2011 Preview Blitz: ACC Quarterbacks

The ACC crop of quarterbacks isn’t the most impressive on paper. Half are returning starters, eight if you count bowl game starters EJ Manuel and Tajh Boyd. Of that corps, last season’s highest yardage output was a little over 3100, but those came from a passer with more interceptions than touchdowns (Sean Renfree). The touchdown leader, Danny O’Brien, completed only 57 percent of his attempts. Others like Tevin Washington and Chase Rettig took the reins earlier than expected.

Why, even the league’s top returning passer will ply his trade in the Big Ten alongside more noteworthy quarterbacks Dan Persa, Dernard Robinson and Kirk Cousins.

The below list isn’t the sexiest based on 2010 figures, but potential is sky high. Duke’s David Cutcliffe is a proven quarterback-maker, young prospects gained invaluable experience that should manifest in impressive outputs, and…dare I say it?…there’s a legitimate Heisman contender among the crop.

1. EJ Manuel, Florida State

EJ Manuel has more bowl game winners than any other ACC quarterback. In fact, he’s won a bowl every third start. Not bad.

Manuel’s proven ability to win big games is something often eluding “first year” starters. And most first year starters aren’t 6-foot-4, 245 pounds with a proven ability to run. A notable first year starter with such attributes: reigning Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton. Now, throwing out that comparison lightly is a folly that will befall many writers in years to come whenever a big quarterback shows wheels and an arm. But really, if any quarterback can play Newton’s style this next season, it’s Manuel.

Of course, Jimbo Fisher is likely to call on Manuel to be more of a prototypical quarterback than Newton was under Gus Malzahn and Gene Chizik. After all, he shares a backfield with a triumvirate of talented running backs who can attack defenses to pack them in, setting up the field for Manuel’s big arm and an aerial assault.

2. Mike Glennon, NC State

Tom O’Brien stuck his neck out with his commitment to Mike Glennon as the Wolfpack’s starting quarterback following spring ball. Given O’Brien’s track record of success at both NCSU and Boston College, questioning him is difficult. One has to assume there’s a reason he would pass on starting proven winner Russell Wilson alongside a deep and experienced bunch, likely the best NCSU roster in years.

Glennon’s height and prototype drop back play make him a departure from the 5-foot-11, freestyle Wilson. Wilson was able to put up impressive numbers in leading NCSU to nine wins last year, but he was erratic at times. Conversely, Glennon was consistent in his limited reps. Gleaning too much from his appearances in garbage time of BC and Wake Forest routs would be foolish, but that did carry over to the spring. If Glennon can provide a steady presence, the Wolfpack becomes a very real conference championship contender.

3. Chase Rettig, Boston College

There may not be a quarterback built for the NFL in the entire conference quite like Chase Rettig. The former San Clemente Triton faced inevitable bumps in the road supplanting David Shinskie under center. But that experience and a new offensive coordinator should translate to big things for the big QB.

Rettig again shares the backfield with Montel Harris, arguably the best running in the ACC. Harris should keep defenses on his heels, while Rettig will attack with an experienced receiving corps at his disposal.

Rettig was excellent in spring football. Now, spring ball play isn’t always meaningful, but playing well against a top ranked defense is.

4. Danny O’Brien, Maryland

Maryland’s surprise, nine-win 2010 was largely due to the surprise emergence of Danny O’Brien. The freshman relieved Jamarr Robinson early and made the most of his opportunity, throwing 22 touchdowns to eight interceptions and surpassing 2400 yards. O’Brien had steely nerves well beyond his years. What O’Brien brings Terrapin football is something it hasn’t had in years: a reliable quarterback. Combine that with a potentially prolific running game under Randy Edsall’s keen ground game eye, and the Terrapin offense could be explosive.

Connecticut quarterbacks didn’t exactly pop off the stat page in the last few years under Edsall, but he used big armed Dan Orlovsky well in the mid-2000s. O’Brien is a different style passer, more reliant attacking mid-range and not taking as many risks, which should fit nicely with Edsall’s philosophy.

5. Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech

Logan Thomas already had some big shoes to fill, taking the place of Tyrod Taylor. Taylor very quietly had an outstanding final season, passing for a nearly 6:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio and rushing for over 600 yards. Meanwhile, that aforementioned Cam Newton label warned of earlier has been bandied about, as Sporting News columnist Matt Hayes writes.

Thomas has that big frame: 6-foot-6, 250 pounds. He was also recruited initially as a tight end, per The Washington Post. It will be interesting to see how Bryan Stinespring uses that, being a former tight ends coach and documented dual threat quarterback aficionado.

6. Sean Renfree, Duke

Sean Renfree may actually be the best quarterback coming into ACC play. He has the look of a surefire NFL draft selection and is playing for a coach who knows something about developing snap takers. Cutcliffe’s work with the Manning Bros. is renowned, but when talking Renfree, Cutcliffe’s success with Thaddeus Lewis is more pertinent. Lewis had 20 touchdowns and over 3300 yards his senior season and showed steady improvement each of his four seasons as a starter.

Specifically, Lewis cut down on his interceptions every year. In 2006, he had just 11 touchdowns but 16 picks. If Renfree shows the improvement Lewis exhibited from his first year as a starter to his second, expect big numbers. Renfree’s effectiveness will face challenges in the Blue Devils’ lack of a running game and questionable defense. Defenses are likely to load up on defensive backs to counteract the passing attack.

7. Jacory Harris, Miami

It is with some trepidation Jacory Harris lands this high on the list. His accuracy has settled regressed since his freshman campaign, which was his only season with a 60-plus completion percentage. Fifteen interceptions hung around Harris’ neck like an albatross, and so vitriolic were detractors, he had to shut down his Twitter account. That can’t be good for the psyche, and perhaps no position on the field needs an unflappable demeanor more.

Yet, something about No. 7 seems too low. Harris has shown flashes of brilliance, including a Heisman buzzworthy first few weeks in 2009. Al Golden taking over in Coral Gables could result in a greater emphasis on the running game, which would mean a lighter load on Harris. If he’s in fewer positions trying to force plays and cuts down on his turnovers, he can recover and end his college career strong.

8. Bryn Renner, North Carolina

TJ Yates had a surprising breakout senior season, one of the few positive surprises in the Tar Heels’ season. His departure is one of the program’s myriad question marks heading into the new campaign, though Bryn Renner has been highly anticipated for awhile. Renner was a four-star recruit out of Springfield, Va., ranked eighth on the Scout.com list of 2009 QBs.

Renner’s excellent spring game in 2010 certainly whet Tar Heel fans’ appetites, but it’s for the best Yates maintained his starting job, beyond Yates’ own emergence. A year of season under Yates should smooth Renner’s transition tremendously, though he will play along with fellow inexperienced starters.

9. Tajh Boyd, Clemson

Of the current ACC quarterbacks, Tajh Boyd was actually among the higher rated out of the prep ranks. Kyle Parker’s journey to The Show accelerated via a late season injury, which opened the door for Boyd to jumpstart his career. Boyd got significant snaps against South Carolina and USF, but wasn’t particularly good in either.

The addition of Chad Morris as offensive coordinator will give Boyd an opportunity to expand his horizons, though. Morris brings from Tulsa a vertically based philosophy that encourages Boyd to unleash his powerful arm. Boyd threw two touchdowns in the Tigers’ spring game, and if that’s indicative of his adaptation to Morris’ system, big things could be on the horizon.

10. Tevin Washington, Georgia Tech

Josh Nesbitt’s mid-season injury forced Tevin Washington into a difficult situation. Georgia Tech was an intriguing preseason pick to repeat as ACC champions and Nesbitt had a level of Heisman buzz. Both quickly faded, and as autumn temperatures dropped so did the Wreck.

A key to Nesbitt’s success, particularly in 2009, was a serviceable arm. Washington struggled in the very limited passing game, throwing an interception every 20 attempts and completing just 41 percent. He was the explosive rusher that Paul Johnson needs for his option offense though, and lining up with Roddy Jones could help Washington climb this list. The duo should be the conference’s most dynamic rushing combination.

11. Tanner Price, Wake Forest

The Texas product jumped headlong into the fray, taking the first step to becoming a four-year starter immediately on the heels of another four-year starter leaving Wake. After relieving Ted Stachitas in September, Tanner Price went onto a freshman campaign not exactly as successful as Riley Skinner’s — the Demon Deacons weren’t playing in the Orange Bowl, after all. But Price did show glimpses of a promising future in what was an obvious rebuilding season for Jim Grobe and Wake Forest.

Such a glimpse was the Navy game, in which Price threw a couple touchdowns, completed nearly 70 percent of his attempts, and controlled the tempo of the game. He exhibited a similar ability to play within the game in the Deacs’ defeat of Vanderbilt, passing just 14 times but completing 10 as he yielded to the running game. At other times, Price looked like a freshman. He was picked off four times against Boston College, and completed just three passes against Virginia Tech.

His maturation will be evident in how he works with the running game. Josh Harris is a talented back whose presence can open more opportunities for the passing game.

12. ???, Virginia

Realistically, anyone above ranked between 5-11 can be interchangeable. Equally as interchangeable is the starting quarterback for head coach Mike London, because no one has taken over the job. The no-doubt-about-it selection among ACC playcallers is Virginia at the bottom, the Achilles’ heel in what could otherwise be a surprise bowl season.

So haywire is the Cavaliers’ quarterback situation, it prompted talented cornerback Chase Minnifield to call out their leadership qualities in The Washington Post. Michael Rocco garnered the most experience last season, playing in six games as redshirt freshman.