Well, here we go. It’s time to start ranking the best players in the ACC for the 2024 season. If you see players from Stanford, Cal, or SMU – it’s not a misprint. Here we go!
As usual, we hope you enjoy the rankings.
Previous and Upcoming Rankings
Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Offensive Linemen | Tight Ends | Defensive Linemen | Cornerbacks | Safeties | Special Teams
1) Barrett Carter, Clemson
Not only is Barrett Carter the number 1 linebacker in the ACC, but many college football observers have Clemson’s Barrett Carter as the nation’s number 1 linebacker. He’s plastered across almost every All-American pre-season list, after a 1st Team All-ACC season in 2023.
Carter is as good in coverage as you’ll see in a college linebacker due to his athleticism and closing speed. You might find him going in the 1st round of next year’s NFL Draft.
2) Marlowe, Wax, Syracuse
Marlowe Wax is an experienced linebacker Syracuse welcomes back for his senior season. He’s started 38 straight and has played in 49 total with 294 tackles. Last season in a 2nd Team All-ACC season he had an impressive 110 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss with 4 forced fumbles.
Wax is a good run-stopper, and has already been name to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List. You’ll see Wax playing somewhere on Sundays in the future.
3) Francisco Mauigoa, Miami
Miami continues to have player after player on these top 5 ACC player lists. Should we start to think Miami can be a contender in this year’s ACC? We’ll see, but talent won’t be the problem. Francisco Mauigoa is another quality player on the Cane’s roster. Mauigoa is coming off a 2nd Team All-ACC season that saw him have 82 tackles with a whopping 18 tackles for loss with 7.5 sacks.
Mauigoa plays with good instincts and quickness. Currently, he’s projected as later round NFL pick.
4) Tre Freeman, Duke
Who was the fourth linebacker to join Carter, Wax, and Mauigoa on the 2nd team All-ACC list last year? It was Duke’s Tre Freeman as he looks to make the 1st team this year. In 2023 Freeman had 106 total tackles, 55 solo, and 51 assisted. That makes him the first Duke player since 2019 to have 100+ tackles.
For new coach Manny Diaz, Freeman is a really good player to build a defense around.
5) Power Echols, North Carolina
Power Echols is another returning All-ACC linebacker. Echols was on the All-ACC 3rd team in 2023 and is looking to move up in 2024. He also was a 2022 All-ACC Honorable Selection. Last year he had 102 tackles with 5 tackles for loss.
He’s a rangy physical linebacker, that is good in coverage. As Echols goes into the 2024 season he’s projected as a Day 3 NFL pick, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he works his up to a Day 2 selection.
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