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 | Wide Receivers | Offensive Linemen | Tight Ends |
Defensive Linemen | Linebackers | Cornerbacks | Safeties | Special Teams
1) Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
The ACC is as loaded at RB as I’ve seen in years, and I would put the RB talent against any league in the country. Don’t think so, most top 10 national running back lists have 3 ACC backs on that list led by Omarion Hampton from UNC. Hampton is appearing on 1st or 2nd team pre-season All-American teams all over.
Last season he had 1,504 rushing yards with 29 receptions 222 yards receiving and 16 total TDs. He can run with power and speed being timed in 4.4s for the 40 and he is projected as a 1st or 2nd round NFL pick.
2) Damien Martinez, Miami
Miami cleaned up in the transfer portal. They picked up top transfer QB Cam Ward, and they also landed one of the top RBs in the portal Damien Martinez. Martinez by way of Oregon State rushed for 1,185 yards and 9 TDs. He was an All-Pac12 player in 2022 and 2023, and as a freshman in 2022 was named to several freshman All-American teams.
I’ve seen Martinez in mock draft as a 2nd or 3rd round NFL pick. Could he work his way into the first round?
3) Jaydn Ott, California
If you aren’t familiar with Cal’s Jaydn’s Ott, you need to get to know this talented RB. Ott goes into Junior season with well over 2,100 career rushing yards. Last season he had 1,305 yards on the ground and 12 TDs. He’s a versatile back with the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and is a quality blocker in pass protection.
There really isn’t much Ott doesn’t do well, and he’s another ACC back with a top 4 round draft grade.
4) Phil Mafah, Clemson
With Will Shipley moving on from Clemson, the Tiger backfield now belongs to Phil Mafah. In a timeshare backfield in 2023, Mafah still had 965 yards on the ground for a 5.4 yard per carry average and 13 TDS. Mafah is the kind of workhorse back that gets better the more carries he gets. Against a stout Notre Dame defense last season, Mafah had 35 carries for 186 yards in wearing down the Irish defense. Clemson didn’t exactly have an elite offense line either.
It certainly feels like with Mafah now the feature back, could be headed towards a 1000+ yard rushing season and 10+ TDs in 2024.
5) Jamal Haynes, Georgia Tech
Brent Key continues to coach up and rebuild the Georgia Tech roster. Georgia Tech along with Miami, are the only two ACC programs with a top 5 ACC QB’s and top 5 ACC RB in Jamal Haynes. Will they have a top 5 WR? We’ll see, but Haynes is the 4th ACC back coming off a 1000 yard rushing season finishing 1,059 for a 6.1 yards per carry average.
He also had 20 catches on the season. At 5’9 180 lbs, he is a bit undersized but is a shifty and quick back that is a headache for opposing defenses.
