The ACC should provide fans with an abundance of entertainment in 2025. The conference features some of the most exciting young talent in college football, high-profile receivers and cornerbacks, offering fans an exciting array of matchups.
But which wide receiver-cornerback battles will have everyone on the edge of their seats? Let’s have a look at some of the best headline names and some potential dark horses to keep an eye on.
Best WR/CB Matchups in the ACC in 2025
10) Chris Bell, Louisville vs. Christian Charles, Virginia
After ranking 15th among ACC wide receivers with 737 receiving yards in 2024, Chris Bell is expected to be the focal point of the Louisville Cardinals’ passing attack with Ja’Corey Brooks departing to the NFL and Miller Moss transferring in at quarterback. The 6’2”, 220-pound Missouri native also collected four touchdowns and ranked fourth in the conference, averaging 17.1 yards per reception.
The Cardinals’ receiver will be a handful for Virginia Cavaliers transfer Christian Charles on Oct. 4 as the former Tennessee Volunteer looks to keep the breakout star quiet. Charles played in 23 games over three years in Knoxville, totalling 71 tackles, but was never the lockdown starter. He will be able to right a few wrongs as a starter in his senior year under Tony Elliott.
9) Censere Lee, Pitt vs. Devon Marshall, NC State
Expect Censere Lee to be a blazing deep threat in 2025. The Pittsburgh Panthers’ wide receiver transferred from Western Carolina in 2024 and suffered injuries, limiting his production to just 254 yards and three touchdowns from 19 catches. However, his 82-yard touchdown against Youngstown State showcased the 5’11”, 175-pound pass catcher’s elusive movement and exceptional speed.
Pitt hosts the NC State Wolfpack on Oct. 25, when Devon Marshall must be at his best to limit Lee’s explosive potential. Marshall tied for sixth among ACC defensive backs with eight pass deflections in 2024 despite only starting five games after transferring in from Villanova before the season.
8) Reed Harris, Boston College vs. Isaiah Nwokobia, SMU
Isaiah Nwokobia was everywhere in 2024. The defensive back recorded 100+ tackles while finishing joint seventh in the conference with three interceptions, ending the season with All-ACC honors. The versatile SMU Mustang played 20% of his 454 coverage snaps out wide in 2024, and he, along with the rest of the secondary, will have the difficult task of containing Reed Harris when the Mustangs travel to Boston on Oct. 11.
Harris should evolve into a bigger role in Bill O’Brien’s offense in 2025 after recording 17 receptions for 486 yards and four touchdowns, with 88.2% of his receptions going for a first down or a touchdown. A mismatch at 6’5” and 217 pounds, the redshirt sophomore could have a breakout season in 2025.
7) Squirrel White, Florida State vs. Ashton Hampton, Clemson
Squirrel White amassed 1,665 receiving yards and six touchdowns in his three years on Rocky Top, but now heads to Tallahassee looking to add elusiveness and legitimate track speed to Mike Norvell’s offense. White has consistently recorded speeds of over 21 mph in Tennessee and used his blazing speed to be a deep ball machine.
College Football’s Fastest Five of the Week:
T1. @Vol_Football WR Squirrel White (@squirrelwhite3) 21.7 mph #ReelSpeed
🎥: @ESPNCFB
🔗 https://t.co/eQpG3v2547 pic.twitter.com/uNa6f2tyMh
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) November 7, 2023
Meanwhile, Ashton Hampton was a phenomenal cornerback in his freshman season in 2024 and has showcased the lockdown mentality as a key asset to a loaded Clemson Tigers defense. In our latest college football playoff predictions,
CSN predicted that Dabo Swinney’s side would win the national championship. Hampton can help lock down the secondary by building on his 255 coverage snaps, four pass deflections, and two interceptions in his rookie season.
6) Noah Rogers, NC State vs. Damari Brown, Miami
A four-star prospect who was the No. 1-ranked player in North Carolina in the 2022 recruiting class and spent his redshirt freshman season in Columbus with the Ohio State Buckeyes, Noah Rogers is back home and looking to make a jump in 2025. IN 2024, the former Buckeye had 478 yards, the third most on the team. However, with KC Concepcion’s departure, Rogers will be relied upon more heavily by CJ Bailey.
On the other hand, Damari Brown showcased much promise as a true freshman in 2023 after being a consensus four-star recruit. However, injuries severely hampered his 2024 sophomore season. This will be a matchup of two players on opposite sides of the ball with much to prove.
5) Joshisa Trader, Miami vs. Devin Grant, Syracuse
In his first year with the Syracuse Orange, Devin Grant was one of the top defenders in the ACC. The former Buffalo Bulls’ DB has 56 tackles, two sacks, eight TFLs, three forced fumbles, three pass deflections, and one interception. Grants were everywhere and will now be the de facto CB1, with many names departing the New York state program.
He will face off against Joshisa Trader on Nov. 8, with the star Miami Hurricanes receiver expected to take an expanded role with Carson Beck under center in 2025. A consensus five-star recruit and former No. 25 overall player in the nation in the 2024 ESPN 300 rankings, big things are expected of the receiver in his sophomore season.
As a true freshman, Trader only had six catches for 91 yards and one touchdown in Miami’s explosive offense, but he is expected to be ‘the guy’ for the ‘Canes heading into the new season.
4) Eric Rivers, Georgia Tech vs. Avieon Terrell, Clemson
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets offense may have lost Eric Singleton Jr. to the transfer portal, but don’t expect their passing attack to miss a beat. Eric Rivers is one of two FUI Panthers receivers transferring to Atlanta in 2025 on the back of conference-leading performances.
The wide receiver led the CUSA with 1,172 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 18.9 yards per catch (a number that would have also led the ACC). Given that Georgia Tech will likely be playing from behind, Rivers could significantly impact this game.
Just got around to watching 5 ⭐️ Transfer WR Eric Rivers from FIU who is signed with Georgia Tech. Elite WR who steps on DB’s toes and makes all of his routes look like the same. A man covg nightmare!
Full report: https://t.co/Xnf7JmGVV5 pic.twitter.com/V3UzrQVyTm— BIP’s List (@BIPsList) May 17, 2025
However, the Yellow Jackets play the Tigers on Sept. 13, which will see Rivers go head-to-head against the No. 16 player on CSN’s early 2026 NFL Draft top 100 players watchlist. Aveion Terrell is a true lockdown corner and has played 1,100+ snaps in Death Valley over the last two seasons. In 2024, he led the conference with 10 pass deflections while recording two interceptions.
3) Duce Robinson, Florida State vs. Xavier Lucas, Miami
Duce Robinson just sneaked into CSN’s top 100 2026 NFL Draft prospects watchlist, and big things are expected of the Florida State Seminoles transfer in 2025. In two years with the USC Trojans, Robinson has registered 39 catches for 747 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 19.2 yards per reception. At 6’6” and 210 pounds, he is an excellent jump ball receiver with exceptional athleticism to complement White as a one-two punch.
He will come up against one of the most exciting young prospects in the country in Xavier Lucas, during a high-profile matchup against Miami on Oct 4. After a contentious departure from the Wisconsin Badgers, where Wisconsin accuses Miami of having a “impermissable contract” with Lucas, he is expected to join Mario Cristobal’s side for the 2025 season despite plenty of legs left in this story.
KEEP READING: Louisville Football Earns Analyst’s Nod To Challenge ACC Top Dogs Clemson, Miami in 2025
As a freshman, Lucas registered three pass breakups and one interception for the Bagers, and he will need every bit of his track and field background to keep up with Robinson in the rivalry game.
2) Bryant Wesco Jr., Clemson vs. Jeremiah Wilson, Florida State
The Florida State defense was terrible in 2024. They ranked 41st in passing defense and an even worse 87th in scoring defense, leading Norvell to attack the position in the transfer portal. Enter Jeremiah Wilson, who recorded 24 tackles, four pass breakups, and four interceptions with the Houston Cougars in 2024. Wilson was one of the top players available in the spring transfer portal and is a significant addition to a struggling defense.
He will have his work cut out against a potent Clemson offense on Nov. 8. The Clemson offense has many options and a dynamic group of receivers, including fellow standout freshman T.J. Moore. Bryant Wesco Jr. is the team’s WR2 and ranked 16th in the conference with 708 receiving yards in his freshman season, leading the team with an average of 17.3 yards per catch.
1) Antonio Williams, Clemson vs. Chandler Rivers, Duke
Expectations are rightly sky-high for the Tigers. Quarterback Cade Klubnik was the No. 1 overall selection in a recent CSN 3-round 2026 NFL Mock Draft, while a receiving core of Moore, Wesco, and Antonio Williams should stoke fear into ACC defenses. Williams is the top returning receiver in the conference with 904 receiving yards last season, where he also led the conference with 11 receiving touchdowns.
However, this is a matchup of two heavyweights. Candler Rivers is one of the top returning cornerbacks in the country, and he played the most defensive snaps of any DB in the ACC in 2024 (886). He recorded nine pass breakups and three interceptions along the way. It is a tasty battle between two heavyweights of the positions when Clemson hosts the Duke Blue Devils on Nov. 1.
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