No. 12. Blake DeChristopher, OT, Virginia Tech

2011 stats: He started all 14 games at right tackle and graded out over 90 percent in both games against Clemson. He also played all 66 snaps and graded out at 93 percent with a team-high eight knockdown blocks in the win over Miami, and he played every offensive snap against Wake Forest and graded out at 91 percent with five knockdown blocks. He earned a 94 percent grade at Georgia Tech.

Previous ranking: Not ranked.

Making the case for DeChristopher: What, the beard isn’t enough? If we were ranking beards, you know he’d be No. 1 on the list. Instead, how about the fact that he had eight knockdowns and a 92 percent grade against Clemson in the ACC title game? DeChristopher was the veteran of the offensive line, a first-team All-ACC pick with 51 career starts to his name. Last year he logged over 900 snaps on offense and became the Hokies’ first lineman to win the ACC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy. He graded out at over 90 percent in almost every game this season. The redshirt senior will be tough for the Hokies to replace.

No. 13 Shawn Powell, P, Florida State

No. 14 Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

No. 15 Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

No. 16 Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech

No. 17 Sean Spence, LB, Miami

No. 18 Zebrie Sanders, OT, Florida State

No. 19 Joe Vellano, DT, Maryland

No. 20 Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

No. 21 Chris Givens, WR, Wake Forest

No. 22 Terrell Manning, LB, NC State

No. 23 Matt Conrath, DT, Virginia

No. 24 Omoregie Uzzi, RG, Georgia Tech

No. 25 Brandon Jenkins, DE, Florida State