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By B.J. Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com Senior Editor
SouthernPigskin.com Senior Editor B.J. Bennett looks at the improved quarterback play in the ACC.
A lot has been made about the Big XII quarterbacks and for good reason. The numbers they have put and will accumulate this fall have been and will be just ridiculous. Defending Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford of Oklahoma and Colt McCoy of Texas, the 2008 Walter Camp Award Winner, are as good as it gets (outside of Florida legend Tim Tebow, of course) in college football. The high-powered league also boasts Kansas senior Todd Reesing, Oklahoma State senior Zac Robinson and Baylor sophomore sensation Robert Griffin. Those five signal callers combined for 193 total offense touchdowns last season. Seriously.
That staggering statistic doesn't include the accomplishments of college football leading passer Graham Harrell of Texas Tech, first round NFL draft selection Josh Freeman of Kansas State, All-American Chase Daniel of Missouri or Nebraska flamethrower Joe Ganz, all of whom finished their careers.
There is no questioning the fact that the Big XII has the premier signal callers in college football. The offensive productivity under center has made midwest football exciting to watch. Look away, miss two first downs. Go make a sandwich, miss three scores.
While the ACC is much more of a run-oriented, defensive league, the conference may boast the best collection of quarterbacks outside of the deep ball-friendly Big 12. Ten schools return their starting quarterback from last season; only Boston College and Clemson do not return players with starting experience.
NC State sophomore Russell Wilson, Wake Forest senior Riley Skinner and Duke senior Thaddeus Lewis enter this fall, per most media outlets, as the leading names in the league. Wilson, a player who is inexplicably underrated nationally, threw 17 touchdowns and just one interception in 2008. Skinner, who won the ACC Championship as a freshman in 2006, threw 13 touchdown passes and seven interceptions and threw for 2,347 yards. Lewis has 47 career touchdown passes and completed a career high 62% of hiss passes a year ago. The three Tar Heel State field generals are each great team leaders capable of big plays at big points in the game.
The league has a number of other talented signal callers and Maryland senior Chris Turner may be the best. He is the ACC's leading returning passer (2,516 yards) and is entering his third season as starter. With a good start, Turner could be included in discussions with the above three by the end of the year.
“I’m not that worried about it. I have had a pretty good career and this is my third year starting. I have seen it all,” Turner explained at ACC media days. “I don’t want to make this about Chris Turner or Riley Skinner or any of those quarterbacks because they are all good players.”
The Sunshine State has two rising stars in junior Christian Ponder of Florida State and sophomore Jacory Harris at Miami. Ponder scored 18 total touchdowns last fall and, though he struggled with his decision making at times, showed a lot of toughness and propensity to make clutch plays for the 'Noles. Harris looked very calm and smooth as a freshman for the Hurricanes, compiling a very good efficicieny rating of 125.76. Together, these two helped total 80 points last October in the highest scoring FSU-Miami game in history.
North Carolina junior T.J. Yates battled injuies last season, but 1,168 yards and eleven touchdowns. He is one of the ACC's most talented signal callers as he has a live arm and a good pocket presence. Yates had 2,655 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore, though he led the league in interceptions. Last fall, Yates avoided many of the mistakes that plagued him as an underclassmen.
While ACC Offensive Player of the Year Jonathan Dwyer got a lot of attention last season, Georgia Tech junior Josh Nesbitt did an underappreciated job overseeing the Yellow Jackets' transition to the triple option offense of Paul Johnson. Nesbitt rushed for 693 yards and seven touchdowns, both good for second on the team. Reports are that he has looked more fluid throwing the football during fall camp so far.
As a sophomore, Marc Verica was forced into the starting lineup for Virginia. He threw for over 2,000 yards and eight touchdowns, but threw 16 touchdowns. Verica will enter this fall as a reserve to converted cornerback Vic Hall. Originally used in the "Wildcat" formation, Hall has apparently earned the starting job for now. The coaches love his athletic ability and versatility. The Cavaliers will also have Jameel Sewell, the 2007 starter who missed last season due to academics. Sewell passed for 12 touchdowns and ran for four more in an impressive freshman effort.
The most dynamic returnee and the league player under the most pressure is Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Few quarterbacks nationally have more talent and this will be the season Frank Beamer needs Taylor to realize that potential. Gone is part-time starter Sean Glennon and All-ACC running back Darren Evans. Glennon has graduated, Evans suffered a recent season-ending injury. Taylor ran for 738 yards and seven scores, but threw just two touchdown passes last fall. Some of that can be attributed to inconsistency along the offensive line and youth at wide receiver. With Evans out and improved depth up front and on the perimeter, it's time for Taylor to shine.
Clemson is essentially holding a one-month quarterback competition and both freshman Kyle Parker and sophomore Willy Korn have looked good.
"I have no set timetable on when I will name a starting quarterback. It could be the week of the first game, or it could be just before the first snap. We will see if any separation develops after these first two scrimmages," Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney recently said. "But, I have been pleased with the performance of both young men."
First year head coach Frank Spaziani and Boston College don't have a quarterback who has ever taken a college snap on their roster. Redshirt freshman Justin Tuggle will have to fend off former minor league baseball player 25-year old freshman David Shinskie.
The last few seasons have been a growing up process for the league and the conference quarterbacks have been a microcasm of that progression. Don't expect the sheer numbers of the Big XII stars, but note the efficiency, game management and leadership of the ACC quarterbacks this fall. Those traits will continue to prompt increases in the most important statistical category: wins.
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Comments
QB play has been killing the league...hopefully it improves this year and with it the success of the conference.
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