CFB: Top 2021 Breakout Candidates in the ACC

Entering the 2021 season, the ACC is shaping up to be possibly the most interesting conference in all of college football. Last year five teams reached the 8 win mark, and even with Notre Dame dropping back to independent status, there are a ton of intriguing teams that can make an impact. There’s a good mix of established stars and up-and-coming stars waiting in the wings to replace the old guard. Here are the top five breakout candidates in the ACC.

1. Devin Leary, QB North Carolina State

Devin Leary was recruited to be the next star quarterback to join the proud lineage at North Carolina State. Jacoby Brissett, Russell Wilson, and future Hall of Famer Philip Rivers headline the proud heritage of Wolfpack products at quarterback, and Leary can be the next one in that line. 

A record-breaker in New Jersey, Leary started to really come into his own in 2020. As a sophomore, he improved across the board from 2019, with 890 passing yards and 8 touchdowns in only 4 games. Leary was accurate, boasting a 60% completion rate, as well as smart with the ball, only throwing two interceptions. A leg injury derailed a white-hot Leary, but with nearly all of his offensive weapons returning, look for the Leary train to get back on the tracks in 2021.

2. Lyn-J Dixon, RB Clemson

It’s rare to point to a fourth-year player as a breakout candidate. Usually, younger players finally getting their opportunity to show their talent are the ones hand-selected by the media to break out. Lyn-J Dixon has been patiently waiting for an opportunity to show out, and with first-round running back Travis Etienne off to the NFL, Dixon is looking to make an impact. 

As a backup, Dixon has been extremely productive for the Tigers, his 6.6 yards per carry and 13 touchdowns showing his knack for the big play. It will be a new-look offense this year for Dabo Swinney and don’t be surprised if Dixon is one of the featured players.

3. Khafre Brown, WR North Carolina State

To say that North Carolina lost some weapons would be an understatement. Not only did the program lose two 1,000 yard rushers in Javonte Williams and Michael Carter, and top receivers Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome are also both off to the NFL. 

There is a plethora of touches available for the new crop of Tar Heels, and an opportunity to work with one of the best quarterbacks in the game in Sam Howell. Sophomore Khafre Brown looks keen to take the lead in the wide receiver room just as his older brother Dyami, a two-time 1,000-yard receiver last year, did the past two years. Khafre Brown led the North Carolina wide receiver room in yards per catch last year with 22.5 yards a reception and looks to be a featured weapon for the Heisman hunting Howell.

4. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB Georgia Tech

It was always going to be a tough unfolding transition for Georgia Tech away from the triple option. The team had to change not only an offense but an identity that was synonymous with Yellow Jacket football. Georgia Tech looks to keep progressing in their program rebuild in 2021, and they might have the help of a breakout star in Jahmyr Gibbs.

On a lowly 3-7 team, true freshman Jahmyr Gibbs was one of the lone bright spots. Despite not being given the full keys to the offense, the former four-star recruit out of Dalton Georgia was productive as an all-purpose back. With only 89 carries Gibbs managed 460 yards, good for 5.2 yards a pop. More impressively, Gibbs caught 24 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns. Gibbs is electric with the ball in his hands and can be the next star running back in the ACC.

5. Lawrance Toafili, RB Florida State

There’s one thing Florida State does really well, and it’s running the football. The Seminoles have underachieved and flat out struggled at times over the past few years, and last year was no exception. Florida State began the Mike Norvell era with a 3-6 record. One diamond in the rough that was the 2020 Florida State season was the run game. The Seminoles averaged 5.2 yards a carry, good for fourth in the ACC. That trend looks to continue next year with an even bigger role for Lawrance Toafili.

Freshman running back Toafili was one of the most prolific big-play threats in the entire country. While his workload was small with only 37 carries, the former four-star recruit made the most of his carries with 356 yards. That’s right. Toafili averaged 9.6 yards a carry. Any time he touched the ball, he was likely to rip off a big run. There are other mouths to feed in the Seminoles backfield, but Toafili’s talent might be too undeniable to give a bigger role moving forward.

Writer

-By: Jacob Keppen