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ACC Football: Each team’s impact player if EA NCAA Football was still around

By Justin Dottavio

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 10: Lamar Jackson of the Louisville Cardinals poses for a photo after being named the 82nd Heisman Memorial Trophy Award winner during the 2016 Heisman Trophy Presentation at the Marriott Marquis on December 10, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 10: Lamar Jackson of the Louisville Cardinals poses for a photo after being named the 82nd Heisman Memorial Trophy Award winner during the 2016 Heisman Trophy Presentation at the Marriott Marquis on December 10, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NC – NOVEMBER 25: Jaylen Samuels #1 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack scores a touchdown against Des Lawrence #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Kenan Stadium on November 25, 2016 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina State won 28-21. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC – NOVEMBER 25: Jaylen Samuels #1 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack scores a touchdown against Des Lawrence #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Kenan Stadium on November 25, 2016 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina State won 28-21. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

N.C. State Wolfpack

2006 impact player: Mario Williams, LE #9, 98 overall
Today: DE Bradley Chubb, H-back Jaylen Samuels

Former No. 1 overall draft pick Mario Williams may have never had a stellar season in the NFL, but neither did Reggie Bush, to be honest (No. 2 that year). His 24 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks from a down end is insane over 12 games. Maybe it was an era for defensive ends in 2005.

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Speaking of defensive ends, Bradley Chubb has built upon his career every season in Raleigh. Chubb has logged 126 tackles with 31.5 tackles for loss and 15 sacks over his three years at N.C. State. He’s on every preseason watch list and should be first team All-ACC and an early-round pick in 2018.

Jaylen Samuels would be a weird position player to get an impact player nod. I’m not sure how many fullbacks (Mills would be there as well) would get tabbed as impact. He’s not just a fullback, though, he’s also a tight end which makes him an H-Back in the offense and I’m not sure exactly where EA would’ve placed him.

Over the past two seasons, Samuels has picked up 500-plus receiving yards in each, rushing for 368 yards in 2015 and 189 in 2016. He has 15 receiving TDs and 16 rushing scores in his career.

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