Let the countdown begin.

We're down to the top 10 players in the ACC in 2011, and from here on out we'll continue to go one-a-day. I know, I know, the suspense is killing you. Who's No. 1? Stay tuned.

No. 10. Giovani Bernard, RB, North Carolina

2011 stats: He led the team with 1,253 yards and 13 touchdowns on 239 carries. He was third in the ACC with 96.4 rushing yards per game and he was tied for first in the league with 6.5 points per game. He also had 45 catches for 362 yards and a touchdown, and was fifth in the ACC in all-purpose yards with 124.2 per game. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry.

Previous ranking: Not ranked.

Making the case for Bernard: He was the leading freshman rusher in the nation. His total of 1,253 rushing yards was the third best by a freshman in ACC history. He was a first-team all-conference selection, and he was a first-team freshman All-American of the Football Writers Association of America. He also earned the ACC's Brian Piccolo Award, which is given to the league's "most courageous" player. Bernard tore his ACL and missed the entire 2010 season only to come back last season and assert himself as one of the country's rising stars at running back. He became the first Tar Heel football player since 1984 to record five consecutive games with 100 or more rushing yards and currently has seven total.

No. 11 Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech

No. 12 Blake DeChristopher, OT, Virginia Tech

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