ACC notes: Hokie ground game appears potent

Virginia Tech might not need to throw a pass this season.

Ryan Williams dominated the ACC last year as a freshman, setting league records with 1,655 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns. He'll be joined in the backfield by junior Darren Evans, who ran for 1,265 yards and 11 TDs in 2008 before missing last season with a torn left ACL.

Evans' absence made room for Williams last fall, but they'll be in the same backfield this year, along with senior QB Tyrod Taylor, who has rushed for 1,537 yards and 18 TDs in his career.

"A lot of times when you get those tailbacks and they've had a lot written about them in high school and so forth, they're not as much 'team guys' as you'd want," coach Frank Beamer told the Newport News (Va.) Daily Press. "[But] I think these guys are team guys.

"I think they’re super individuals that like each other. I think they’re going to help each other. I think we’re always going to have an explosive tailback in the game and sometimes we may have two of them in the game. I think it’s all going to work itself out, because of the kind of people they are."

The Hokies, who were 10-3 and defeated Tennessee 37-14 in the Chick-fil-A Bowl last season, need to have their running game at full speed by their opener. They play Boise State at 8 p.m. Sept. 6 (ESPN) at FedExField in Landover, Md.

Comeback hits snag

Boston College senior linebacker Mark Herzlich, the conference's 2008 defensive player of the year who missed all of last season while receiving treatment for bone cancer in his left leg, missed the Eagles' first practice on Tuesday to rest an injury to his right foot.

Boston College coach Frank Spaziani called Herzlich's injury a "little setback."

Herzlich is listed as the starter on the strong side on the Eagles’ depth chart.

Tough times in Tallahassee

It's been a rough couple of weeks for Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher, who is dealing with the arrest of linebacker Nigel Carr and the dismissal of wide receiver Jarmon Fortson from the team for a violation of team rules. ESPN.com reported that Fortson had failed multiple drug tests.

Carr was arrested on July 25 on felony charges related to two auto burglaries. It was the first time a FSU football player had been arrested since Fisher took over for Bobby Bowden in January.

Carr was slated to start at strongside linebacker, but has been suspended indefinitely.

Fortson, who was projected as a starter, bounced back from dropping a potential game-winning pass on the final play of a 38-34 loss to Miami in last year’s opener, to finish 2009 with 45 catches for 610 yards and four TDs.

Fisher said Rodney Smith likely will replace Fortson in the lineup, but he had only one catch in 2009.

Family ties

Mark Stoops, the youngest brother of Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops and Arizona coach Mike Stoops, is the new defensive coordinator at Florida State, replacing longtime Bowden assistant Mickey Andrews.

Stoops came to Florida State from Arizona, where he was defensive coordinator.

The Seminoles play at Oklahoma at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 11 (ESPN2/ABC).

Strong words

Danny Ford, who led Clemson to the 1981 national championship, was blunt in his assessment of whether the Tigers could win another one in an interview this week with the Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier.