Training camp is here and the beginning of football season is the time when the slate is clean and new stars are ready to emerge. Today we look at the teams on Tobacco Road and attempt to find the next diamond in the rough player who will make an impact on his team this year. You will not find a Ryan Switzer, Bo Hines or Tyler Cameron on this list, but you will find some guys who are under the radar yet ready to produce in 2014.
Johnell Barnes is a wide receiver for the Duke Blue Devils that has the talent to be a force within the offense. Unfortunately a year ago he was suspended for an off the field altercation and never got back into the same rhythm fans saw with his two catch 73 yard performance versus Troy the same weekend he was suspended. The sophomore wide receiver from Lehigh Acres, Florida was rated 112th best player in the country coming out of high school. Jamison Crowder will again be the focal point of the offense nevertheless if the Blue devils hope to compete for a Coastal Division championship Barnes needs to be another big play weapon for the Duke offense.
Wake Forest no longer has the luxury of calling Michael Campanaro’s number when it needs a big play in the passing game. A young receiver to watch out for at Wake forest is Tyree Harris. Harris played in seven games last season and that experience will be invaluable as the demon Deacons start over on offense will quarterback Tyler Cameron. Campanaro took forty percent of the receiving yards last fall and Tyree Harris has as good if not better chance of stepping into a primary than any other receiver on the team.
Kentavius Street may be a true freshman at NC State, but the Wolfpack defensive linemen looks ever bit the part of a player ready to impact this defense right away. Street is close to 300 pounds and could be a force on the defensive line for NC State. This a recruit that Dave Doeren can build off of and will be groomed top play early this year. I don’t think Street can be an every down player right away nevertheless at end of the season he could be one the Wolfpack’s better defensive players.
North Carolina’s Brandon Fritts is an athletic tight end and with the departure of Eric Ebron, the tight end position at UNC will need multiple players fill the void left by the tenth pick in the NFL draft. Fritts enrolled this past January and showed his athleticism in spring ball. Fritts also showed he can slide down to aid in the run game which is something that will help earn him more playing time as the year plays out.
