No. 12 Clemson

Clemson enters 2006 with some momentum in the form of a four-game winning streak, and wins in six of its last seven games. There are eight starters back on offense, but one of them isn’t the quarterback. Charlie Whitehurst has turned the reins over to senior Will Proctor, who completed 58 percent of his tosses with three TDs and no INTs last season.

Proctor has a first-rate receiving corps to work with, led by Chansi Stuckey and Aaron Kelly, who combined for 111 catches last fall. But mostly he will be handing off to running back James Davis, the 2005 ACC Rookie of the Year. As a true freshman, Davis ran for 879 yards at well over five yards a carry, with nine scores. He was the MVP of Clemson’s 19–10 Champs Sports Bowl win over Colorado, when he ran for 150 yards against a Buffalo defense ranked 11th in the nation against the run. Reggie Merriweather picked up 715 yards on the ground himself last year and has 1,441 for his career, and he’s back too. And all five starters return on the offensive line, spearheaded by All-ACC guard Roman Fry.

All three starting linebackers — Anthony Waters, Nick Watkins and Tramaine Billie — return after finishing 1-2-3 on the team in tackles. Waters, who lines up in the middle, broke through for 13.5 tackles behind the line and batted down seven passes. End Gaines Adams notched 15 tackles for a loss and 9.5 sacks, and broke up nine passes.

Bowden Bowl VIII, set for Sept. 16 in Tallahassee, could clear up the picture in the Atlantic Division early on. The Georgia Tech game at Clemson and the trip to Virginia Tech come five days apart — Oct. 21 and 26.

Athlon Pick: ACC Champions

Returning starters
8 offense, 7 defense, both kickers

Ball protection
Clemson lost only five fumbles all last season, the fourth-fewest in the nation.

Standing invitation
In his nine years as a head coach (including two at Tulane), Tommy Bowden has yet to have a team not finish the regular season bowl eligible.

Fond farewell
Charlie Whitehurst leaves Clemson in possession of 46 school records,
including the marks for passing yards, touchdown passes and total offense.

2006 Schedule
S. 2 Florida Atlantic
S. 9 at Boston College
S. 16 at Florida State
S. 23 North Carolina
S. 30 Louisiana Tech
O. 7 at Wake Forest
O. 12 #Temple
O. 21 Georgia Tech
O. 26 at Virginia Tech
N. 4 Maryland
N. 11 NC State
N. 25 South Carolina
#Charlotte, NC

2005 Results (8–4, 4–4 ACC)
S. 3 Texas A&M W 25–24
S. 10 at Maryland W 28–24
S. 17 Miami L 30–36
S. 24 Boston College L 13–16
O. 1 at Wake Forest L 27–31
O. 13 at NC State W 31–10
O. 22 Temple W 37– 7
O. 29 at Georgia Tech L 9–10
N. 5 Duke W 49–20
N. 12 Florida State W 35–14
N. 19 at S. Carolina W 13– 9
D. 27 #Colorado W 19–10
#Champs Sports Bowl