ACC Football

Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. has pled guilty to three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated malicious wounding and five firearms counts following a Nov. 2022 tragedy in which University of Virginia football players Lavel Davis Jr., D'Sean Perry and Devin Chandler were shot and killed on a bus returning from a class trip.

Jones also shot and injured Cavaliers football player Mike Hollins. Another UVA student was injured in the gunfire.

Per Ben Finley and Denise Lavoie of the Associated Press, the former UVA student will be sentenced following a four-day hearing beginning on Feb. 4 in Albemarle County Circuit Court.

His plea deal may result in five life sentences, per Jason Armesto of The Daily Progress.

Jones arrived in Charlottesville in 2018 after joining the football team but never played in a game. Per Armesto, Jones was cut due to a preexisting ankle injury.

He remained a UVA student. On Nov. 13, 2022, Jones joined a class trip to Washington, D.C. that included the football players. Armesto provided more information, which reads in part:

"According to a statement of facts laid out by the prosecution, his time on the team did not overlap with any of the victims, and the commonwealth found no indication that Jones and the victims knew each other prior to the day of the shooting.

"The trip to D.C. was organized by an African American theater class, of which the five victims were current or former members. A bus was chartered to take them to see a play, 'The Ballad of Emmett Till,' and because there was space on the bus, the professor organizing the trip invited Jones and three others who were taking a seminar with her.

Per Armesto, details from the statement of facts read by the prosecution revealed that Jones appeared "happy and excited" before the football players arrived on the bus. However, he became "irritable" afterward and was quiet and kept to himself for the duration of the trip.

Information also revealed that Jones clearly targeted the football players. Texts from Jones to "an adult mentor" claimed that the football players had been messing with him during the trip, although no evidence was brought forth in the statement of facts suggesting that was the case, per Armesto. Jones also texted the mentor stating "they not getting off this bus."

Per Richard Gard of Virginia Magazine, Jones shot and killed Davis, Perry and Chandler as the bus was pulling up to the Culbreath Road drop-off point on campus. Another student was injured in that gunfire. Hollins initially escaped the bus after gunfire erupted but returned to try and help people still onboard to get off. However, Jones spotted him and shot Hollins in the back before fleeing. Police captured Jones the next morning.

Michael Haggard, an attorney representing three of the victims' families, told Armesto that the hope is for Jones, now 25 years old, to receive a life sentence with extremely limited chances of early release. However, he also expressed confidence that a judge will keep Jones imprisoned for life.

The ACC revealed the conference's full schedule for Week 14 on Monday.

The conference currently has four teams that appeared on the latest College Football Playoff rankings, led by No. 9 Miami with a 9-1 record.

The Week 14 slate for the ACC includes two games on Friday and nine contests on Saturday.

Here are the dates, times, and TV information for each matchup.

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Friday, Nov. 29

• Stanford at San Jose State, 4 p.m. ET on CBS
• Georgia Tech at Georgia, 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC

Saturday, Nov. 30

• South Carolina at No. 20 Clemson, 12 p.m. ET on ESPN
• Duke at Wake Forest, 12 p.m. ET on ACC Network
• No. 19 Louisville at Kentucky, 12 p.m. ET on SEC Network
• Pitt at Boston College, 3 p.m. ET on The CW
• No. 9 Miami at Syracuse, 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
• California at No. 14 SMU, 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2
• NC State at North Carolina, 3:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network
• Florida at Florida State, 7 p.m. ET or 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 – exact time designation TBD
• Virginia at Virginia Tech, 8 p.m. ET on ACC Network

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Despite the Hurricanes having the highest spot among the teams in the CFP rankings, SMU owns the No. 1 seed in the ACC with a perfect 6-0 record against conference opponents. Clemson sits at No. 2 with a 7-1 record against ACC foes while Miami owns a 5-1 record in conference play.

The Mustangs control their own destiny as they attempt to secure a spot in the ACC title game. In addition to their upcoming battle with California on Nov. 30, they'll also face off against Virginia on Saturday as they look to remain unbeaten against conference foes.

Miami appeared to be a lock to secure a spot in the conference championship game, but a surprising 28-23 loss to Georgia Tech could be a cause for concern moving forward. Still, the Hurricanes will host Wake Forest on Saturday before traveling to Syracuse.

While Clemson has won two straight games following a Nov. 2 loss to Louisville, head coach Dabo Swinney's team requires some help to earn a trip to the ACC championship clash. The Tigers will need Miami to lose again or SMU to drop each of its final two games to secure a spot (h/t Derrian Carter of the Greenville News).

With the race for a spot in the conference title game as well as a potential CFP berth heating up, Week 14's slate should feature several hard-fought contests.

Miami quarterback Cam Ward knows that life in the pocket can be much easier when your blockers are happy.

Ward recently gifted diamond chains and pendants to Hurricanes offensive linemen:

Cam Ward blessed his offensive lineman with diamond pendants & chains 💎⛓️ pic.twitter.com/Kpf53RGDjH

— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) November 14, 2024

Miami quarterback Cam Ward gifted his entire offensive line personalized chains tonight💎

He has a $2.1 million On3 NIL Valuation. https://t.co/8iQM9yxiIt pic.twitter.com/U490VXlPAe

— On3 NIL (@On3NIL) November 14, 2024

A quarterback buying extravagant gifts for their linemen is nothing new. For obvious reasons, the tradition has typically been limited to the NFL. Now that college stars are earning six- or even seven-figure paydays, more O-linemen are getting to benefit.

While the full extent of his off-field earnings is unclear, Ward has the eighth-highest NIL valuation ($2.1) among all college and high school athletes at On3. Adidas, EA Sports and Bose are among his endorsements.

The senior signal-caller certainly has a lot to be thankful for. He's the FBS leader in passing yards (3,494) and touchdown passes (32), and he remains an outside threat to win the Heisman Trophy.

Ward has also put himself in the conversation to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft. In Bleacher Report's most recent mock, he was projected to go fifth overall to the Cleveland Browns.

Beyond what he's doing on the field, Ward's act of generosity toward his linemen is the kind of thing NFL talent evaluators will probably notice too.

Four-star quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. has decommitted from Florida State, according to Hayes Fawcett of On3.

Jones is the No. 21 quarterback and No. 237 overall player in 247Sports' composite rankings for 2025. He's the sixth recruit to decommit from the Seminoles amid their disappointing season.

FSU is serving as a prime example of how quickly the narrative can turn on a program and its head coach.

In 2023, the Seminoles had a perfect regular season, while Mike Norvell won multiple Coach of the Year awards. Now, they're sitting at 1-9 and people are beginning to wonder whether Norvell is still the right guy for the job.

Florida State's performance would be enough to have a ripple effect on the recruiting trail. Firing offensive coordinator Alex Atkins, defensive coordinator Adam Fuller and wide receivers coach Ron Dugans probably didn't help because recruits often build a strong rapport with assistant coaches.

The Seminoles were 12th in 247Sports' composite team rankings for 2024. With Jones' defection, they're now 42nd in the 2025 recruiting cycle.

Since this video:

-Florida State is 1-9
-FSU fired three coaches
-All of FSU's 2025 WR's decommitted
-4-star QB Tramell Jones Jr. decommitted

BRUTAL 😳 https://t.co/m2nnnL2kyd

— Rivals (@Rivals) November 14, 2024

There's still time for Norvell and his staff to fill out the class and flip some recruits who are committed elsewhere, but the start of the early signing period is less than a month away (Dec. 4). It will be tough to match the haul FSU had a year ago.

The sting of losing Jones could also be compounded by watching him move over to an in-state rival. Florida is the favorite to land him in 247Sports' crystal ball.

HEIGHT: 6'6"

WEIGHT: 310

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POSITIVES

— Utilizes effective high-low hand carriage and approach in pass protection to strike and latch the outer pec of rushers with a responsive catch hand to corral his target

— Capable anchor to regain balance and die slowly after initially getting jolted against the bull-rush

— Active drag hand with good spacing to overtake and sort out basic line games and stunts

— Churns and strains to capitalize on drive-block momentum to displace and steer defenders away from the ball

— Does a decent job on angle-drive blocks of walling off and securing rush lanes

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NEGATIVES

— Upright playing style with shaky body control leads to leaning and consistently being overextended, especially against the push-pull technique

— Struggles to timely adjust and stay in front of moves across his face in the run and pass game

— Will drop his outside foot and open his hips early against upfield, high-side rushes to create a soft inside shoulder and two-way gos

— Takes poor angles to backers on climbs leaving him routinely off target at the second-level

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NOTES

— Born Feb. 25, 2004

— 3-star recruit from the 2022 class, per 247Sports

— First Clemson non-specialist to start every game of the season in both his freshman and sophomore years since Clelin Ferrell from 2016-17 after Ferrell redshirted in 2015

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OVERALL

Blake Miller is a three-year starter at right tackle inside Clemson's balanced, multiple run scheme. Miller has well-rounded dispersion of weight on his frame with solid arm length, adequate athletic ability and play strength.

Miller wins as a run blocker with a solid initial burst out of his stance to get into his fits quickly on angle-drive blocks and wall off opponents on quick-hitting runs. He churns and runs his feet through contact to utilize a defender's momentum against themselves once caught leaning, which leads to some flashes of displacement and an occasional full-body finish. He struggles mightily with sustaining blocks against the push-pull technique and sudden moves across his face due to persistently high pad level. He takes erratic angles on climbs to the second level, which saps his ability to track targets.

In pass protection, Miller shows adequate range to get to his spot on time with effective high-low hand carriage to strike and latch the outer pec of the upfield and high-side rushes with a responsive catch hand to corral his target. This active catch hand also translates to dragging and being able to sort out line games and stunts. While Miller has some flashes of finding his anchor late against power moves, he is routinely jolted back against stutter bulls and speed-to-power and will bite, drift and create soft edges when being set up by stutters and hesitations.

Overall, Miller is a young and experienced right tackle prospect with a sound approach in pass protection and enough physical traits to function and compete as a backup in the NFL especially if he can show some positional versatility during the all-star game circuit.

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GRADE: 5.9 (Backup/Draftable — 6th-7th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 126

POSITION RANK: OT10

PRO COMPARISON: Blake Hance

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

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Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

HEIGHT: 6'6"

WEIGHT: 336

HAND: 10¼"

ARM: 33⅞"

WINGSPAN: 83⅛"

40-YARD DASH: 5.26

3-CONE: 7.77

SHUTTLE: 4.69

VERTICAL: 29.5"

BROAD: 8'11"

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POSITIVES

— Good arm length with a thick, wide-bodied build, heavy hands and jarring power

— Flashes of high-end burst seen on backside cut-offs, screens and climbs that allow him to close space at a very impressive level given his size

— Can bang down, feed and cave in the hip/ribs of his target on double teams

— Excels against bigger power rushers with the size, length and strength to

— Finds work when uncovered with pocket-clearing pop on contact

— Plays with a physical, aggressive mentality and the size/power to generate knockdowns

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NEGATIVES

— Marginal agility and lateral quickness with an upright playing style leaves him late, leaning and overextended against moves across his face

— Clunky footwork causes his heels to click when expanding his set points against high-side rushes and crossover when redirecting inside

— High variance pass protector due to being overly reliant on the two-hand strike, leaving him with no recourse when his strike doesn't land

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NOTES

— Unranked recruit from the 2019 class, per 247Sports

— Enrolled at Georgia Military Academy where he spent two seasons before transferring to N.C. State as a 3-star JUCO recruit

— 32 career starts at left tackle

— Was ejected against Clemson during the 2024 season and subsequently was taken out of the starting lineup the following week (although he did play)

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OVERALL

Anthony Belton is a three-year starter at left tackle inside N.C. State's balanced, zone-based run scheme with counter mixed in. Belton has a thick, wide-bodied build with good arm length, heavy hands and solid athletic ability.

Belton wins as a run blocker using his big body, long arms and heavy hands to cover up targets on angle-drive blocks with the power to displace and create rush lanes. He dents defensive tackles on double-team feeds and has flashes of very good burst to cut off the backside and intersect targets on screens. While Belton's raw athletic ability and power are impressive, it is clouded with raw, clunky footwork and high pad level that oftentimes leave him late, leaning and overextended against slippery defenders and moves across his face.

In pass protection, Belton wins using his size, length, and knockback power to stun and engulf rushers that use power and attempt to go down the middle of him while flashing the ability to keep high-side rushers at his fingertips and widen the corner. Belton is also a force when uncovered and can cave in adjacent rushers to clear the pocket. He is inconsistent with speed moves due to shaky footwork and an overreliance on two-hand striking, which leaves him beat clean against adept counter moves.

Overall, Belton has starter-level size, natural power and enough athletic ability to warrant being drafted, but sloppy technique and shaky recovery skills make him a high-variance dart throw worth a shot for a high-end, veteran line room and coaching staff.

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GRADE: 6.5 (Potential Role Player - Round 4)

OVERALL RANK: 172

POSITION RANK: OT12

PRO COMPARISON: Germain Ifedi

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

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Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

HEIGHT: 6'1"

WEIGHT: 185

HAND: 9¼”

ARM: 30⅞”

WINGSPAN: 76⅛”

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40-YARD DASH: 4.50

3-CONE: 6.60

SHUTTLE: 4.05

VERTICAL: 36"

BROAD: 10'0"

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POSITIVES

— Long-limbed athlete with good overall size. Does a great job of using his length to his advantage.

— Smooth athlete who shows to have loose hips to flip and swivel.

— Strong press man defender who slides his feet well to keep leverage and uses his hands well to disrupt routes.

— Very good ball skills. Does a good job of getting his head around to find the ball and ability to play the ball, more so with short and intermediate routes.

— Wrap tackler who shows to be secure in open field tackling.

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NEGATIVES

— Inconsistent with pad level which inhibits his transitions.

—Can get too handsy when working downfield, especially when caught out of position. Lacks recovery speed downfield.

— Gambler who consistently looks to undercut routes, taking poor angles and losing positioning. He often falls out of phase with receivers.

— Reverts to face guarding downfield, as he is slow to get his head around to find them ball.

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2024 STATISTICS

— 12 Games, 32 Tackles, 2 INT, 8 PBU, 1 FF

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NOTES

— Born March 14, 2002

— Games Started: 44

— 3-star recruit in the 2020 class, per 247Sports

— 2023: Third Team All-ACC

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OVERALL

Dorian Strong is a long-limbed cornerback who leverages his size and athleticism to disrupt routes and make plays on the ball. His press-man coverage skills and ball-hawking tendencies make him a highly competitive defender, but he has areas to clean up in his technique and consistency.

Strong excels in press-man coverage, utilizing his length and footwork to disrupt routes at the line of scrimmage. His smooth athleticism allows him to swivel his hips and transition well on shorter routes, showcasing good ball skills in intermediate zones. However, he struggles with maintaining proper pad level, often leading to separation on deeper routes. His gambling nature and reliance on undercutting routes can sometimes pull him out of phase, and his lack of elite recovery speed is a concern downfield.

Strong is willing to engage in the run game, with secure wrap tackling being one of his strengths. His ability to close on ball-carriers in space helps his overall run defense, though his size and physicality are still developing. He takes sound angles and demonstrates a strong understanding of leverage, making him reliable in run support.

Dorian Strong projects as a mid-round pick, offering potential as a starting outside cornerback with the right coaching. His length, ball skills, and press coverage ability make him valuable in man-heavy schemes. However, he must improve his technique, especially in downfield coverage, to avoid giving up big plays.

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GRADE: 7.0 (High-Level Backup/ Potential Starter — 3rd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 102

POSITION RANK: CB14

PRO COMPARISON: Levi Wallace

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

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Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

HEIGHT: 5'11"

WEIGHT: 194

HAND: 8½”

ARM: 31"

WINGSPAN: 75"

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40-YARD DASH: 4.48

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POSITIVES

— Fluid athlete with good size and filled out frame. Very good athleticism and body control.

— Flashes the ideal twitch and bursts out of his breaks. Shows the ability to transition and get a jump on the ball.

— Great ball skills, awareness, and timing to compete with receivers. Very good at locating the ball and high pointing.

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NEGATIVES

— One-speed runner with limited top-end speed. Lacks the recovery speed necessary when out of position.

— Below average vision in zone coverage. He can get pulled out of position and struggles to play multiple threats in his zone.

— Inconsistent breaking and transitioning. Hops into breaks and can be slow to react to what he sees.

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NOTES

— Born May 26, 2001

— 3-star recruit in the 2019 class, per 247Sports

— 2022: Transfer from Middle Tennessee to Louisville

— 2021: First Team All-Conference USA

— 2020: Conference USA All-Freshman Team

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OVERALL

Quincy Riley is a fluid and athletic cornerback with a good blend of size, body control, and twitch. His ball skills and awareness allow him to compete effectively with receivers, but he has room for improvement in zone coverage and consistency in his reactions.

Riley shines when competing for the ball, using his timing, ball skills, and athleticism to high-point throws. He shows quickness and burst out of breaks, but his one-speed running limits his recovery ability when out of position. He has a tendency to hop into transitions, leading to slower reactions and occasional separation by receivers. In zone, he struggles to handle multiple threats and is sometimes caught out of position.

Riley provides minimal impact in run support, largely due to his scheme responsibilities. While he supports the run well from a positioning standpoint, he isn't often in the mix for tackles, which makes his impact against the run somewhat limited.

Quincy Riley projects as a mid-round pick with the potential to develop into a starter later in his career. His athleticism and ball skills give him a strong foundation, but he must improve his speed, reaction times, and zone coverage awareness to make a consistent impact at the next level.

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GRADE: 7.1 (High-Level Backup/ Potential Starter — 3rd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 97

POSITION RANK: CB13

PRO COMPARISON: Coby Bryant

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

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Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

HEIGHT: 6'6"

WEIGHT: 240

HAND: 8⅝"

ARM: 31½"

WINGSPAN: 77⅝"

40-YARD DASH: 4.75"

VERTICAL: 31"

BROAD: 9'7"

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POSITIVES

— Buildup speed to threaten the seams and deep areas in the middle of the field.

— Accuracy-extending receiver with outstanding catch radius and leaping ability.

— Alignment versatility, creating mismatches as a flex tight end

— Red zone threat due to size, ball skills, and leaping ability.

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NEGATIVES

— Lean frame, could benefit from adding more muscle mass to handle NFL physicality.

— Despite his traditional height, he will not be viewed as an in-line tight end at the next level.

— Run blocking improvement is needed to have three-down value for NFL offenses.

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NOTES

— Born Dec. 9, 2002

— 4-star recruit in 2021 class, per 247Sports

— 2024: Third-Team All-ACC

— 2023: Third-Team All-ACC

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OVERALL

Jake Briningstool is a talented pass-catching tight end who is a mismatch for linebackers and safeties in coverage.

At 6'6", Briningstool is well aware of the advantages his height and arm length provide. He wins at the catch point consistently. Briningstool is never truly covered because of his ability to leap over defenders and high-point passes like a power forward catching alley-oops in basketball. He boxes smaller defenders out at the catch point on the quick and in-breaking routes. Briningstool makes plays in multiple ways for Clemson's offense—in the quick screen game, off-of-play action, and on underneath route concepts.

Athletically, Briningstool is a long strider with buildup speed to race up-field for potential explosive plays. He will threaten the defensive seams with his burst/acceleration and catch radius. Linebackers will struggle to combat his height and speed advantage, while safeties will be too small to disrupt him down the field consistently. Briningstool plays with a strong football IQ to recognize defenses pre and post-snap. He thrives working in the middle of the field as a big-body threat who will settle into the weak points of the defensive coverages. He is a well-tempered route runner who does not tip off defenders on his intentions. He plays at his pace and is rarely sped up by the defense—he can operate in a timing and rhythm offense. As a flexed tight end, Briningstool adds a big/power-slot receiving archetype.

His best blocks in the run game come when flexed out into the slot, where he is matched up against smaller nickel defenders. He can work in short motions to crack down on unsuspecting linebackers from an angle. At best, Briningstool is a seal blocker using body positioning to secure leverage.

Run blocking from a traditional in-line alignment is not a strength for Briningstool. He is more effective in operating in space where he can attack angles than physically attempting to move a defensive end upfield. In space after the catch, Briningstool is not an elusive or shifty mover. He has some segmented movements when forced to break down and make a smaller, more athletic defender miss one-on-one in a phone booth. He will win those exchanges with strength. Concentration drops are a slight concern with Briningstool's draft profile. This, combined with a tendency to be a body catcher, can limit his time on the field if it becomes a routine issue.

In closing, Jake Briningstool projects as a skilled pass-catching tight end at the next level. Putting him in the slot and outside as a flex weapon is the best for his development. He offers multiple passing game benefits to an NFL offense. The run blocking will be a storyline to watch early in his career as an NFL player.

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GRADE: 7.0 (High-Level Backup/Potential Starter — Third Round)

OVERALL RANK: 112

POSITION RANK: TE6

PRO COMPARISON: Mike Gesicki

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson

HEIGHT: 6'0"

WEIGHT: 221"

HAND: 9⅜"

ARM: 30½"

WINGSPAN: 74¾"

40-YARD DASH: 4.46"

VERTICAL: 38"

BROAD: 10'10"

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POSITIVES

— Equipped with strong, dense, and well-proportionate build/frame.

— Runs hard and behind his pads downhill with a finisher mentality.

— Combines vision and patience to work through the defensive front.

— Gap scheme fit with light footwork when pressing the line of scrimmage.

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NEGATIVES

— Lacks open-field elusiveness and wiggle to make defenders miss in short/confined spaces.

— Limited explosiveness when forced to cut laterally.

— Improving pass pro technique and hand placements.

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NOTES

— Born March 16, 2003

— 4-Star recruit in 2022 class, per 247Sports

— 2024: First-team All-ACC; Second-team All-American; Finalist for the Doak Walker Award

— 2023: First-Team All-ACC; Doak Walker Award Finalist; Second-Team AP All-America

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OVERALL

Omarion Hampton is a hard-charging downhill running back with experience carrying a rushing offense.

Hampton is built like an NFL running back. He runs behind his pads with a strong leg drive. He has good body control and contact balance to bounce off tacklers and gain yards after contact. He converts speed-to-power well to run through defenders and fall forward. Hampton is at his best when his shoulders are squared to the line of scrimmage. He is an ideal fit for downhill gap scheme run offenses with a mixture of inside zones. He is a strong short-yardage and red-zone runner because of his physical and powerful running style.

When pressing the line of scrimmage, Hampton displays light and quick footwork to change running lanes and find daylight. He does a good job reducing his frame and getting skinny to fit through small creases. Hampton is a slashing-style runner once he breaks into the open field. He plays with a good combination of burst and speed to generate big plays as a runner and receiver. Hampton is a three-down player with his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and willingness in pass protection. He has what teams need in a bell cow or lead running back.

On the downside, Hampton is not an elusive runner. He does not have the wiggle to force missed tackles with finesse rather than brute strength. Hampton is not an explosive lateral cutter with the ball in his hands. There is hip stiffness limiting full range of motion to make defenders miss in a phone booth. He is more suited for vertical cuts working downhill. Hampton is a willing pass protector, but his technique can improve. He should adjust his punches and hand placement to maximize his physical strength and ability to anchor.

In conclusion, Omarion Hampton is a talented and versatile offensive player. He makes his impact felt as a receiver and runner. Hampton projects best in gap/power run schemes, which allow him to attack the line of scrimmage with momentum and squared shoulders. He should excel after contact and score touchdowns in the red zone.

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GRADE: 8.0 (Year 1 Starter — Late 1st - Early 2nd)

OVERALL RANK: 22

POSITION RANK: RB2

PRO COMPARISON: Shades of David Montgomery

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson