ACC
Player to watch: Jawon Pass, Louisville, Quarterback
Jawon Pass has huge shoes to fill as he’s the front-runner to replace 2016 Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson who returned as a finalist in 2017. With Jackson hoping to hear his name called early in April’s NFL Draft, Pass is working toward stepping into the role he vacated. He won’t be Jackson and he’ll be compared to him which is unfair, but the pressure will be on him to execute Bobby Petrino’s offense nevertheless.
Coach in the spotlight: Willie Taggart, Florida State
Willie Taggart was hired away from Oregon after one season with the Ducks. He returns to his childhood favorite team and to the state where he once coached at USF before leaving for Oregon. He’s been at a number of stops in his brief head coaching career as he’s moved up the coaching ladder, but after Jimbo Fisher left FSU for Texas A&M, the path was open for Taggart to head to Tallahassee and set up camp for years. The Seminoles are coming off a disastrous 7-6 season that spiraled after Deondre Francois was lost for the year after the season-opening loss to Alabama. With Francois healthy, FSU should be a lot better.
Biggest question: Will Kelly Bryant hold off Trevor Lawrence?
Last year, Kelly Bryant had to deal with not being Deshaun Watson as he took over the starting quarterback job for the reigning national champion, Clemson Tigers. This year, Bryant has to deal with not being Trevor Lawrence, the nation’s No. 1 recruit who is now trying to take his job. Bryant had a solid season last year, throwing for 2,802 yards and 13 touchdowns to eight interceptions. He should hold on to the job throughout the spring, but summer camp could be awfully interesting when the 6-6 hotshot freshman has more time to show off his talent and abilities after digesting the playbook.