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IN THE SPOTLIGHT

MARYLAND

Storyline: The Terrapins have a new defensive coordinator, ex-Massachusetts head coach Don Brown.

Brown replaced ex-Hokie Chris Cosh, who left for Kansas State. Brown has installed a new scheme.

"One of the reasons that I decided on Don was because of how different he is -- it's going to be something unique within the league," coach Ralph Friedgen said. "He's more of a half-field guy and man guy. I think we'll be a lot more pressure -- some cutting-edge-type stuff."

Maryland announced in February that offensive coordinator James Franklin would be Friedgen's eventual successor.

Friedgen said he wanted to keep Franklin, who "was getting a lot of interest" from other schools.

Friedgen, 62, said recruits had also been asking him how long he would coach.

"I have three more years on my contract," he said. "At that time, if I enjoy coaching and they want me, I'll probably still be coaching. If not, ... at least they'll know who the next guy is.

"This is a job that has a lot of unique things that make it more difficult than some of the other jobs. ... If in three years or five years my time is done, I really don't want to see the time that I spent here be wasted. If I can help James understand the dynamics of this and continue the success, ... then I'll feel pretty good."

BOSTON COLLEGE

Storyline: Frank Spaziani was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach in January to replace Jeff Jagodzinski, who became Tampa Bay's offensive coordinator after BC fired him for eyeing the NFL.

The new offensive coordinator is Gary Tranquill, a former offensive chief at Virginia Tech and Virginia.

"We have a lot of young players, and it's imperative that we have somebody of his caliber over there," Spaziani said.

Tranquill has installed a new offense.

"The learning curve has been pretty steep," Spaziani said. "It's more of a pro-style offense -- more two-backs, one-back, not as wide-open. We'll try to run the ball a little bit differently. ... We're not going to be throwing the ball all over the place."

Dominique Davis is among four candidates to succeed QB Chris Crane.

CLEMSON

Storyline: Dabo Swinney was promoted from interim head coach in December. He hired ex-Alabama aide Kevin Steele as defensive coordinator and promoted Billy Napier to offensive coordinator.

The new staff visited Texas coach Mack Brown for tips.

"I was interested in visiting with him on some of the things he did when he took over that job in getting people to believe and change the culture," Swinney said. "Offensively and defensively we will be very similar [to Texas] in a lot of ways in what we do, so we were able to really bring back some things."

RB C.J. Spiller is back.

"He's the best player in the conference," Swinney said. "But more importantly, ... we're going to be better up front."

Willy Korn and Kyle Parker are the candidates to replace QB Cullen Harper.

DUKE

Storyline: Re'quan Boyette, who led Duke in rushing in 2006 and 2007, has returned to the field after missing last season because of knee surgery.

"He had a tremendous scrimmage Friday -- was explosively fast," coach David Cutcliffe said. "He looked like an all-star performer."

FLORIDA STATE

Storyline: E.J. Manuel, in line to become the No. 2 QB, broke a finger in the opening practice and missed the rest of spring ball. So returning starter Christian Ponder got plenty of work.

"There were some scrimmages out there where we let him take every bit of it," coach Bobby Bowden said. "So he really got a lot of work against a lot of different looks ... to make him be disciplined enough to read the coverage."

GEORGIA TECH

Storyline: With the departures of Michael Johnson, Vance Walker and Darryl Richard, the Yellow Jackets have big holes on the defensive line.

"We're probably going to have to play more people there," coach Paul Johnson said. "T.J. Barnes, who we redshirted, ... is about 6-7, 340, [and] who's got a chance, I think, to be pretty good."

MIAMI

Storyline: Coach Randy Shannon fired offensive coordinator Patrick Nix in December and replaced him with NFL assistant Mark Whipple.

"The creativity that Whipple brings in and his versatility, the way he uses the players, is going to be unique," Shannon said.

There is also a new defensive coordinator, ex-UNC aide John Lovett. He replaced Bill Young, who left for Oklahoma State.

NORTH CAROLINA

Storyline: All-ACC WR Hakeem Nicks and All-ACC S Trimaine Goddard are among the players UNC must replace.

"We lost some unbelievably significant players," coach Butch Davis said. "We lost five wide receivers. We lost the right side of our offensive line. We lost a very talented safety."

N.C. STATE

Storyline: Even though All-ACC QB Russell Wilson is back, coach Tom O'Brien insisted he is being challenged by Mike Glennon.

"We've got a pretty good competition going at quarterback," O'Brien said.

Wilson has been doing double duty with the baseball team, so he has missed some practices.

WAKE FOREST

Storyline: Wake must replace all three starting linebackers, including Aaron Curry, who is expected to be one of the top picks in next week's NFL Draft.

But coach Jim Grobe likes the depth he has at the position.