8-12-24 McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning Hour 3: Billy Liucci of TexAgs discusses the Aggies fall camp; USA dominates Summer Olympics; Roddy Jones previews ACC this fall
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This jocks 94.5 podcast is brought to you by Millennium Satellite and Video. Log on to msbnow.com. TV excellence everywhere. That's Millennium. All right, welcome back in. McElroy and Kubrick in the morning. Hour number three underway Monday, August 12th. Listen online, jocksfm.com. App is in your app store, iPhone, Android. You can download that for free. Always listen on the go.

Before we move into some injury news surrounding Texas A&M and the running back position really in the state taking another hit, tell our listeners about Bromberg, C-Mac.

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and one of the oldest in the country. So go check them out. One of their two locations at Mountain Brook village and the summit, or you can always shop online at Bromberg.com. All right, Billy Lucci of Texas ags.com joining us now on the buyer's right hotline update for Ruben Owens, Texas A&M running back Billy, first and foremost, just what had you been hearing about him in camp? And what's the latest you have on his injury status?

Oh, Reuben Owens. Sorry, Cole. Take care. Sorry, we are. I knew that was going to happen. I knew that was going to happen right in the middle of being on hold. It's only acceptable if you're ordering breakfast tacos at Fuego, by the way. That's actually where I'm on my way to is get breakfast tacos. That was people working at the house over here. But anywho, Reuben Owens, that injury, you know, that's just –

It happened Saturday during the scrimmage. Just, you know, pretty routine play. And I don't think Ruben was going to get –

a whole lot of work. He and Le'Veon Moss, you know, up until Saturday, the two of them had had a really good camp. And I think I said this to you guys either on radio or in, you know, when we were in Dallas. I keep wanting to say Hoover. When we were in Dallas at SEC Media Days, I thought running back was a position that Elko and his staff –

When they got here in the offseason and through the spring came away, that would have been one of the positions I would have told you they came away feeling really good about, as in maybe even better than they'd expected when they got to see those guys in pads over an extended period. So losing him with what sounds like a foot injury, that's a tough blow. Is it devastating? No, but –

It could be because, you know, I think Owens and Moss, I do think Moss is, to me, in my opinion, has been the best back on campus for the last two years and is still right now.

But Ruben, if there was a one, there was a 1A. I mean, they're both really good, really promising young backs, heavily recruited. They've shown it in their experience so far at A&M. Ruben was a nice breakout player as a freshman. So losing one of your two, now they've got –

E.J. Smith, the Stanford transfer, son of Emmett Smith, and then they've got Amari Daniels, who led the Aggies in rushing yards last year at about 600. But I just think those two were the guys. I think those two were going to be your workhorse backs, even though all four were going to play. So now you're down – now Le'Veon Moss, he could have a great year, but you know this.

The last thing you want to do is go in with a thin stable at running back into a football season. And four was maybe one too light anyway, and now you're going in with three. So it's kind of scary if you're the Aggies.

How does that adjust how the new offense is going to look? I mean, if you look at what Kansas State's done with Colin Klein the last couple of years, that's the new OC. They've used multiple backs. They've utilized big body backs that are kind of utilized as fullbacks. They've used some kind of those hybrid H-back tight end type bodies. So how do you anticipate them kind of filling that void in the event in which they are a little more thin at that position?

Yeah, I think, Greg, they've got the H-back body types, but when you want to go two traditional backs, yeah, I mean, it's going to be – you're thinner, but I think Ruben – Amari Daniels can do what Ruben did in that regard. The problem for me, when you mentioned Colin Kline, is how much he likes to get the ball to the backs out of the backfield, right? Yeah.

Reuben Owens, I believe, was the best pass-catching threat out of the backfield that the Aggies had. So if someone's going to replace that, it's not going to be Amari, in my opinion. That would have to be E.J. Smith, which I remember him as a recruit coming out of high school. Not only Jimbo Fisher, but a lot of schools thought maybe he could be a receiver. He's got those type hands. Now, he's bulked up considerably since that time. He's a running back build for sure.

but I think this is time to watch EJ Smith and say, okay, can you be the guy that catches, you know, a good number of passes out of the backfield? Cause Ruben, I thought was pretty special.

In that regard, I think that was two strengths of his game were that and that he was a really explosive weapon. And I don't see a whole lot of really explosive weapons at the skill spots. I think Le'Veon Moss, if he's healthy, could have a terrific year. I think he's that good. And I've talked to scouts all week that kind of have been walking away going, okay, you're right about number eight. Like, he's special. But...

I don't think he's not that type of pass catcher as Owens was. And Owens just had that extra gear, and I thought it gave the offense some much-needed juice. And that includes receiver, where to me still right now Noah Thomas is starting to shine. But I'm still wondering, you know,

where the other where's where the other guy's going to step up at I there's a part of me that thinks that ultimately might be a guy like Terry Bussey that's lining up at corner right now but I watched him house uh he housed a kickoff return in practice a couple days ago and man did he look you know he's a five-star recruit they signed late and damn did he look apart so I don't know I think they're still looking for explosive weapons at skill positions I think

the receiver from Troy, Jabray Barber, they might have him back before September's out. And I think they thought his injury was a lot longer term. But during spring ball, Greg, he was the guy that was the most explosive receiver in that room. And he was the guy that was impressing, I think, more than anybody. So if you could get him back with Noah Thomas, you'd start feeling a lot better about that receiver core, top to bottom.

Billy Lucci of techsags.com joining us on the Buyers Right Hotline. I kind of felt like most people were going in with Thomas Walker, Muhammad, and then obviously Barbara was the guy in the spring. You knew, and we saw what he did at Troy, was going to be able to help you. You're adding Cyrus Allen, Jacob Bosick. I didn't think there were a lot of concerns there. It sounds like you might be a little bit worried, though, about the receiver position.

Yeah, I was worried. I don't – yeah, I mean, not worried, but just it's been a concern of mine throughout the offseason. It's kind of been my – that and, you know, the O-line is kind of a, you know, let's see it to believe it type thing considering the last couple of years they've had. So that was my one. The other was receiver because I just felt like what they had –

Jadae Walker had a solid finish to the season, but battled drops for a lot of that year. Noah Thomas, I think, can be special. He's been banged up the first two years of his career. And then Moose has generally been inconsistent. And I don't know how much that's changed under a new stat. He's been an inconsistent player.

performer really up and then goes away for a while. So those things concern me. And then I really liked Cyrus Allen and Jabri Barber out of the portal. I thought they did a good job finding two guys that were going to play and contribute and make plays. And Cyrus still looks that part, but when Jabri broke his foot, so, and I think Bostic, they took him as more of a down the road guy, a big body, um,

I think maybe he'll play this year. I like the true freshmen, to be honest with you. Ashton Bethel-Roman, who was a very late flip from Arkansas. In fact, I think he signed his letter of intent with Arkansas on signing day and then got out of it. And then Isaiah Williams, who was a late flip from Florida. Those two freshmen are turning heads. I still think Terry Bussey, in my opinion, guys, is lightning in a bottle. And I know in a perfect world for Elko, the defensive guy –

Looking up and seeing Des Ricks, the Bama transfer, and Terry Bussey at corner would give you the most athletically gifted set of corners A&M's had in a long time. And prettiest looking out there. And they've had issues in the secondary since they joined the SEC. I guess I should say at corner more so than the secondary. That would be ideal.

But they've got a lot of depth at corner. They really do. They got, you know, some starter, a transfer starter from Kansas State, B.J. Mays from right there where you guys are at UAB. They've got guys. They've got Des Ricks. They've got a fourth-year starter returning in Tyreek Chappelle. It's the receiver where I think

hey, if you can be explosive and make plays, there might be a space for you as a true freshman. So that's kind of the guy that I've got my eyes on and also those other two freshmen I mentioned.

First time in a while we've heard great glowing details about Texas A&M's corner, so that's got to be super encouraging. Well, it's been a while, yeah. Oh, yeah, I think since, what, I don't know, 97 thereabouts? I don't know. Seriously. It's been a minute. Well, Greg, I'll tell you...

Oh, I was just going to say, when you look at what's killed A&M, obviously the last two years, the O-line, but since they've joined the SEC, and really since kind of feels like Mack Brown got to Texas, you could go back and you know this, that big three at Roy Williams, B.J. Johnson, Sloan Thomas. Right. It just feels like, and then Stoops gets to OU, and then Leach at Tech, and

And it feels like for so long, that is where A&M just has been beaten and can't quite match up. And that's especially so against these receivers in the SEC. Yeah, I don't know why it's been that way. It's kind of crazy. And look, there's been a lot of good wideouts that they've run into for sure. Whether it's LSU or Ole Miss or Bama, I mean, everyone's had good wideouts. So it's understandable, but that's a position group that you would like to see a little more from. So hopefully that happens for them this year. Offensive line.

Look, Cole and I last week kind of gone through Notre Dame, and that being week one game, offensive line needs to be ready to go because that group that Notre Dame has is a handful. So how confident is the staff right now in how that group's coming together? Well, and I think if you watch that game, that might be two defensive lines based on what I've seen from the A&M D-line.

In fall camp, that might be two defensive lines that have their way. Even if the Aggie O-line ends up being pretty good, like you said, that Notre Dame front is – I mean, I don't know. It might end up being as good as any day that the Aggies face this year. I'm just looking at the SEC schedule. It might be. I think the O-line, it looks so much better than it did a year ago. And I heard some good things coming out of this first scrimmage with the 1s.

There's depth. There's a, I think my question as I'm sitting here, you know, 10 days, two weeks into camp, my question would be, you've got a lot of depth at guard surprisingly or inside. They've got a transfer center from Utah, uh,

Armage Reed Adams, the transfer, and he was a starter at Utah last year at center. Armage Reed Adams, the transfer from Kansas, who if you walk through the doors, Cole, you would wonder if he was a transfer from Georgia or Kansas. Like this dude, when you say looks the part, so much so that it's making me personally wonder,

If he wouldn't be better off, and he's been getting reps out there some, if he wouldn't be better off at tackle, which he did play at Kansas. I say he. I think he's an NFL guard. But, I mean, for the Aggie offensive line, when you're talking about getting your best five out there,

It might be a situation where you move his, you know, six, he's about 6'5", 315, 20 pounds. Maybe he's out there at right tackle. And then you let the transfer from Utah start at center. And then Mark Naboo and Cam Dewberry battle it out at guard. I don't know if that's how it will turn out, but it wouldn't surprise me because I think that dude can handle it.

And right now there's a battle between crown over and fathery at right tackle. And, you know, look, if Armage Reed Adams is a better tackle option and you've got a lot of depth on the interior, it might work. I think you'll see that start to shake out in the next week or so because, like you said, Greg, they're not building up into that schedule in September when they start with Notre Dame and the strength of that team is probably their secondary or their defensive front.

Billy Lucci of TexAgs.com joining us on the Buyer's Right Hotline. So we have to get to Connor Wigman, one of the bigger questions in fall camp for Texas A&M. There's a lot of confidence around him if he's healthy and he's available. What are you hearing? What are you seeing about the Aggie quarterback so far? He's healthy. I think he's had a good camp. The job's his. Again, he's added, I think, some much-needed weight. He was pretty skinny.

scrawny almost, you know, especially as a freshman, but didn't really seem to fill out much at all in that next year either, which was a little bit of a concern of mine. Kind of, like, looked gangly. I don't know what he did after suffering that injury, but he's filled out, you know, a good amount. I think they list him at, like, 225, which he might even be a little bigger than that even. So I think Conor –

A, he's a gamer, so when he starts looking good in practice, I start to feel a lot better about him even than I already do. I just, again, I go back to the Aggies to me, if they're going to win this year and be an overachieving team, win a game or two more than people expect, I think it's going to have to be with defense, which has looked sensational so far, and the run game.

And I think Connor, off of that run game, can have some nice, you know, open lanes to throw the ball through, play action and stuff. But they're going to have to – that's why that Reuben Owens injury was one that made me kind of go, ah, because I really think they need to run the ball with a lot of success. And I believe they will. Greg, you mentioned Colin Kline, and that is – man, he does such a nice job of –

creating running lanes and creating mismatches. And then you mentioned the tight ends and the H backs and all that play action that comes off of that, that what it sets up. So I think Connor could thrive. I think it's just going to, we're going to be in a wait and see mode with that offensive line and his weapons, you know, and that those are two,

You know, you'd be lying if you said those weren't two question marks going into the season. They do have some – I think there's reason to be confident on the O-line. It does kind of – it's going to be maybe a little misleading when you face Notre Dame in that first game. But, man, if they could hold their own against the fighting Irish and give Wigman time to throw, and if this offense can look, you know, even solid in that first game, how well does that bode for the rest of the season?

Billy, we appreciate the time. Otherwise, health pretty good for A&M so far through camp? Yeah, unfortunately, that's been the only significant injury, I would say, so far. So that stunk. But, again, it was a big one. There are certain guys you circle and you go, man, you don't want to lose them. He was one of them. I don't think it's devastating because of Moss, but –

Moss is kind of like a Noah Thomas where I think they're both special, but their first two years have kind of been in and out with various injuries. So you can get in a situation real quick now.

absolutely all right uh billy we'll catch up soon man thanks for hopping on uh appreciate some of the insight and information of everything happening with a and m camp we'll talk soon all right guys see y'all there you go billy lucci uh texags.com covers texas a and m and we haven't really spent a lot of time on it yet greg but um it's a tough injury ruben owens and and billy a little bit more concerned about the numbers at that position maybe than i would be uh

And you bring up a good point about some of the H-backs, like extra tight end type bodies, fullback type bodies that Kline has used in the past. I think it's fair. But Le'Veon Moss, I think, has star potential. Thankfully, that injury not near as bad as it looked last year. Amar Daniels can help. You get EJ Smith in as a transfer. I'm not worried about that spot just yet. It sounded like Billy kind of concerned, but...

I mean, listen, Reuben Owens is a guy that could help. I mean, he can be a dynamic runner, and losing him definitely is going to impact the team. I just don't – if they lose another one, then I'll be concerned, I guess is what I'm saying. Like you said, down to three is really concerning. The other thing that's concerning is that E.J. Smith –

Emmitt Smith's son has missed a lot of time in his career. And if for whatever reason he gets banged up, which has been the track record, now you're down to two scholarship backs. You look at loss. Moss got banged up last year. Now you're down to one. I mean, it's like you just get thin in that position in a hurry. And at running back, man, you can't have a guy play 70 snaps. You just can't.

So they're going to need to start cross-training some guys, kind of like Georgia had to do last year. Remember Georgia had to move Dylan Bell from wide receiver to running back because they didn't have any guys? I mean, that's going to potentially need to happen for A&M in the event in which they have a guy or two that's a little banged up. So hate that that happened. It's just such a bummer. But at the same time, it is what it is. And you just got to figure out a way to move on.

All right, so we'll continue talking some camp news from over the weekend. Auburn, Alabama, want to get back to them. That'll kind of wrap it up for Texas A&M, though. Just another rough injury that you hate to hear about. And we saw it with C.J. Baxter at Texas. Now you get Reuben Owens out for Texas A&M.

My takeaway from that interview with Billy was Terry Bussey is a name that we need to be familiar with. Sounds like Billy thinks he can impact that team in more ways than one. Not just impact the team, but impact that team in multiple ways. So we'll continue discussing that on the other side. Tell our listeners about Polar Bear Services, GMAC, and how they can help them.

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all right uh the olympics over the weekend it was entertaining it was fun um the gold medal game for the men saw steph curry just absolutely take over late uh this is how it sounded um for the us to kind of wrap up a gold medal late in the fourth quarter dr curry dancing on platoon over the double team

It's a golden dagger. Golden dagger is good. That's a solid call. I think we can all get behind that one. Steph was incredible, has been incredible in the last couple games. 24 points in this one, 8 of 13 from three, 60 points in the last two games. That's a most in a two-game stretch for a United States player in Olympic basketball history.

They knock off France 98-87. USA men now have 17 of 21 golds all time. Kevin Durant gets his fourth gold medal. LeBron, 14-10 in the game, gets his fourth overall medal. Wim Bignana had 26 points for France, not enough. 104 points for Durant all time now in gold medal games. That's the most of any Olympic basketball player ever.

um and it was just an impressive performance but man Steph Curry was huge down the stretch GMAC so good so good just lights out and honestly I feel like so much of this basketball run that we've seen from Team USA this year has been the result of LeBron just refusing to be denied another gold medal Steph Curry same way like

Think about the NBA when those two guys aren't there anymore. And while the NBA will still have a lot of international star power for sure, there's something about just the gut check moments that those guys have kind of delivered throughout their career. So they just have been so good for Team USA and they've been so good for the NBA for a long time. And it's just going to be weird not to have them out there, man. To see them playing in their last Olympic Games, more than likely, was crazy.

And to think that we've watched their entire career in adulthood is odd. So, hey, didn't miss a second of it. Found it to be highly compelling and really look forward to enjoying what might be the last couple great years of their careers. No doubt. Also, Steph Curry, 17 threes in those last two games, most ever over a two-game span. By the way,

by a United States Olympic basketball player. Fifth straight gold medal at the Olympics for the men. On the women's side, they also knock off France, 67-66. A little bit more competitive down the stretch. End of the game sounded like this.

Kalia Copper has been Kalia Gold today. No timeouts here. Johannes up ahead. It's Williams. That was a two. Faked it in. A two ball. And the United States is going to claim gold for the eighth consecutive Olympics. By mere inches, that game not tied. And the United States gets the win. You talk about a dramatic finish. That was incredible. Big time. Big time. Crazy. And I think I've seen...

Probably the last, I mean, I've probably seen the ending 15 times on highlights and stuff like that. It was about as compelling a finish as we saw throughout the Olympic games. Now there were some really dramatic moments on track and field, some dramatic moments in some other games and sports as well. But man, that basketball was about as good a finish as you'll find. Eight straight gold for the United States women.

They passed the United States men's team for most consecutive gold medals won at the Olympics in either men's or women's basketball. Most consecutive gold medals in an Olympic team sport ever. First time the USA has played a game decided by one basket at the Olympics. Previous closest game the United States played in was a four-point win over Russia in 2004-2014.

So, I mean, 61st straight win for the Olympic women. That goes back to 1992. 4-0 against France in the Olympics all time. I mean, this run was dominant. This game, not necessarily as dominant as it had been. Asia Wilson, 21 points. Fourth 20-point game of this Olympics. That ties it with Lisa Leslie in 96 for the most 20-point games by an American in a single Olympic Games. And then how about Diana Taurasi? Six gold medal.

It's not bad. No? Basketball. Not bad at all. That's a hell of a stretch. First player men's or women's basketball to win six gold medals in the Olympics. So just an incredible run once again. Here's how crazy United States women's basketball has been dominant. They have 10 gold medals. All other countries combined have three. Domination. Just a little...

peek into just how crazy good it has been for the American women. Also, over the weekend, men's water polo gets the bronze medal. Second ever medal in water polo for the United States men. That's pretty good.

Women's volleyball gets the bronze. Second ever medal in women's volleyball. There we go. As well. And the women's team events have just been dominant in this Olympics. Gymnastics, they get gold in the team event. We just mentioned basketball. They get gold. How about women's soccer?

Over the weekend, they get gold as well. The 4x100 and 4x400 relays for the women, both gold medals, and the 4x100 relay in swimming, the women get the gold medal. We're an everything country. Yes. We're an everything country. Yes. And so your final medal count goes 98 for the United States.

uh i'm sorry six where's the pardon me i was looking at the wrong numbers on on the final medal count uh when you're talking about the united states but we basically win the olympics right always i mean is that is that the way that we're gonna we play it out i mean that's the way i look yeah i mean when was the last time someone had more medals than us like i do feel like there was a year not that long ago when we didn't have an overly impressive medal count but

Might have been like 2016. I don't know. It was a long time ago, it feels like, though, where they called it a, quote, disappointing Olympics. I think knowing that this year was pretty good and then we'll have the home field advantage in 28 in L.A. We're probably in pretty good shape for a while. And we're adding flag football, too. Well, 1992 in Barcelona when the, quote, unified team had more medals than the United States. So...

Eight consecutive Olympics that the United States have had the most medals won. 126 in this game. China next with 91. Great Britain, 65. France, 63. Australia, 50. And Japan, 43. So overall medal count goes to the United States again. 126 is the most since 1984 in L.A. when the Americans claimed 174 medals. 83 golds. 83 golds.

Wow. Yeah. Also won 248 medals in 1904 Summer Olympics. What was that? It's like nobody else maybe showed up for that one. I had to go back and check the table. Not many people came. God, come on. I couldn't get there. We got another one. Wow. Another one.

Last nation to win as many medals at a non-boycotted Olympics was Great Britain, 1908. They got 146. So there you go. It was a dominant performance in the Olympics. Some preseason football over the weekend as well. Want to get to a little bit of that, kind of let you know how a couple of local folks fared in some of that from over the weekend. But Greg, you mentioned it earlier.

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Get expert analysis on player rankings. Wide receiver 22 in fantasy Cecil Shorts. That kid can run. So I'm thinking he can have a breakout season this year. And you can too by searching the Believe Fantasy Football Show. That's B-L-E-A-V wherever you listen.

All right, welcome back in. McElroy and Kubelik in the morning, 940, Monday, August 12th, here at JOX 94.5. Going to welcome in Roddy Jones of the ACC Network, and I have a couple things to discuss with him. First, tell you quickly about Ox Foundation Solutions, oxfoundationsolutions.com.

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You get the 10% off back-to-school offer now through August 30th and gain peace of mind that lasts a lifetime. Ox Foundation Solutions. How strong? Ox strong. All right, Roddy Jones, ACC Networks here. Sex in with us now on the Buyer's Right Hotline. A couple teams we talked about last week, Roddy. I want to start with Virginia Tech because I feel like there's sort of a lot of hype that is mounting for this football team and a lot of people, some folks, picking them to win the league and potentially be able to extend that far. Where are you on Virginia Tech right now in the middle of fall camp heading into this season?

First off, it's great to talk to both of you. It's great to see you last week. Virginia Tech is an interesting one, man, because they finished so strong at the end of last year. Like, they were great in the second half of the season. They win their bowl game against the Tulane team. It was really good for a lot of the year, despite being banged up.

And this is the epitome of bowls are what you see. The Tulane fans will tell you, most of our roster didn't play. Our coach was gone off to Houston. And it was pouring rain. Nobody wanted to be there. Virginia Tech fans will say, hey, it was a sign of toughness. And look, I think that it's sort of ease what you make of it.

But towards the end of last year, they were beating up on teams that were worse than them at the end of the year. Like when they got on this run, they lost the floor. They were in a game where they got way behind. They came back, and then it kind of got away from them. Then down the stretch, they beat Wake Forest, who was bad last year. Syracuse, who didn't have a quarterback by that point in the season. They lose defensively.

badly to Louisville, who is obviously an ACC championship game participant. They beat the Brakes off Boston College, lose to a really good NC State team, and even beat Virginia, and then beat Tulane, who wasn't interested. So when you look at a seven and six team, and I see that schedule at the end of last year where they were able to rack up that momentum,

I'm having a tough time translating that to this year and saying, hey, look, they're just going to build on that and go when the competition is going to be better. There's certainly reasons that I think they could be better. They'll be better at receiver with Ali Jennings back. I think that offensive line with a year, another year together,

We'll certainly be better. Kyron drones has the potential to be the best quarterback in the league, but it's all potential right now. And if he is that, then yeah, they can compete for the conference, but I think he's probably, you know, a year or so away from that. So I think there'll be a good team, but I'm not quite all the way sold.

How would you assess the depth right now of championship contenders? Look, I know that there's going to be quality played throughout. I think the top eight are rock solid. But how many teams do you think can legitimately win the ACC championship right now and for what reasons?

Yeah, Greg, I think in terms of championship game winners, I'll go four, and they would be Clemson, Miami, Florida State, and NC State. In terms of championship game participants, I think you can go to seven or eight. But the championship game winners –

Florida State, obviously they lost a lot on both the offensive and defensive sides. They're going to look completely different on the offensive skill with the exception of Lawrence Torofilli with DJU coming in at quarterback, new receiving core, new running back of Roydo Williams replacing Trey Benson. The offensive line should be really good. They got most of that back. So I do think

that there's the potential to be better, but I have questions about their ceiling with DJ. We all go away at quarterback. I think the defense should be phenomenal. Despite losing, you know, two picks in the top 50 and Braden Fisk and Jared verse on the defensive line, Marvin Jones, Jr. Has got all kinds of potential. And honestly, when Florida state gets an edge transfer with,

potential. I just assume they're going to be a first-round pick because the last two guys that brought in that mold have been first-round picks. So we'll see about Marvin Jones Jr. So I think Florida State's certainly in the realm. Clemson wasn't that far away last year. Two overtime losses or the loss to Florida State where they missed a field goal at the end that could have sent it to overtime. They were controlling that game until the strip sack fumble.

touchdown by Kalen Deloach. I hope they take the reins off of Garrett Riley a little bit, which allows them to be more like what he was at TCU offensively. And if that happens, I think Cade Klubnick can take a step. And the skill around him is good enough. It's not what Clemson used to be, but it's good enough to be really successful. And that defense, especially the defensive line, should be phenomenal. The secondary is really good. So I like Clemson a lot.

I think Miami probably has the most proven offensive and defensive lines of this group. And then they've got Cam Ward coming in at quarterback, Damian Martinez at running back. I think offensively, they should be the best in the league. And NC State will be interesting because they won nine games last year with

really bad quarterback play between Brendan Armstrong and MJ Morris that they got Grayson McCall. And he did not have the season he was accustomed to last year, but he's a three-time Sunbelt Player of the Year. He's played so much football. And honestly, if he's just a slightly above average ACC quarterback, they should be really good offensively. Zeke Corral, I really like Zeke Corral coming from Notre Dame, transferring over to be their center. So I think those four are the ones that could contend for the ACC championship with the three players

a Clemson, Florida State, Miami kind of separated from NC State. But I do like the Wolfpack as well. And then championship contenders, I mean, you can, like you said, you can probably go eight deep and convince yourself that they're going to get to the championship game. What is your level of confidence for Miami into the playoff this year? We talked about the Hurricanes a little bit last week, and there's a lot to like. There are some legitimate questions, though. But where do you view Miami as a real playoff contender this fall?

My level of confidence is medium, and it's only depressed to medium because I'm high on Miami. You guys know that. It's only depressed to medium because Miami can't get out of its own way. Like, history and Mario Cristobal separately, and then Mario Cristobal's history separately from that, like,

It just doesn't make you feel warm and fuzzy about them getting there. That being said, they're built the right way. Like Mario Cristobal has built this thing on the offensive and defensive line. I was talking to a draft scout a couple of days ago about the defensive players in the league that are the best in the league. And he looked at me and said, look, I think the best defensive player in the league is the kid at Miami who was the defensive rookie of the year last year.

on the defensive line of Reuben Bain. He thinks he's probably the best pro prospect maybe of any player in the ACC. That's how good and explosive he was. He needs to be more consistent, but he was learning the game last year. Offensive line-wise, they are set, and they are huge, and they are athletic.

And I think they will continue to be really good. I have questions about the secondary. I think they should be rock solid just about everywhere else on the field. But this is the same team that didn't take a knee last year at the end of the Georgia Tech game. And despite a bad call at the end of it, they lost the games. And that type of game management stuff has followed Mario Cristobal.

So I do have questions there. But look, man, I think if Miami's 9-3 without a playoff appearance this season, it won't be looked at as a successful year. I think this is a team that should win 10 games and be in that conversation. Rodney, thanks for the time, man. Appreciate it. Great to catch up. And we'll do it again soon.

Yeah, it was great to catch up with you guys. Absolutely. Ronnie Jones, ACC Network, joining us on the Buyer's Right Hotline, where all guests appear for all your insurance, financial, and HR needs. It's Buyer's Right Insurance, a Higginbotham partner. Be back to wrap it up with the Bad Box Score of the Day next. All right, welcome back in. McElroy and Kubrick in the morning, Monday, August 12th, 9.52 a.m. right here on JOX 94.5. We're going to get to our Bad Box Score of the Day here in just a moment. First, Craig, tell our listeners about B-Dry.

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But today, the actual score would probably not indicate to you that it is necessarily a bad box score. As the Braves go down to the Rockies 9-8 yesterday, it's more how we got to that score that's going to make it bad. The Rockies trailed 8-2, entering the bottom of the eighth. They scored seven runs to take a 9-8 lead. Entering Sunday...

Major League Baseball teams had lost 1,409 consecutive games when trailing by six or more runs in the eighth inning or later. 1,409 straight games.

One such win since Twins did against the Royals May 22, 2022. The Rockies get their second win in franchise history when trailing by six or more runs in the eighth inning or later. They're now 2-723 in said games. The other win was July 6, 2010 against the Cardinals. Seventh run in the eighth inning, tied their most in a single inning this season. First time they've done it in the eighth inning or later since 2021.

The Atlanta Braves were 415-1 over the last 20 seasons when they led by six or more runs in the eighth inning or later. The Braves fall to 7-14 in the last 21 games, their worst 21-game span since 2017.

I love how you asked the question like we're supposed to know. Oh, yeah, there was that 2017 run, remember? It was bad. So pretty rough. Pretty rough for the Atlanta Braves right now. On a Choptober, baby. I'm sorry? That's what they call it, Choptober. Will it be? Braves have lost seven of their last eight, 17 of their last 27 runs.

By the way, that one other loss was September 5th, 2018 against Boston when they took a 7-1 lead to the eighth inning. So, yes, that does qualify for today's bad box score of the day. Tomorrow's you're going to want to hear, though, because it is a doozy. Appreciate Paul Feinbaum. Appreciate Billy Lucci. Appreciate Roddy Jones for hopping on. As I stated a little bit earlier in the show, Sean Keillor,

One of those reporters in that Deion Sanders press conference is going to join the show tomorrow, as well as Andy Burcham making his weekly appearance on the show at 8 a.m. Get all the interviews at joxfm.com. Three-man front coming at you next. Former Navy SEAL Sean Ryan shares real stories from real people from all walks of life on the Sean Ryan Show. Tucker Carlson, what is it that you think that people gravitate towards? I'm not self-aware. I refuse to be self-aware. I don't even look in mirrors at all.

which you can probably tell from my appearance. I don't have a crazy high IQ or I really don't have that many skills. I would say my main skill is I believe my instincts. I don't hesitate to follow my instincts ever. The extent that I have, I've gotten in trouble. The Sean Ryan Show on YouTube or wherever you listen.