Happy ACC Football Kickoff Day to all who celebrate. Today, we’re looking at some of the new faces on defense. Bill O’Brien’s team is an outlier roster-wise, with few starters transferring in and fewer than 10 redshirt freshmen. The defense returns 64% of its production—29th in the country—but there is a huge Donovan Ezeiruaku-sized hole to fill.
First, a quick note on the coaching front changes, starting with new defensive backs coach Cory Robinson. Robinson last coached the position with the Jacksonville Jaguars and, before that, spent three seasons with the Saints. On the defensive line, Jordan Thomas comes with glowing reviews from Mike Vrabel, with whom he shared last season with the Browns.