Following the early signing period in December, schools closed the book on their 2018 recruiting classes this past Wednesday, National Signing Day.
With signing day behind us, TCI takes a look at the ACC’s 2018 classes.
Here is our ranking, from worst to best, of the signing classes in the ACC’s Atlantic Division.
7. Boston College
National class rankings: #62 (ESPN); T-#69 (Rivals); #67 (247)
Class size: 22
5-star recruits: 0
4-star recruits: 1
3-star recruits: 19
Boston College makes a living up front, so it’s no surprise the Eagles’ 2018 class is headlined by a four-star offensive guard, Finn Dirstine of Acton, Mass. Dirstine is Boston College’s highest-ranked prospect according to the 247Sports Composite at No. 362 nationally. He was a good get for the Eagles, who beat out fellow ACC schools Miami and Syracuse for his services. However, there’s not much else to get excited about in this class. Only two of Boston College’s other 21 signees are nationally ranked by 247. In John Langan and Matt Valecce, Boston College did pick up a pair of three-star, pro-style quarterbacks that are both rated among the top 50 players at their position.
6. Wake Forest
National class rankings: #60 (ESPN); T-#60 (Rivals); #60 (247)
Class size: 22
5-star recruits: 0
4-star recruits: 0
3-star recruits: 22
Wake Forest signed 22 players — all of which are rated as three-stars by 247 — and its 2018 class received a No. 60 national ranking by all three major recruiting services. Six of the Demon Deacons’ recruits are nationally ranked by the 247 Composite, though only one is in the top 500. Offensive tackle Mike Edwards checks in at No. 487 nationally. Wake Forest added just one player on National Signing Day, but it was solid addition in under-the-radar Georgia defensive back Marquis Alston.
5. Syracuse
National class rankings: #52 (ESPN); #64 (Rivals); #51 (247)
Class size: 19
5-star recruits: 0
4-star recruits: 1
3-star recruits: 18
Dino Babers and Syracuse quietly signed their share of intriguing talent this cycle. Atrilleon Williams, who might have the best name of any incoming ACC player, is rated as a four-star athlete by 247. Linebacker Lakiem Williams is ranked as the No. 103 overall prospect in the country by 247, while players such as offensive tackle Qadir White, linebacker Juan Wallace, safety Andre Cisco and wide receiver Ed Hendrix all have a chance to make an impact for the Orange. Hendrix was one of the most highly recruited prospects in the Washington (D.C.) area, while White and Wallace both had offers from Georgia among multiple other Power Five programs.
4. NC State
National class rankings: #29 (ESPN); #34 (Rivals); #26 (247)
Class size: 24
5-star recruits: 0
4-star recruits: 6
3-star recruits: 17
NC State signed six prospects rated as four-stars by 247, the third most in the ACC Atlantic and tied for the fifth most in the conference overall. The Wolfpack inked a top-100 national prospects in linebacker Payton Wilson (No. 79). Wilson and four-star running back signee Ricky Person are all regarded as top-five players at their positions in the 2018 recruiting class. Clemson was involved with a few of NC State’s signees to various degrees, including Wilson, four-star defensive tackle Alim McNeill and four-star cornerback Taiyon Palmer.
3. Louisville
National class rankings: #28 (ESPN); #31 (Rivals); #29 (247)
Class size: 24
5-star recruits: 0
4-star recruits: 4
3-star recruits: 20
Louisville’s biggest additions in this class came via the transfer market. The Cardinals signed a quartet of highly touted junior college transfers: safety Marlon Character Jr., defensive end Michael Boykin, defensive tackle Jared Goldwire and tight end Nigel Kilby, all of whom are ranked as top-100 junior college prospects nationally. Character, the country’s top junior college safety according to 247, originally signed with Auburn before leaving the program last year after his redshirt freshman season. He was committed to South Carolina at one point before ultimately deciding to continue his career with the Cardinals.
2. Florida State
National class rankings: #11 (ESPN); #10 (Rivals); #11 (247)
Class size: 21
5-star recruits: 0
4-star recruits: 13
3-star recruits: 8
Willie Taggart did an outstanding job to more than just salvage Florida State’s 2018 class after being hired as the program’s new coach in December. The Seminoles’ class went from being ranked No. 8 nationally to No. 64 in the country after Jimbo Fisher’s departure, but Taggart nonetheless managed to bring in a top-15 signing class according to all of the major recruiting services. Florida State’s latest crop of talent features a trio of top-100 defensive backs in Jaiden Woodbey (No. 35), cornerback Anthony Lytton (No. 50) and cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (No. 60), as well as defensive tackle Robert Cooper (No. 117).
1. Clemson
National class rankings: #5 (ESPN); #8 (Rivals); #6 (247)
Class size: 17
5-star recruits: 5
4-star recruits: 7
3-star recruits: 5
Clemson’s 2018 class isn’t just tops in the ACC Atlantic, it’s the best in the conference altogether. The Tigers signed five recruits rated as five-stars by 247 — four more than the rest of the ACC combined. That total includes the nation’s No. 1 offensive and defensive prospects in quarterback Trevor Lawrence and defensive end Xavier Thomas, as well as defensive end K.J. Henry, offensive lineman Jackson Carman and wide receiver Derion Kendrick. The Tigers signed the top-ranked player according to at least one service in six different states, a first in school history. Clemson’s class is ranked in the top 10 nationally by all of the major recruiting services and as high as No. 5 in the country by ESPN.
**All star ratings and player rankings according to 247Sports