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 | Linebackers | Cornerbacks | Safeties | Special Teams
1) Ashton Gillotte, Louisville
If Louisville has another 10+ win season, it will start with the ACC’s best defensive lineman Ashton Gillotte. Gillotte had an impressive 2023, that saw him make the All-ACC 1st team and several 2nd and 3rd team All-American teams. He had 45 tackles, 14.5 TFL, and 11 sacks. The 11 sacks had him finish into the 10 in the country in that category.
Going into his senior year, I’ve seen him projected as high as a 2nd round NFL pick.
2) Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech
My Virginia Tech friends have asked me where some of their Hokies are on my Top 5 lists. Well, we’ve got a really good one here at the defensive line from Virginia Tech. Antwaun Power-Ryland is an explosive rush edge, that could have played for the Hokies in the 2000s. He was a 2nd team All-ACC player and Phil Steele Honorable Mention All-American last year.
In 2023 Powell-Ryland had 40 Tackles and 9.5 sacks and is a projected mid-round NFL pick.
3) Peter Woods, Clemson
Peter Woods looks like he is set to become the next in line of great Clemson Defensive Lineman. The talented Woods lived up to his 5-Star billing by making multiple Freshman All-American teams. In just 307 snaps and 2 starts, Woods had 27 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.
He’s a freak athlete who at 315 lbs will play DE for Clemson. Along with with fellow freshman T.J. Parker, Clemson will have the best pair of defensive ends in the ACC, and possibly the country.
4) Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina
Last season North Carolina’s defense left plenty to be desired, but don’t look at Kaimon Rucker. He had 61 tackles and 8.5 sacks in 2023 in a 2nd team All-ACC season. He’s coming back looking for a spot on the 1st team and maybe more nationally. Rucker is a high-motor edge rusher, that will be the anchor of new DC Geoff Collins’s defense.
Going into the 204 he’s projected to be a mid-round NFL pick.
5) Patrick Payton, Florida State
If you are looking for a breakout defensive lineman in 2024, Patrick Payton of Florida State is an excellent candidate. Payton has oozing potential since his freshman year when was the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022. In 2023 he had 44 tackles and a 14.5 TFL season, and FSU is hoping he picks up where Jared Verse left off last year and becomes one of the country’s top defensive linemen.
The potential is there, as several NFL mock drafts have Payton going in the 1st or 2nd round.
