virginia allowed 3.05 yards per designed run after contact, the worst mark in the ACC.
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
In 2022, Virginia allowed 2.05 yards per designed run after contact, the best mark in the ACC.
Hell of a job by John Rudzinski.
Chase Jones led a Wake LB corps that was quite good vs the pass last year. Vs. slot/TE/backfield passes, Wake allowed a 69.2 QBR (tied w/Clemson for 3rd in ACC) and just 7.1 yards/pass (trailing only NCSU & Clemson).
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
Jones, specifically, was exceptional. He allowed a 39-yard first-quarter completion to Marshon Ford vs. Louisville last year, but on his 24 other targets (per PFF) he allowed just 84 yards (3.5 per) — none for TDs or 20+.
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
Only returning P5 LBs who graded 70+ by PFF in pass rush, run D, tackling & coverage:
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
Tommy Eichenberg, OhSt
Deion Jennings, Rutgers
Jaishawn Barham, Maryland
Barrett Carter, Clemson
Cedric Gray, UNC
Only returning ACC LBs who recorded at least 20 solo tackles on pass plays and 20 on run plays:
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
Gray, UNC
Echols, UNC
Wax, Cuse
Arnold, BC
Slot receivers vs. VT
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
w/Keonta Jenkins on the field: 1 TD, 2 INT, 59.7% comp, 7.54 yd/att
w/o Keonta Jenkins off the field: 6 TD, 0 INT, 78.5% comp, 11.38 yd/att
In 2021, Duke allowed nearly 15 yards per catch (and nearly 10 yards/target) to opposing RBs & TEs, with 64% going for a first down or TD. Last year, Duke allowed just 10 yards per catch w/50% going for 1D/TD.
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
Most tackles on unsuccessful opponent plays:
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
Gray, 59
Trotter, 46
Echols, 42
Wax, 40
Bethune, 39
DePalma, 38
Carter, 37
Arnold, 34
DeLoach, 33
Jackson, 32
Jones, 30
Wilson, 30
Western Michigan and Tulsa are the only two units in the country returning a lower % of last year's LB snaps than Louisville (20.7%) per @ESPN_BillC
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
Returning P5 LBs w/40 solo tackles, 15 run stuffs & 15 pressures:
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
Ced Gray, UNC
Jeremiah Trotter, Clemson
Nathaniel Watson, MsSt
Jamoi Hodge, TCU
Aaron Beasley, Tenn
M. Njongmeta, Wisc
True frosh Wesley Bissainthe didn't get a starting nod until the final 3 games of the year for Miami, but he finished the year No. 3 among ACC LBs in average depth of tackle on run plays, per PFF.
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
Miami in ACC play last year
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
w/Bissainthe on the field: 238 plays, 5.1 yards/dropback, 4.8 yards/rush
w/o Bissainthe on the field: 304 plays, 7.3 yards/dropback, 5.6 yards/rush
Wade Woodaz got some good run from Week 11 on last year, playing 35+ snaps in four of Clemson's last five games. In that span, he had 4 TFL, 3 run stuffs and just 1 missed tackle.
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
Syracuse had the top tackle% among ACC LBs last year at 90.5%. Miami had the worst at 84.4%.
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
Syracuse led the ACC overall on tackle rate beyond the line of scrimmage, too.
Very tentative LB ranking (breaks for tiers)
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
1. Clemson
–
2. FSU
3. UNC
4. NC State
5. Pitt
6. Syracuse
–
7. VT
8. WF
–
9. BC
10. Duke
11. Mia
–
12. UVA
13. Lou
14. GT
Tentative preseason All-ACC
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 12, 2023
1st team
LB: Barrett Carter, Clemson
LB: Jeremiah Trotter, Clemson
LB: Ced Gray, UNC
2nd team
LB: Payton Wilson, NC State
LB: Marlowe Wax, Cuse
LB: Tatum Bethune, FSU
by David M. Hale 