True freshmen no longer serve as just practice bodies and tackling dummies in a redshirt rookie season. They’re enrolling at schools more prepared to play early than ever before, and with the 85-scholarship limit, coaches need freshmen to contribute.
Deshaun Watson started as a freshman. So did Lamar Jackson. Dalvin Cook rushed for 1,000 yards in his first season.
Which incoming ACC freshmen will make major contributions for their team in 2017? The ACC blog picks the recruit most likely to make the biggest impact for each team.
Team: Pittsburgh
Recruit: Paris Ford, No. 4 ATH, No. 68 in the ESPN
Stars: Four
Why he will make an impact: Few programs were as bad as Pittsburgh defending the pass last season as they were 127th in yards allowed per game. Five teams threw for at least 400 yards against Pittsburgh, despite having one of the country’s better pass rushers in Ejuan Price. Pat Narduzzi is one of the best defensive minds, but there just wasn’t enough talent in the secondary to work with in 2016. Ford, who lives near Pittsburgh, will have an opportunity to see the field early on his career, teaming with junior Jordan Whitehead to make the secondary at least respectable. Defensive coordinator Josh Conklin told reporters Ford has the necessary confidence to play in the secondary, and he will make the defensive backs group better the moment he steps on campus. At 6-foot-1, Ford has solid size for a defensive back. It’s important for Pitt’s recruiting that it signs the local stars and they turn into solid players in order to help keep future Western Pennsylvania players from leaving the area.
Coach’s quote: “I think we’re getting a very physical football player, a very emotional football player,” Narduzzi told a Pittsburgh radio station. “I always tell our guys it’s a game of emotion, you better be cranked up to play a game and have your mind right in that aspect, and he brings that. Obviously, he’s got the athletic ability. He’s got a lot of knowledge. He’s a football player. Talking to his coach, he coached a lot of guys in the secondary when he got there, fundamentally as far as what to do. So he’s a special, special kid and we can’t wait to get our hands on him here and coach him up.”
