One of the things I loved to do when playing Madden as a kid was try to build a custom roster using all players from a single conference. I’d then play games with the All-ACC vs All-Big 10, and things like that. This will be an on-going series of the best 53-man, NFL roster from each of the power-5 conferences in the NCAA.
The Breakdown
| Boston College | 3 |
| Clemson | 7 |
| Duke | 1 |
| Florida State | 8 |
| Georgia Tech | 5 |
| Louisville | 3 |
| Miami | 6 |
| NC State | 4 |
| North Carolina | 6 |
| Pittsburgh | 4 |
| Syracuse | 2 |
| Virginia | 2 |
| Virginia Tech | 3 |
| Wake Forest | 0 |
First we’ll start with the breakdown of number of players per school. Florida State comes in at the top with 8 players, 2016 National Champs Clemson in second with 7, and Miami and North Carolina are tied for third with 6. Wake Forest is the only school to come in with 0 players on the roster (unsurprisingly to be honest).
The Roster
| Position | Greensboro Coastals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Matt Ryan (BC) | Philip Rivers (NC ST) | Jameis Winston (FSU) | ||
| RB | LeSean McCoy (Pitt) | Devonta Freeman (FSU) | Lamar Miller (Mia) | Frank Gore (Mia) | |
| WR | Larry Fitzgerald (Pitt) | Demaryius Thomas (GT) | DeAndre Hopkins (CU) | Sammy Watkins (CU) | Jamison Crowder (Duke) |
| TE | Greg Olsen (Mia) | Jimmy Graham (Mia) | Dwayne Allen (CU) | Eric Ebron (UNC) | |
| T | Anthony Castonzo (BC) | Morgan Moses (UVA) | Duane Brown (VT) | ||
| G | John Miller (LU) | Shaq Mason (GT) | Justin Pugh (SU) | Joe Thuney (NC ST) | |
| C | Eric Wood (LU) | Rodney Hudson (FSU) | |||
| DE | Calais Campbell (Mia) | Olivier Vernon (Mia) | Michael Johnson (GT) | Chris Long (UVA) | |
| DT | Aaron Donald (Pitt) | Sylvester Williams (UNC) | Timmy Jernigan (FSU) | ||
| ILB | Luke Kuechly (BC) | Zach Brown (UNC) | Lawrence Timmonns (FSU) | Preston Brown (LU) | |
| OLB | Julius Peppers (UNC) | Vic Beasley (CU) | Chandler Jones (SU) | Derrick Morgan (GT) | Robert Quinn (UNC) |
| CB | Xavier Rhodes (FSU) | Jalen Ramsey (FSU) | Bashaud Breeland (CU) | Byron Maxwell (CU) | David Amerson (NC ST) |
| S | Kam Chancellor (VT) | Morgan Burnett (GT) | Marcus Gilchrist (CU) | Da'Norris Searcy (UNC) | |
| K | Stephen Hauschka (NC ST) | ||||
| P | Andy Lee (Pitt) | ||||
| LS | Garrison Sanborn (FSU) | ||||
| Head Coach | Bruce Arians (VT) |
The Offense
The offense will run a base 3-wide, spread formation out of the gun and will utilize a zone run scheme. We start things off at QB with 2016 MVP Matt Ryan. That MVP award and trip to the Super Bowl edges him out over veteran Philip Rivers. Rivers will play the role of reliable backup and veteran mentor to the 3rd string QB, Winston. McCoy gets the start at running back, handling the bulk of the carries. Freeman plays the role of 3rd-down back. Miller and Gore provide support for McCoy, with Gore seeing some goal line and short yardage carries as well. Listing Fitzgerald first on the depth chart is more of a career nod, but it is well deserving for the future Hall of Famer. He will see the majority of snaps out of the slot. Thomas will lineup at the X, with Hopkins at the Z. Watkins can spell each of the positions, and line up in the other slot on 4 wide scenarios. Crowder will provide mainly special teams support, and see a little time in the slot. Olsen takes the starting spot at tight end. Graham will come in on certain passing situations and in the red zone. Allen will play more of an H-back role, being used in the backfield as a fullback in heavy sets.
The Defense
The defense would run out of a one-gap, 3-4 over. Donald is the highlight of the front 3, starting at the weakside DE/DT spot. Williams gets the start at nose with Campbell getting the start at SDE. Because of all the pass rushers, Peppers will get the start at Sam, with Jones and Morgan behind him. Beasley gets the start at Joker, with Quinn and Vernon. All of them can be used in different hybrid alignments in pass rushing situations. The middle is secured up with a couple of pro bowlers, with Kuechly at the Mike and Zach Brown at the Will. The secondary uses a base cover 3, with 2 FSU standouts on the corners, with Rhodes and Ramsey. Breeland will see time as the nickelback. Chancellor plays a lot in the box at SS, with Burnett in center field as the FS.
Special Teams and Coaching
Crowder will handle the punt return duties. Breeland and Gilchrist would share the kick return duties. The kicker and punter have a combined 3 Pro Bowls and 3 1st-team All-Pros (and by both I mean all Andy Lee). And former Bill, now Buc, Sanborn takes the long snapping duties. Former Virginia Tech star QB, Bruce Arians (who still holds the VT record for most rushing TDs in a season by a QB) takes the head coaching spot for the team. Due to the ACC headquarters location, I’ve named this team the Greensboro Coastals.
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