ACC Spring Capsules (in order of 2007 finish)

ATLANTIC DIVISION

Boston College

2007 RECAP: 11-3 (6-2 ACC); lost to Virginia Tech 30-16 in ACC title game and beat Michigan State 24-21 in Champs Sports Bowl.

SPRING PRACTICE STARTS: March 25

HOLES TO FILL: Matt Ryan left a canyon-sized void at quarterback, and now folks are wondering how smoothly the Eagles' offense will run without him ... Also gone are three offensive line starters, including tackle Gosder Cherilus, plus underrated running backs L.V. Whitworth and Andre Callender, and receiver Kevin Challenger ... The defense returns a lot but also lost cornerback DeJuan Tribble, safety Jamie Silva, linebacker Jolonn Dunbar and end Nick Larkin.

POSITION BATTLES: Senior Chris Crane appears to be Ryan's heir apparent, but he's attempted just 36 career passes — including four last year. Junior college transfer Codi Boek could create some competition ... Recent running back signee Josh Haden enrolled in January and is supposed to be a game-breaker.

SPRING GAME: April 26

Clemson

2007 RECAP: 9-4 (5-3 ACC); lost to Auburn 23-20 in overtime in Chick-fil-A Bowl.

SPRING PRACTICE STARTS: March 8

HOLES TO FILL: Four offensive line starters are gone for the second straight year, among them left tackle Barry Richardson and guard Chris McDuffie ... Defensive end Phillip Merling went pro early and is a potential first-round pick ... Linebackers Nick Watkins and Tramaine Billie exhausted their eligibility, and the status of senior linebacker Antonio Clay is uncertain.

POSITION BATTLES: Junior Cory Lambert, sophomore Chris Hairston and redshirt freshman Landon Walker will vie for the two offensive tackle positions ... Prized signee Da'Quan Bowers, an early enrollee, could push Kevin Alexander at Merling's vacated strong-side end position ... Richard Jackson is hungry after watching Mark Buchholz take the kicking job last year.

SPRING GAME: April 12

Wake Forest

2007 RECAP: 9-4 (5-3 ACC); beat Connecticut 24-10 in Meineke Car Care Bowl.

SPRING PRACTICE STARTS: March 26

HOLES TO FILL: Coach Jim Grobe lost defensive coordinator Dean Hood, who's now the head coach at Eastern Kentucky ... Losing first-team All-ACC receiver Kenneth Moore was huge ... Three offensive line starters are gone, including center Steve Justice ... The loss of defensive end Jeremy Thompson leaves a void on the line.

POSITION BATTLES: Chip Brinkman and Jordan Williams will vie for Moore's status as the team's go-to receiver ... Anthony Davis could replace Thompson.

SPRING GAME: April 19

Florida State

2007 RECAP: 7-6 (4-4 ACC); lost to Kentucky 35-28 in Music City Bowl.

SPRING PRACTICE STARTS: March 17

HOLES TO FILL: First-team All-ACC linebacker Geno Hayes left early for the NFL Draft, as did defensive tackle Letroy Guion ... Second-leading receiver De'Cody Fagg is gone, as are linemen Alex Boston and Andre Fluellen.

POSITION BATTLES: Quarterback Drew Weatherford doesn't necessarily have the starting job wrapped up now that Xavier Lee is gone. Christian Ponder will provide competition in the spring, and incoming freshman E.J. Manuel might be Jimbo Fisher's quarterback of the future.

SPRING GAME: April 12

Maryland

2007 RECAP: 6-7 (3-5 ACC); lost to Oregon State 21-14 in Emerald Bowl.

SPRING PRACTICE STARTS: March 25

HOLES TO FILL: New offensive coordinator James Franklin takes over play-calling duties for head coach Ralph Friedgen, who gave it up after two years of meager results ... The backfield no longer has the bruising one-two-punch of Keon Lattimore and Lance Ball ... Stud linebacker Erin Henderson took off early for the NFL ... The defensive line lost run stuffers Dre Moore and Carlos Feliciano.

POSITION BATTLES: Da'Rel Scott is the leading candidate at tailback but had just 14 carries last year as a freshman ... Southern Cal transfer Antwine Perez could make an immediate impact at defensive back.

SPRING GAME: April 26

N.C. State

2007 RECAP: 5-7 (3-5 ACC)

SPRING PRACTICE STARTS: March 18

HOLES TO FILL: Darrell Blackman's loss is big because he was so good in the return game and gave the Wolfpack a home-run threat at receiver ... Also departed is last year's leading receiver, John Dunlap ... The defensive line won't be the same without tackle DeMario Pressley ... N.C. State must also replace linebackers Ernest Jones and LaRue Rumph.

POSITION BATTLES: Quarterback is an intriguing situation. Daniel Evans and Harrison Beck are back, and Russell Wilson will get a look. All three are trying to prove themselves in anticipation of the August arrival of celebrated freshman Mike Glennon.

SPRING GAME: April 19

COASTAL DIVISION

Virginia Tech

2007 RECAP: 11-3 (7-1 ACC); beat Boston College 30-16 in ACC title game and lost to Kansas 24-21 in Orange Bowl

SPRING PRACTICE STARTS: March 26

HOLES TO FILL: Xavier Adibi and Vince Hall are gone, taking a load of impact plays with them ... Also gone are the top four receivers (Josh Morgan, Justin Harper, Eddie Royal and Josh Hyman) ... Cornerback Brandon Flowers left early. The defense also must replace end Chris Ellis and tackles Carlton Powell and Barry Booker ... The offensive line loses second-team All-ACC tackle Duane Brown.

POSITION BATTLES: Quarterbacks Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor are back after splitting duties with much success last season, and no doubt both would like to win sole control of the starting job ... Brett Warren and Purnell Sturdivant are the top candidates to replace Adibi and Hall.

SPRING GAME: April 19

Virginia

2007 RECAP: 9-4 (6-2 ACC); lost to Texas Tech 31-28 in Gator Bowl

SPRING PRACTICE STARTS: March 21

HOLES TO FILL: At this rate, the Cavaliers might not have enough players to field a team when they play host to Southern Cal on Aug. 30. Five players, including quarterback Jameel Sewell, defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald and cornerback Chris Cook, aren't expected to return because of academic issues ... The Cavaliers lost one of the more disruptive players in ACC history, defensive end Chris Long ... Three of five offensive line starters are gone, including guard Branden Albert.

POSITION BATTLES: Sophomore Peter Lalich will use Sewell's absence to showcase himself at quarterback ... The competition will be open at kicker after the departure of Chris Gould ... Mike Parker and Trey Womack will vie to replace Chris Cook.

SPRING GAME: April 12

Georgia Tech

2007 RECAP: 7-6 (4-4 ACC); lost to Fresno State 40-28 in the Humanitarian Bowl.

SPRING PRACTICE STARTS: March 24

HOLES TO FILL: Zany defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta is now at Notre Dame, replaced by Dave Wommack. The Yellow Jackets won't blitz nearly as much under the new guy ... Kicker Travis Bell and punter Durant Brooks were a stellar combination ... The defense loses linebackers Phillip Wheeler and Gary Guyton, defensive backs Jamal Lewis and Djay Jones, and ends Adamm Oliver and Darrell Robertson.

POSITION BATTLES: All eyes will be on quarterback as new coach Paul Johnson installs his triple-option offense. The immobile Taylor Bennett got the message and transferred, leaving the job up for grabs between Josh Nesbitt and Calvin Booker. ... Tony Clark and Anthony Barnes will be in the mix at linebacker with Shane Bowen.

SPRING GAME: April 19

North Carolina

2007 RECAP: 4-8 (3-5 ACC)

SPRING PRACTICE STARTS: March 3

HOLES TO FILL: Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano left for the NFL and was replaced by Everett Withers from Minnesota ... Defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer should be a first-round draft pick ... Kicker Connor Barth is gone, as are linebacker Durell Mapp and defensive end Hilee Taylor.

POSITION BATTLES: Last year's starter, T.J. Yates, had shoulder surgery and won't be available for spring practice. Cameron Sexton and Mike Paulus will fight it out in his absence ... Anthony Elzy and Ryan Houston will push Johnny White at running back.

SPRING GAME: April 5

Miami

2007 RECAP: 5-7 (2-6 ACC)

SPRING PRACTICE STARTED: Feb. 26

HOLES TO FILL: Quarterback Kyle Wright is gone, and Kirby Freeman transferred to Baylor ... The defense lost two early entries in safety Kenny Phillips and Calais Campbell. Also departed are safety Willie Cooper, linebacker Tavares Gooden and defensive tackle Teraz McCray. The receiving corps is without Lance Leggett and Darnell Jenkins.

POSITION BATTLES: Robert Marve is penciled in as the starter at quarterback, but early enrollees Jacory Harris and Cannon Smith will have a say during spring practice. Signee Taylor Cook will be on board in August and might be a factor as well ... There's playing time available on the interior offensive line after the loss of Andrew Bain, Derrick Morse and John Rochford.

SPRING GAME: March 29

Duke

2007 RECAP: 1-11 (0-8 ACC)

SPRING PRACTICE STARTS: March 19

HOLES TO FILL: Jomar Wright was the Blue Devils' leading receiver last year as a senior, catching 56 passes for 599 yards and five touchdowns ... The Blue Devils lost two starting offensive linemen and running backs Justin Boyle and Ronnie Drummer ... Duke must replace safety Chris Davis, who was the team's third-leading tackler ... The status of star receiver Eron Riley is uncertain after his involvement in a bar fight late last month.

POSITION BATTLES: New coach David Cutcliffe made a huge splash by signing quarterback Sean Renfree, but he could end up redshirting. That would leave the job up to Thaddeus Lewis, last year's starter, and possibly Zack Asack ... Raphael Chestnut and Austin Kelly will contend for Wright's job at receiver.

SPRING GAME: April 19