It was a down year for ACC football this year, but the conference was still full of many of the country's best players and top draft prospects. As a result, several teams will look very, very different next year as their top talent moves on to the NFL. Here are the 3 ACC teams that will lose the most talent this offseason:
Clemson Tigers
Clemson has a very young team, but a lot of their star juniors are expected to go pro after their dream season this year. Wideout Charone Peake graduates and star tight end Jordan Leggett is expected to move to the NFL, while defensive standouts Shaq Lawson and Mackensie Alexander are also likely to enter the draft. Quarterback Deshaun Watson will lead a very talented Clemson team next year, but they are losing a good deal of talent.
Florida State Seminoles
FSU is another extremely young team and doesn't lose a lot, but will lose some key defensive pieces. Defensive back Jalen Ramsey is expected to be a top-five pick in the draft, and seniors Reggie Northup, Terrance Smith, Lamarcus Brutus, and Nile Lawrence-Stample will be moving on and will be on NFL rosters. The Seminoles should return all 11 starters on offense, but their defense will look very, very different.
Pitt Panthers
The Panthers appear to be a program on the rise under new head coach Pat Narduzzi, but they will have to replace their two biggest offensive weapons in wide receiver Tyler Boyd and running back James Conner. Boyd is expected to enter the NFL Draft, and Conner is battling cancer. Most of Pitt's team should be back, but replacing those two stars will be no small task.