ACC football notebook

Sophomore Dave Shinskie, who threw for 2,049 yards and 15 TDs in 2009, will start at QB after holding off Mike Marscovetra, Chase Rettig and Josh Bordner. ... Mark Herzlich, the 2008 ACC defensive player of the year who was out last season while battling bone cancer, missed most of camp with a broken foot, but should be able to play Saturday, coach Frank Spaziani said. ... The Eagles are 18-1 against non-conference opponents the past five years.

Clemson (9-5, 6-2 in 2009)

Next game: vs. North Texas, 3:30 p.m. Saturday, ESPNU

Expect backup QB Tajh Boyd to see action Saturday and in the second game against Presbyterian. The redshirt freshman has no game experience, and the coaches would like for him to gain some the first two weeks. ... Clemson RBs Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper combined for 909 yards and eight TDs in 2009, playing behind C.J. Spiller. ... Clemson has won 20 of its past 26 season openers.

Florida State (7-6, 4-4 in 2009)

Next game: vs. Samford, noon, Saturday, ESPNU

Four freshmen -- DE Bjoern Werner, MLB Jeff Luc, WLB Telvin Smith (Lowndes) and CB Lamarcus Joyner -- are listed as backups for the opener. ... Jermaine Thomas, who had 832 yards and 10 TDs in 2009, likely will start at RB, ahead of Chris Thompson and Ty Jones. ... CB Greg Reid (Lowndes) led the nation in punt returns in 2009, averaging 18.42 yards and returning one 68 yards for a touchdown.

Maryland (2-10, 1-7 in 2009)

Next game: vs. Navy (at Baltimore), 4 p.m. Monday, ESPN

RB Da'Rel Scott appears to be 100 percent after missing the final five games of 2009 with a broken arm. He rushed for 1,133 yards in 2008 and finished last season with 425. ... Torrey Smith needs just 291 kickoff return yards to set an ACC career mark, entering this season with 2,398. ... Senior LB Alex Wujciak is the ACC's leading returning tackler with 264 for his career.

N.C. State (5-7, 2-6 in 2009)

Next game: vs. Western Carolina, 6 p.m. Saturday

It appears redshirt freshman Dean Haynes (Northwest Whitfield), who began preseason practice as a starting CB, will start at RB on Saturday. Coach Tom O'Brien said he was disappointed with his other RBs. ... QB Russell Wilson has been responsible for 56 TDs in two seasons, which is 16th in ACC history, one behind former Duke QB Ben Bennett. ... Nate Irving, who missed all of 2009 after a car accident, is listed as the starter at MLB.

Wake Forest (5-7, 3-5 in 2009)

Next game: vs. Presbyterian, 6:30 p.m. Thursday

Thirteen freshmen or redshirt freshmen are on Wake Forest's two-deep depth chart for the opener. Redshirt freshmen DT Frank Souza, NT Nikita Whitlock and S Daniel Mack are listed as starters. ... TB Josh Adams needs 104 yards to become the 10th player in school history to reach 2,000 career rushing yards. ... The Demon Deacons have won three consecutive Thursday night games.

Coastal Division

Duke (5-7, 3-5)

Next game: vs. Elon, 7 p.m. Saturday

Defensive coordinator Marion Hobby said Duke will run a variety of "aggressive" defenses this season, lining up at times in a 3-4, a 4-3 and a 3-5. … QB Sean Renfree will make his first career start after throwing for 330 yards and four touchdowns backing up Thaddeus Lewis last season. … Elon hasn't scored against Duke in the teams' past five meetings, dating to a 0-0 tie in 1921.

Miami (9-4, 5-3 in 2009)

Next game: vs. Florida A&M, 7:30 p.m. Thursday

RB Graig Cooper, who suffered a knee injury in the Champ Sports Bowl, might not play in the opener, coach Randy Shannon said. Cooper, who led the Hurricanes with 695 yards rushing in 2009, is practicing, but hasn't participated in contact drills. ... Matt Bosher's career field-goal percentage of 88.9 percent is the best of any kicker in FBS (formerly Division I-A). ... In addition to Florida A&M, Miami also will play in-state teams Florida State and South Florida this season.

North Carolina (8-5, 4-4 in 2009)

Next game: vs. LSU (at Georgia Dome), 8 p.m. Saturday, ABC

T.J. Yates (Pope) will start at QB against LSU, but that's the only position that coach Butch Davis has confirmed as the NCAA is still investigating several players. ... The Tar Heels' defense was sixth nationally in 2009, allowing 269.9 yards per game. ... Davis' college teams have won nine consecutive season openers, losing only to UCLA when he was at Miami in 1995.

Virginia (3-9, 2-6 in 2009)

Next game: vs. Richmond, 6 p.m. Saturday

New Cavaliers coach Mike London is a 1983 graduate of Richmond and led the Spiders to a 24-5 record and the 2008 FCS (formerly Division I-AA) national championship before taking the Virginia job. London was replaced by Latrell Scott, who coached wide receivers at Virginia last season. ... Richmond is one of eight teams Virginia will face this season that made postseason appearances in 2009.

Virginia Tech (10-3, 6-2 in 2009)

Next game: vs. Boise State (at Landover, Md.), 8 p.m. Monday, ESPN

Coach Frank Beamer doesn't plan to redshirt RB David Wilson, who is a sophomore, despite the presence of 1,000-yard rushers Darren Evans and Ryan Williams. Wilson rushed for 334 yards and four TDs in 2009. ... Virginia Tech has scored in 189 consecutive games, the longest streak in the ACC and the sixth longest in the nation. ... Boise State returns 21 starters from last season's team that finished 14-0.