You’ve seen Jameis Winston with a spear on his helmet for the last time. The next time you see Vic Beasley in action, he’ll have a Falcon on his. Their former ACC opponents are undoubtedly happy with those developments, just as they’re thrilled not to have to cover DeVante Parker and Jamison Crowder or tackle Duke Johnson. With spring practice behind us and the regular season less than four months away, here’s a look at how each ACC team might replace their biggest departing piece:
BOSTON COLLEGE
Who replaces Andy Gallik? The Eagles had the 14th-best rushing offense in the nation last season, at 251.8 yards per game. But the offensive line lost Gallik, an All-ACC second-team center who was selected in the sixth round of the NFL draft by the Titans, and Bobby Vardaro, an All-ACC third-team member at guard, as well as Seth Betancourt, Ian Silberman and Aaron Kramer.
That leaves Harris Williams, who started all 12 games in 2013, but suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 2014 opener, as the most experienced returner up front. He didn’t participate in spring practice. But the key figure could be Frank Taylor, who is expected to start at center after waiting his turn behind Gallik and transitioning from tackle.
CLEMSON
Who replaces Vic Beasley? You would think this would be a huge headache for Dabo Swinney and his defensive coaching staff, considering that Beasley, an Adairsville High grad, was a two-time All-American defensive end and first-round draft choice by the Falcons. How could the Tigers possibly replace someone who registered 25 sacks and 44 1/2 tackles for loss the past two seasons?
But if you listen to Swinney talk about Shaq Lawson, the coach might just convince you that all is not lost.
“Shaq is going to bring some certain things to the table that Vic didn’t,” Swinney said in a spring conference call. “So there’s a lot of positives.”
Lawson is no newcomer despite his lack of starts. He played a combined 632 snaps the past two seasons and was the second player in school history (after Anthony Simmons, 1995-96) to have at least 10 tackles for loss as a freshman (10) and sophomore (11).
DUKE
Who replaces Jamison Crowder? Replacing someone who was named to the all-conference first team as both a wide receiver and special-teams standout is virtually impossible. The 5-foot-8 standout became the ACC's record holder for career receptions, prompting the Redskins to draft him in the fourth round.
But the man charged with taking up the slack has the advantage over Crowder when it comes to name recognition and NFL pedigree. Max McCaffrey is the son of former receiver Ed McCaffrey, a three-time Super Bowl champion who played 13 seasons in the NFL with the Giants, 49ers and Broncos.
But Max has his own stellar career line: 65 receptions, 698 yards, seven touchdowns. He and Johnell Barnes (23 catches, 237 yards in 2014) will lead the way among the receivers.
McCaffrey’s athletic bloodlines don’t stop with his father. His mother lettered three seasons in soccer at Stanford, his brother Christian is a member of the Stanford football team, and his grandfather Dave Sime lettered in baseball and track at Duke.
FLORIDA STATE
Who replaces Jameis Winston? Two weeks ago, that answer likely would have been Sean Maguire, who is remembered for his solid fill-in performance last season in a win over Clemson when Winston was suspended. But that was BG: Before Golson.
Everett Golson, Notre Dame’s former starting quarterback, announced Tuesday that he will enroll at Florida State after graduating last weekend. He will immediately be eligible to play his final season under NCAA graduate transfer rules.
That bit of news will make for an interesting preseason camp as the Seminoles try to replace Winston, the former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 draft pick.
Golson instantly becomes the most accomplished signal-caller on the roster. He was a two-year starter for the Fighting Irish (he missed the 2013 season because of an academic violation) and passed for 3,445 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2014. But he also committed 22 turnovers.
Maguire, a junior, finished spring practice at No. 1 on the depth chart. Before Golson’s addition, his main competition was expected to come from John Franklin III, J.J. Cosentino and De’Andre Johnson.
LOUISVILLE
Who replaces DeVante Parker? How about wide receiver Ja'Quay Savage? If you're not familiar with Savage, it's probably because he went by the name Ja'Quay Williams until this offseason.
Williams, you might recall, starred at Sandy Creek High and committed to Auburn before academics tripped him up. He ended up at Fork Union Military Academy and then signed with Texas A&M, where he appeared in 10 games and caught four passes for 71 yards as a freshman. But he left the Aggies after one season and transferred to Louisville.
At 6-foot-3, Williams is an inviting target, but replacing Parker’s production (156 receptions, 2,775 yards, 33 touchdowns in four seasons) won’t be easy. Despite missing seven games in 2014 because of a foot injury, Parker had 43 catches for 855 yards and five TDs. He was the Dolphins’ first-round draft pick.
MIAMI
Who replaces Duke Johnson? To be honest, no one. Johnson, an All-ACC first-team selection and third-round draft pick by the Browns, was the most productive ball carrier in Hurricanes history, with 3,519 rushing yards. So expect a committee approach until someone emerges — which could be four-star recruit Mark Walton.
Gus Edwards provides the most bulk at 6-foot-2, 235 pounds. Joseph Yearby is the slasher, at just 5-9, 185 pounds. Edwards gained 349 yards and scored six touchdowns last season in a reserve role, while Yearby accounted for 509 rushing yards and produced 5.9 yards per carry.
“I think (replacing Johnson is) a great challenge for our guys,” coach Al Golden said in a spring conference call.
Golden also has Walter Tucker and Trayone Gray in the mix. But he made sure to mention Walton when the running back subject was broached.
NORTH CAROLINA
Who replaces Vic Koenning? Well, that's an easy one. After his defensive surrendered 39 points per game in 2014, the veteran coordinator was fired and replaced by a familiar face: former Auburn coach Gene Chizik.
Chizik has installed a new scheme, and he plans to install a new attitude. But no North Carolina player was named to the first-, second- or third-team All-ACC squad last season, so Chizik has some work to do. Part of his nucleus includes a group of Georgians: defensive tackle Justin Thomason (Eagle’s Landing Christian), safeties Allen Artis (Wheeler High) and Donnie Miles (North Gwinnett High), and defensive ends Junior Gnonkonde (Lanier County High) and Mikey Bart (Buford High).
All five are in the Tar Heels’ three-deep on defense, with Thomason slated to start. He started all 12 games last season, registering 30 tackles and five tackles for loss.
N.C. STATE
Who replaces Rob Crisp? The 6-foot-7, 300-pound tackle was a fixture on the Wolfpack's offensive line for what seemed like a decade. The former five-star prospect started the season opener as a freshman in 2010 and was still around in 2014 after being granted an extra season by the NCAA following a concussion in 2013.
The next mainstay on the line could be redshirt freshman Tyler Jones, a Stephenson High grad who is expected to assume the important left tackle position despite his lack of experience. Jones impressed coach Dave Doeren with the strides he made during spring practice.
Then there’s Alex Barr, a Starr’s Mill High grad who bounced back and forth between right guard and left guard last season. He missed the last three games of the season after suffering a concussion.
The two Georgia products will be joined by three returning starters: center Quinton Schooley and guards Joe Thuney and Tony Adams. Add in redshirt freshman Will Richardson, and the Wolfpack have a chance to be dominant up front.
PITTSBURGH
Who replaces T.J. Clemmings? The Panthers went against conventional wisdom by playing Clemmings, the Vikings' fourth-round draft choice and a potential left tackle in the NFL, on the right side instead of protecting quarterback Chad Voytik's blind side last season.
That decision worked well, as Pittsburgh averaged 249 rushing yards per game, paving the way for All-American James Conner to gain almost 1,800 yards.
It also means first-year coach Pat Narduzzi has the good fortune of a returning left tackle: Adam Bisnowaty, a powerful run blocker who started 10 games in 2014. His choice for the vacated right side likely will be sophomore Jaryd Jones-Smith, who played left tackle last season behind Bisnowaty but made a smooth transition during spring practice.
Anchoring the line will be sophomore center Alex Officer, who recently was named to the preseason watch list for the Rimington Trophy. Other veterans up front are left guard Dorian Johnson and right guard Alex Bookser.
SYRACUSE
Who replaces Cameron Lynch? The Brookwood High grad was a fixture at linebacker for the Orange for four seasons, playing in 50 games and starting 28. Also gone is fellow veteran linebacker Dyshawn Davis, who made 35 starts in his career. They were 1-2 on the team in tackles last season (Lynch with 97, Davis with 71).
So far, junior Marqez Hodge and sophomore Zaire Franklin have assumed the leadership roles, with Franklin running the show at middle linebacker. He’s an All-ACC Academic Team member and could be the key to Syracuse’s defense.
But one emerging possibility is Collins Hill High grad Jonathan Thomas, who played in nine games last season as a freshman. He could be battling fellow sophomore Parris Bennett for playing time.
VIRGINIA
Who replaces Eli Harold and Henry Coley? Defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta has to find a pass rush minus Harold (defensive end) and Coley (linebacker), both All-ACC second-team choices in 2014. Those two, plus linebacker Max Valles, combined for 24 of the team's 34 sacks last season, but Coley graduated and Harold and Valles left early for the NFL draft (Harold was picked in the third round, Valles in the sixth).
The most experienced linebackers are Zach Bradshaw, Micah Kiser and Mark Hall. But most of their work so far has been done on special teams and in reserve roles. Demonstrating their lack of experience, they have combined for only 44 career tackles.
Virginia also has a few players who can put pressure on the quarterback up front: All-ACC third-team tackle David Dean (eight tackles for loss in 2014) and ends Mike Moore (eight tackles for loss, three sacks) and Kwontie Moore (two sacks). But Moore missed spring practice with a shoulder injury.
VIRGINIA TECH
Who replaces Kyshoen Jarrett and Detrick Bonner? They might not have been the most talented players in the Hokies' secondary — that's junior Kendall Fuller, an All-ACC first-team performer at cornerback and likely future high NFL draft pick — but Jarrett and Bonner were the glue. They played a combined 5,406 defensive snaps over the past four seasons.
So longtime defensive coordinator Bud Foster has to replace 160 tackles and four interceptions from last season — and plenty of experience.
His best option on all fronts is Chuck Clark, who started 11 games in 2014 and finished third on the team with 73 tackles, including 8.5 for loss. Clark’s physical play fits perfectly at the Hokies’ rover position, but he’ll also be used at cornerback. He was named the defensive MVP during the spring.
One advantage for the new safeties is the talent on the outside with Fuller and Northgate High grad Brandon Facyson. But Facyson is questionable after sitting out the final nine games of last season after re-aggravating a shin ailment. Then he suffered a broken leg during bowl practice in December and had surgery for the second time in his college career. Facyson, who received a medical hardship waiver, will try to return to the form that saw him post five interceptions as a freshman in 2013.
WAKE FOREST
Who replaces Kevin Johnson?
The Wake Forest secondary will have to be rebuilt, starting with Johnson, a first-round draft pick of the Texans. Add the losses of fellow cornerback Bud Noel and safety Anthony Wooding Jr., and the Deacons have some work to do before next season.
The heir apparent at one cornerback is Brad Watson, but he suffered a fractured wrist and was kept out of live drills during the spring. Wake Forest is hopeful that he’ll be back to full speed by August. The other likely starter was Bryant Gross-Armiento, a transfer from Rutgers, but he recently had ACL surgery and his status is uncertain.
Greenbrier High grad Thomas Brown could be a bright spot at safety. He was seventh on the squad in tackles last season (54) and has played in 23 games during his two-year career.
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