By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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The transition from the off-season to the pre-season is officially underway, and, in that process, the ACC will have a leading role.

When the 2016 ACC Kickoff gets underway in Charlotte on July 21st, considerable star power will be on display. For a league that had notable success a year ago, some of college football’s biggest names are now poised to make headlines later in the month. The transition from the off-season to the pre-season is officially underway, and, in that process, the ACC will have a leading role.

Four new head coaches are set to step to the podium, an influx of leadership that bolsters the conference’s power at the top. Dino Babers, Justin Fuente, Bronco Mendenhall and Mark Richt have a collective coaching record of 307-133, a remarkable 69.7% winning percentage.

A two-time SEC Coach of the Year, Richt returned to Miami after 15 years at Georgia. From his tenure in Athens to his stint as an offensive coordinator at Florida State, the former Hurricane quarterback has one of the game’s most impressive resumes. His hire has energized the fan base in south Florida. Richt has to be considered one of the most-anticipated interviews as college football moves through its media days map.

The ACC Kickoff won’t quite be the same without the legendary Frank Beamer, meaning the spotlight will also be on new Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente.

Dabo Swinney and Jimbo Fisher will take questions as two of the national favorites.

College football’s best player, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, will arguably be the event centerpiece. After 47 total touchdowns, 14 wins and a performance for the ages against Alabama in the national championship game, the junior is the favorite to win this season’s Heisman Trophy. Miami’s Brad Kaaya, another standout third-year player, will also be attendance. Watson and Kaaya are projected as the top two draft-eligible signal callers for the 2017 NFL Draft.

Six quarterbacks are scheduled to attend; Lamar Jackson, Nathan Peterman, Thomas Sirk and Justin Thomas, in addition to the aforementioned.

Ben Boulware, Dalvin Cook, DeVon Edwards, Matt Milano, Ejuan Price, Ryan Switzer and DeMarcus Walker are other attendees who have received All-American attention.

Per TheACC.com, 18 of the 28 student-athlete representatives have been named to a pre-season watch list for a national award. A dozen of the players earned all-league honors in 2015. Cook, after 1,691 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns, Kaaya and Watson, are three of the game’s leading names.

With a couple of national championship contenders, and some of college football’s biggest names, the ACC Kickoff will be a showcase event.