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Kendall Hunter > Jahvid Best
May 26, 2009
May 26, 2009
Top 5: ACC Quarterbacks [h1]Top 5: ACC Quarterbacks[/h1]
Doug Bowman
HokieHaven.com
Talk about it in The Tribal Council
The off-season is a long and grueling time, especially during the summer months of June and July. We'll start our look at the top five ACC players at each position by looking at the quarterbacks.
5. Russell Wilson, NC State (Last year= Unranked)
Brian McLawhorn Lewis is arguably the best quarterback back in the ACC.
Wilson really improved as the season wore on in 2008, and finished by winning the ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year award. He has dual-threat capabilties, but is very effective working from the pocket. He plays baseball during the spring, but found time to participate in spring practice as well. 2009 will be his second year as the starter, even though he'll likely split some time with impressive redshirt freshman Mike Glennon, and it could be even better than last years.
4. Jacory Harris, Miami (Last year= Unranked)
Harris split time with Robert Marve last year, which hindered his ability to fully develop at quarterback. Now Marve is gone, and the 'Canes are now under the control of Harris. He is extremely effective scrambling, much like a lot of ACC and NCAA quarterbacks now, but will need to develop his passing a little more. Miami was very young last year, playing a boatload of first and second year players. If Harris can develop significantly more, look for the 'Canes to be on the rise again, possibly a year earlier than some expect.
3. Riley Skinner, Wake Forest (Last year= 4th)
Skinner has been at Wake Forest for what seems like a decade, and returns for his senior season in 2009. He was more of a game manager during his first two years, but last year he opened it up within the Demon Deacon offense. Despite his willingness to go down the field and make plays, he struggled to stay healthy and consistent last year which saw his completion percentage drop from 72.4% in 2007 to 63.9% in 2008.
2. Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech (Last year= 5th)
Taylor may not have been the most polished quarterback the past two years, but there's no questioning his ability to win football games. He's won two ACC Championships and an Orange Bowl during his time at Virginia Tech, and that came while splitting time with Sean Glennon. Now, the team is his and he's ready to progress into a full fledged playmaker. The Hokies are the frontrunners in the ACC, and if he can win his third ACC title in three years, there's no questioning that he'll be at the top in 2010.
1. Thaddeus Lewis, Duke (Last year= 3rd)
Lewis isn't anywhere near the most successful quarterbacks in the ACC in terms of victories, but he's got arguably the most physical tools of them all. He has a huge arm with the ability to make all the throws and also has the athleticism to make plays in space with his feet. 2009 will be his fourth year under center, which means he'll have a plethora of experience to fall back on. Unfortunately, Lewis doesn't have the best supporting cast, but that continues to improve.
Honorable Mention: Christian Ponder (Florida State), Josh Nesbitt (Georgia Tech), T.J. Yates (North Carolina)
Talk about being a homer.
Top 3 should be some order of Wilson, Lewis and Skinner.
If only Sewell could remain eligible, he coulda cracked the top 5.
